When you are thinking about becoming a dog groomer it is important to weigh the good and bad aspects. Remember that your opinion might differ from my opinion about what you consider to be good perks of grooming. The following list is the top ten things that I consider the best aspects of becoming a dog groomer.
Flexibility
There is a lot of flexibility when working as a dog groomer. You will have flexibility in where to work, when to work, and how much to charge. You can also choose to groom only certain dog breeds or a certain size. For example, most groomers that have been doing it for years scale back and only groom dogs less than 35 pounds.
Accountability
As a dog groomer you are responsible for obtaining and retaining your own clients. This means that the better quality of work you deliver the more money you will be making. The best way to gain new grooming clients is through word of mouth. If you can perform your job well it will not take much time at all to gain a good following. I consider this to be a perk of the job because I believe people should be rewarded for good hard work.
Client Relationships
One of my favorite things about grooming was getting to know the dogs’ owners. Some people get their dog groomed very often, sometimes even weekly. This means that you are able to build a relationship with them. It was not uncommon for me to receive gifts around the holidays from some of my more generous clients. My customers even through me a baby shower when I was pregnant. When you are in charge of caring for someone’s pet you need to be trustworthy and honest. Regular clients end up becoming close friends that know all about you and what is happening in your life. It is pretty rewarding personally.
Animal Interaction
The reason that most people go into the career of dog grooming is because they love dogs. Grooming provides the opportunity to interact with dogs on a daily basis. You should remember, however, that you will not be playing with the dogs. You will have to do things that the dogs do not enjoy, such as pulling the ear hair. Overall though, you will be able to build a good relationship with the dogs. Many of them will happily run to you when they enter the groom shop. That is pretty cool. It’s like owning a whole bunch of pets that you get to see from time to time,yet you don’t have to pay for their food or take care of their daily needs.
Continuous Learning
Another great aspect of dog grooming is the constant learning. Grooming standards change all of the time and it is important to keep up with them. Also, each groomer has different ways of doing the same thing. Each new person you work with will provide you with new grooming techniques. Like any other job, you get better with experience. Really getting good at your trade is a reward unto itself.
Job Security
As long as people continue to own breeds like Poodles and Maltese they will need groomers. Dogs are owned throughout the entire World, which means that once you learn to groom you can take your skills anywhere. No matter where you live you will be able to make money grooming dogs. You will also notice that pets are becoming an ever increasingly more important part of people’s lives. Many pets are treated like part of the family now, as I am sure you have already noticed.
Potential for Growth
The better you become at dog grooming the further it will take you. You can even go as far as to groom dogs for the show ring. Those high end professional groomers make more than most of us do. Also, you can retire from actual grooming and instead teach others or perform seminars on the topic. You can even use the skills you acquire grooming dogs to go on and start grooming other animals, such as cats or horses. You would be surprised how many of your skills end up being transferable to other fields.
Maintaining the Health & Happiness of the Pet
Providing special care for someone’s pet is rewarding kind of like how being a parent is rewarding. An important aspect of grooming is making sure that the dog is comfortable in their new haircut. If the dog was matted, you will get to provide them relief by shaving the hair. Even if the owner is adamant that the hair be left long, you will have to explain what is best for the dog. Also, when you are going through the process of grooming you will be able to get a close look at the skin and feel any abnormalities. Report any strange findings, such as new lumps, to the owner so they can get the appropriate care for the animal. It feels good when you inform an owner about something they didn’t know about their pet. They appreciate that. You get the self satisfaction of knowing that you do make a difference.
Ability to Display Creativity
Grooming will allow you an outlet for creativity. Many owners will provide you with only very vague instructions and you will need to use your creativity to give them what they want while still maintaining the dog’s features. There are also creative grooming competitions that encourage groomers to show off one of a kind looks. Many groomers use colored dyes and crazy patterns to compete in these competitions.
Schedule Freedom
When you are a groomer you will have the freedom to set your own schedule. How long you work each day will be dependent on the number of clients you have scheduled. The longer you have done it the easier it will be to determine how long it will take you to finish different breeds. You can also choose to work whatever days are convenient for you. Many privately owned groom shops are closed on Mondays and Sundays just like a lot of hair salons. Other shops, like the one I worked for, are only open Monday through Friday during normal business hours.
Those are the qualities that I feel are the best benefits of becoming a dog groomer. Other dog groomers enjoy the pay and the fact that it is relatively easy to start your own business once your client list is built up. Everyone has their own reasons for why they like to do it. This career is not for everyone, but a lot of us find it really rewarding.
