What should I look for when choosing a Pet Groomer school / course?
I want to earn a Pet Grooming Diploma. I have looked at a few schools, but some look like scams. There seems to be some great ones in Ontario but that...
I want tο earn a Pet Grooming Diploma. I hаνе looked аt a few schools, bυt ѕοmе look Ɩіkе scams. Thеrе seems tο bе ѕοmе ɡrеаt ones іn Ontario bυt thаt’s tοο far away. Dοеѕ іt really matter whеrе I ɡеt certified frοm? WіƖƖ іt mаkе a ԁіffеrеnсе whеn getting a job οr starting a business? Or ѕhουƖԁ I bе careful whеrе I spend 2000$ fοr thе diploma????? Whаt аbουt online courses? Anу groomers out thеrе?
have you ever done anything in a dog grooming before? if not, i would advise getting a job as a bather at a salon first. call around to all the salons and ask if they are hiring. if you cant find any hiring, and this is something you really want to do then i would suggest asking if any would be willing to let you apprentice, basically work for free. this job is very demanding, and most do not continue after a few years. it is dirty, stressful, and there are very long hours (especially during holidays).
if you still want to go to school, i still suggest working at a salon first. if you find it isnt for you, then at least you arent out a few thousand. and if it is, then you at least have a foundation when you go to school, and will make learning so much easier, and more fun. me personally, i wouldnt go to school. i would find a good groomer who is willing to hire you on, and train you to groom. it is hard to find this, so it may not work out that way. are there any corporate businesses like petco and petsmart in canada (thats where you are right?)? those types of places will train you for free, the school takes about 8 weeks before you start actual grooming. it is a good stepping stool into grooming if you dont have any other options. just know that most of these places offer half a**ed training, and are run pretty badly.
I’m not a dog groomer but I have some suggestions. I had some similar problems when I went looking for a massage school.
I would definitely suggest for a hands on job like dog grooming that you take a hands on course, not an online course. While it it might not matter where your diploma is from for a customer you do want to get the best education for the price. I would suggest you ask the schools your looking at for a list of contacts, past students, etc. that you can contact and ask them how they liked the school. It’s good to know whether or not you’ll actually be learning anything or just forking over your cash for a piece of paper.
$2,000 isn’t too bad for school. I spent $4,500 and that was 15 years ago.
Someone else said that if you haven’t worked in the grooming feild before, you should do that first. Probably a good idea. I was a bather at a very busy salon for 4 years before I decided to go to school. Alot of people think that being a groomer, all we do is play with dogs all day…I wish that were true.
In a way, yes it will matter where you get your training from. You need to learn correct breed standards and proper handeling from a GOOD groomer.
You have a few options…
Find a groomer who is willing to train you…this may be harder than it sounds. Alot of groomers are too busy working to have the time to show you everything. That is why schools are a good way to go. The instructors are there to teach you and have the time to do it. The place I was a bather at started to train me to groom. The groomer just did not have the time, and I only learned a few things.
Petsmart/Petco..personally, I myself would not hire someone fresh out of their training. Then again, once you go to their training, you have to sign a contract with them for at least a year. Their course is 4 weeks and then you train under their grooming manager..great if the groom mgr is a decent groomer, but I have seen alot of them who should not be grooming dogs themselves, let alone training others.
But, they do pay you while you are training.
Online courses…I have mixed feelings about those…to me, grooming is a hands on learning experience…unless you have all the different breeds available to you to learn on…an online course is just a bunch of words in a book.
Personally..I would go to an accreditied school. I went to one and I think it was a good decision. Alot of groomers will call the schools when they are looking for help. The school may be able to help you find a job right after completion.
Go check this site out
http://www.petgroomer.com/pet_grooming_schools.htm