Types of PetCare Services - Groomers
It is estimated that 59% of households hold a pet of some kind. A survey in Australia revealed that 2/3 of people treat their pets like a member of their family, almost like a parent and child. As a result, there has been a boom in recent years for services for pets, such as dog grooming.
Research in the UK found that 30% of dog owners bath their dogs at least once a month with many people taking their dogs to professional groomers.
When looking at groomers, many people will tend to think of dog groomers, but dogs are not the only animals that need grooming. Any animal with fur needs grooming for their own health and hygiene. Knots can make them uncomfortable and even cause pain. Horses, cats and small furry pets require grooming. Groomers deal with the animal health and wellbeing by washing clipping and grooming pets. A good groomer will identify the main characteristics of each breed and signs of skin disorders and parasite infestations. Grooming is involved in maintaining a healthy fur of any animal.
It is not just furry animals that need grooming either. Pets with beaks, claws and horns can also require grooming. For example, horses may need to be shod, cattle may need their horns removed, poultry may need their beaks trimmed. Even wild animals can require grooming. For example, rhinoceros may have their horns removed or those maintained in zoos need to be washed and groomed.
Most groomers work in a fixed location, but some offer a mobile service.
What You Need to Learn To Be an Animal Groomer
To be a dog groomer, certain skills and knowledge are essential –
- A knowledge and experience in animal grooming is important. This involves cutting or shaving the animals hair, combing it, removing knots, washing the animals and so on. But it also involves knowing how to handle animals correctly and kindly. An understanding of an animal’s coat and skin, as well as their biology is also important. Irritated skin, bald patches or other skin conditions can indicate that all is not well with the animals.
- As well as knowing how to handle the animal themselves, a dog groomer also needs to know how to prepare and maintain the grooming area so that it is safe for the animal and the groomer.
That’s no it though. An animal groomer also needs to know about –
- Animal behaviour – An animal groomer needs to understand how animals perceive and communicate, how they show that they are stressed, their social behaviour, how to deal with aggressive animals etc.
- An understanding of animal psychology and training, their senses and behaviour is important.
- As well as understanding how animals behave and perceive, knowledge of animal health care is also important. A groomer needs to know about common health problems and signs of illness.
- An understanding of first aid for animals is also essential.
- As well as understanding the signs of illness, it is useful for animal groomers to understand more about diseases in different animals, possible treatments and the animal’s immune system.
- Finally, a general understanding of the biology of the most common types of pets is important. For example, routine care for each one of them (dogs, cats, birds, fish, rabbits, reptiles, amphibians, rodent pets).
As well as caring for the pets themselves. There are other skills that can be useful for a groomer –
- Good organisational skills – Making appointments, being punctual, keeping people informed of any changes are all pretty essential. There is nothing worse than people turning up to be told there is no record of an appointment.
- Animal skills are important, but so are human skills. A groomer also needs to be able to communicate well verbally and in written form with the animal’s human owners. A friendly, enthusiastic and interested attitude is vital. If a pet owner likes a groomer, they will go back again and again.
- A groomer who runs their own business or freelance work may also need skills in other areas, such as bookkeeping and marketing
Starting a Career in Animal Grooming
Some formal learning in the key areas listed above will help a career move faster and minimise the risk of career or business mistakes. It is essential your initial training is from instructors who have a strong understanding of animal breeds and their biology.
People who take shortcuts to getting started can succeed; but people who lay a stronger foundation are likely to be more capable, and that generally tends to lead to higher earnings and more long-term career success.
Common ways to get started are:
- Undertaking training in grooming
- Getting a job with someone else (e.g. a pet shop owner, kennel owner)
- Starting your own small business
- Assisting a professional groomer
- Some groomers will also offer on the job training or apprenticeship skills
- Volunteering at a local vet clinic
Progressing a Career
Grooming is one of those areas where you continue to learn as you work in the industry. Every problem or challenge you confront can be a new learning experience.
Challenges sometimes reveal deficiencies in your knowledge. If that happens, you may see something you need to learn, by doing research or studying a course. The person who responds positively to such challenges, and sees them as opportunities for career advancement, will progress.
Going back to the list above, if there are any aspects of grooming where you think you lack knowledge, then further training may be required.
Networking is also critical. As we said earlier, good human skills are important, as well as skills with pets. The owners are the ones who decide to book appointments, to come back to a groomer again etc. So making sure that the owner is happy is pretty essential. Networking is also a way to gain new customers.
- Tell people what you do.
- If someone asks and they have a pet, always have a business card ready.
- Don’t feel embarrassed about telling friends and family and encouraging them to use the grooming services.
- Ask them to pass on your details to other people they think will be interested too.
- Attend local events. Many places run business breakfasts or community groups, where you can go and meet other business people and organisations, who may also have pets and need a groomer!
- Join local social media groups and talk about the grooming services.
As well as networking, there are other ways to let people know about grooming services.
- Paid advertising in newspapers and magazines
- Paid advertising on websites and social media
- Posts on social media
- Writing blogs
- A groomer might also write eBooks to sell to potential clients
- Handing out leaflets and flyers
- Posters
Training to be a groomer is not the end of the story.
- It is important for a groomer to continue to update and improve knowledge regularly. This will help their career to progress.
- As well as updating their knowledge, diversification can also be useful. Training to offer different services can also be useful, deepening the quality and breadth of services that a groomer offers.
- As well as offering additional services, selling products on the side can also be a good way to increase income. For example, selling grooming products, books, eBooks, training, animal toys etc.
Animal grooming can be a rewarding and interesting career with great potential to –
- Work in a range of settings
- Work for an employer or set up your own grooming business
- Be your own boss
- Diversify into other animal care services or product sales