There are really three categories of pet groomers in the industry. There are those better titled as "pet bathers" or "bather/brushers," and then there are those better titled as "full-charge pet stylists" or "full-charge pet groomers" and possibly "full-charge trimmers." Assistants are typically apprentice groomers working toward becoming a full-charge groomer or stylist.

"Groomer" is a very open term and often bathers with no "finish trimming" skills are still addressed as a "groomer." The dividing line between bathers, assistant groomers and full-charge groomers or stylists, is the latter's ability for the "art of styling." Bathers and assistants can make important contributions toward a gorgeous styling, but the art of any styling always lies with the full-charge stylist or groomer.

Shaunna, Award Winning Stylist  Photo: Ren Netherland Exhibit

Most pet bathers are very happy with their career working with pets. Indeed, there are career bathers and if your business is lucky enough to have some you know the value of their contribution to your professional operation.

On the other hand there are pet bathers who are "entry-level" groomers aspiring to become a full-charge pet groomer or pet stylist. Mastering pre-bathing, bathing and drying procedures is a wise starting point for new career groomers. As a professional bather you learn through knowledge and experience about skin and coat care, pet handling and control, bathing tools and equipment, and perfecting coat conditions for the artistic work to come after the bathing procedures are complete.

After mastering bathing and drying the new groomer moves into a new arena of challenges, and a step closer to the "art of styling." There are new tools and equipment to master step-by-step. In our operation, a bather was promoted to an assistant groomer position. Here they learned over many months more about scissors, clippers, blades and plenty of accessories and even more grooming supplies.

They were never assigned a complete "finish trimming" assignment, such as scissoring a Poodle headpiece (no way!), for quite awhile. They first learned to properly clip "Poodle feet," place a "pattern," clip necks, faces and etc. They also performed coat removals. Little by little they were allowed to experience more and more scissor work under supervision. Finally they were allowed to completely clip and scissor an entire styling.

Keep in mind that there is another added dimension here. The art of styling covers multiple breed groups and mixed breed pets. The professional artist must learn all major breed groups and mixed breeds too. 

Specialty grooming further defines the art of styling. There are more advanced methods of "show grooming." Most career groomers perform little or no true show grooming. Handlers do most of the show grooming today. Some of the specialty training they master includes Terrier "hand-stripping," or "carding" and many other techniques.

In our opinion, we include in our definition of the art of styling that the artist has the ability to determine appropriate suggestions for mixed breed styling, and skin and coat care for all dogs. Also, the professional should be capable of executing styling functions we term "Madson Fault Styling" (training available only through a Madson licensing agreement). In general, fault styling is the ability of the professional groomer to correct "faults" in a pet's appearance through styling. For example, if a dog has very short legs inappropriate for its breed dominant appearance, there are styling methods to make legs look longer, and the opposite even. Certainly there is an art to fault styling.

It may be true that just about anyone can hang out a shingle tomorrow and operate a grooming business, but they are not capable of the art of styling. It is only learned over several years of professional training and experience and expanded with continuing education, and then finished with work experience under accomplished professionals in the field.