Pet Groomers out there?

 I can't imagine learning to groom dogs on line, lol!

I did look into the training here, as with 5 bichons I do it myself.  It was $3500, and you still had to buy many of your own supplies.  As I understand, quite often you start out with the check -in and bathing duties, drying for some breeds.  And work your way up.  

I have my own supplies and do my 5 myself, have done for over a year now.  I have 2 dvds specific to my breed, and one included tons of tips and tricks.  Everywhere I go I ask groomers questions - we have one woman in Willy' Agility class who is a groomer.  She helped me out.  As my dogs are rescues, they did not all grow up being groomed, the way a bichon "should" grow up, lol.  Sugar and Lacey are statue dogs, so easy to work with!  Marlin used to become a bucking bronco, and scream for the antivivisection league, as he was SURE he was going to die.  Willy is fine in the bath, but once he is on the table, he only allows me to touch certain places:  no head, face, ears, tail, legs or paws.  Ha ha haaa  So I go through hot dogs and cheese grooming him.  And Tasha is a puppy mill rescue, so the whole staying clean thing is weird to her.  They are a challenge.  Takes me most of a day to get through them.  Every 2 weeks!

 When do you start the apprenticeship?

well i start hopefully next week. to be honest the online course... it was 50/50 i did learn from it. just with the whole.... not having hands on experience. alot of groomers around here learned on their own or have gone to schools outside of texas. the majority of the course is learning breeds and how to cut them. but it tells you alot of information. i have never taken my dogs to a groomer cause ive always bathed them myself. only experience i have so far is my dogs. im slowly overcoming my fear of nail clipping. they told me at petco, you gotta have that confidence, i think i can learn on my own like you said you did. but i think i lack that confidence. the apprenticeship is making me pay, which i personally dont mind, cause at least im learning something. possibly giving me a job there if they see im great. but finding this wasnt an easy task.

" i think i can learn on my own like you said you did."

 He hee, I said I groomer my own, I did NOT say they look professionally groomed!  The bichon is the toughest breed to groom, so they say.  I don't do a show clip, not even a pet clip!  Short short body, clean faces.  Yes, they often get confused for poodles, I live with that and correct folks.

 I am sure you will get a LOT out of the apprenticeship.  The hands on is what you need.

 I have 2 I can NOT do the nails.  Willy bites and Tasha slips down onto her feet! And I've hit the quick a few times, oh the blood!  I know clip nails the day BEFORE I do their baths, lol. 

Working with animals, I have come across and friended many groomers and ex-groomers. It really is an art form. The hardest part that everyone who does it tells me, is pleasing the owners. It's almost like photography, the look has to be just right.

yea the bichon frise is a special breed to groom. yes alot of people get confused with bichons and poodles. and alot of owners do correct, which i would too lol. but id be the one calling it a poodle. yea styptic powder or pencil can help the bleeding stop. my problem with nail clipping is i feel nervous already , and im not even touching their paws.

im hoping to gain alot from this... yea alot of people want a certain clipping but their breed pattern sometimes isnt all the greatest. im pretty confident that i could do a poodle cut. this is just by watching. but i would love to work on a poodle. yes it is an art form. i am pretty confident i will do great at this cause ive always wanted a hands on job. 

"  It really is an art form."

 

Sure is!  I love that statement.  On a bichon board, one member is a groomer who participates in grooming competitions.  She starts with a bichon allowed to grow out for many weeks, then "sculpts" it into the show cut!  Amazing to watch.  I remember Michelangelo saying he looks at a lump of marble, and then removes the excess to find the statue within.  Quite similar (and not just my breed is white, ha haa).  

 I have NO artistic side to me, no talent or skill in that area.  I groom my dogs, and all 5 look the same.  Well, except for the size differences.  

 

Congratulations on wanting to be a pet groomer! I've been a groomer since 1968, and I learned as an unpaid apprentice. It really is an artistic endeavor that requires patience and a love of dogs. Buying yourself quality tools is a must, and like so many things in life, practice develops confidence. Nails can be scary, but if you take your time, and cut carefully you will soon get a good feel for where the quick is. I trim just the hook, then round with the grinder to finish. That way I can get very close to the quick without causing pain. Most dogs tolerate this very well. Move the grinder from nail to nail to prevent heat buildup. As a person who also shows dogs, I would recommend that you go to all the dog shows you can and walk around the grooming area. You can see many good techniques, and you can also see how the various breeds are groomed. Most pet owners don't really know that much about how their breed should be groomed, but you should always strive to please them. After all, the owner is the one with the checkbook! Be honest about your skill level with your clients! And charge accordingly. Do your best, and put out a clean, happy pet. If a person knows that you are still learning, they will be very forgiving. In this area, there are a ton of hair butchers calling themselves groomers. My biggest tippers are those clients that have been to one of these overpriced incompetents! Ha Ha. Good luck!

debbieStx

Buying yourself quality tools is a must, and like so many things in life, practice develops confidence.

 

 YES! I can't tell you the difference it has made having the proper equipment!  Don't skimp, it will not pay off for you.

 My confidence level has increased and I see the changes in my dogs as a result.  Quite amazing, really!

I agree with the others about quality tools, you will notice a huge difference between a pair of Dubl Duck shears and store brand ones you buy at walmart! I actually just finished my Apprenticeship in November I was lucky enough to have a friend that owns a grooming/ training shop and she took me on and I've been there for about six months now almost seven. I thinking of all I've learned through my friend, I honestly can't imagine learning online. I mean sure, you can read as much as you'd like but actually doing it is very different.Takes alot of practice to learn how to handle a dog, build confidence, learn the cuts, how to move your clippers, maneuver folds (especially if you use a clipper vac) , how to hold your shears and deal with clients. Reading is good guide and I do use it when I need to see a specific breed cut, but actually learning to handle your equipment, I don't believe it would help. So glad you've found someone to take you on as an apprentice.

I agree with you on nails, that took me a few months to get over how 'scary' it was. But once you get the hang of it its easy to fly through. I mean I still feel bad when I quick a dog, but its easier to tell where to cut after time. I myself am still learning every time I go to work. Like photography to me I don't believe you ever stop learning with a profession like this. Theres always new techniques, tools, and cuts to learn and things to perfect. I wish you best of luck, this can be a fun profession, but its also not the easiest :)

 

ETA: Was just thinking of books I use at work for reference and was using when I was doing my course, thought you might be interested. One is "Notes From the Grooming Table" by Melissa Verplank and "All Breed Dog Grooming" by TFH Publications. I found these books made very good guides especially the Notes one :)

A DIY-er here as well ... started home grooming as a way to cut costs on the fosters and then graduated to show grooming.  I will say that keeping an Apso in full coat (with proper textured coat) is easier than clippering every 6-8 weeks.  It's quite apparent that I'd starve to death as a groomer as I'm waaaay too slow 

Hiya! Sorry I'm late on this one. I'm a groomer- for about 5 years. I got my training actually through Petco. You have to sign a contract for them and work there for a year... That was back when petco actually sent you to a petco store that was considered a "Learning Academy". Now I think you just apprentice under the manager.

Currently I work as a house-call groomer. Meaning i travel to people's homes and groom their dogs in their house. (I eventually want to go mobile, but I am working up my clients and my capital!)

Agreed, you need to buy awesome equipment. You can also find used equipment online. Currently I have the Andis 2 speed clippers and my favorite brand of shears are Geib.

My most favorite resource is http://www.petgroomer.com ; their forums are awesome! They also have help wanted ads, and used equipment ads, info on schools, etc. Also, there are a bunch of pet groomer groups on facebook too. 

There are a bunch of grooming trade shows all across the country. I usually go to the "Pet Pro Classic" it's in Dallas every October. It's a lot of fun. They have both seminars and demos (you get to watch people compete with different breeds).  The biggest one is in Hershey, PA in September.

 Good luck!  PM or email me if you need any guidance.

 Thanks guys! sorry for late response. but yes i did get involved with a local pet grooming salon , have been attending as a unpaid apprentice for already a month. its soo wonderful. Nails are still my weak spot but they let me do the precut procedures now. the online portion has helped me alot. when i quicked my first dog it took me awhile to get back on my feet, but she pushed me (with my comfort level) to keep clipping nails. i stood there with the sytpic powder(i misspelled that), nervous... and im slowly getting the hang of it!

 I broke down and bought one, got a good price on it but still pretty expensive. It has cut my grooming time by probably a good 80%. I got a ton of undercoat out in one sitting about an hour long, and it has made all her subsequent groomings so quick and easy. Before, her undercoat made it really easy for her fur to mat, especially behind her ears and in her ruff, but after her furminator session, no matts! Moxie looks fabulous and she really appreciates that she is getting brushed less

If you really want to be a dog groomer be friends with them first. Try to understand what their needs are and what they like to do. This will help you to know their mood swings and get closer to them. I am groomer myself and I love spending time with them.

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