Successful pet groomers have innate artistic traits. Much like a sculptor transforming a rough hewn slab of marble fresh from the quarry into a finished polished statue, groomers style masterpieces from hairy dogs and even cats. While some purebred and mixed breed dogs require only bathing and drying and touchups using scissors or clippers, the art of grooming is best illustrated by purebreds requiring substantially more “finish work” such as Poodles, Bichon Frises, to name just two. There are many more.

If you have a keen eye and enjoy color, design, modeling and using your hands you have the basic requirements to learn the art of grooming. But there is a very important reality that goes along with grooming pets. You are not working with inanimate canvas or marble. As a groomer you are the temporary caretaker of living animals beloved by their owners. You have substantial responsibilities to respect the faith and trust placed in you by pet owners for the well-being of their pets, and not only their appearance. Further, these responsibilities are not occasional but rest on your shoulders daily.
 

You must have no abusive tendencies for heated reactions toward pets and people. Animals will react to your emotions even if you are in control of your physical reactions. You must be able to temper your reactions at all times without yelling, scolding or resorting to physical admonishment. You must handle stress well and be willing to work smarter. Is that you?

Every grooming employer should ask, “Do you fear household pets?” As incredible as it may seem we have interviewed a surprising number of motivated job applicants who were actually fearful of dogs and cats. Perhaps they have a romantic concept of the position, and don’t see the realities that like people clients, animal clients have attitudes and responses which require special attention and skills. Perhaps the realities of properly handing animals can only be experienced to be understood.

You will have to groom behavioral pets that may require muzzles or another restraint system. Some pets bite. There are ways to safely protect both you and pets. You must be willing to humanely handle these pets with that infinite patience we previously mentioned.

Pet groomers with moderate to severe allergies to pet dirt, dander and other contaminants may find it difficult not only to work as a pet groomer, but to find employment. Hair coats collect weeds, pollens, pests and dust then released by grooming. If you have allergies to these various contaminants but decide to persist in pet grooming, be sure to ask your physician to provide written medical clearance to work in a grooming environment. A medical release may encourage an employer to hire you knowing that you are subject to related allergies.

You must be willing to be inoculated, usually with a tetanus booster. Employers may require drug tests too.

Although you may work in an air-conditioned environment, bathing and drying areas can become humid and warm. Without adequate air conditioning it can be very hot. Can you endure the heat?

Unfortunately many grooming business owners haven’t done all they can to reduce noise. On top of the sound levels of blow dryers and interior vacuum systems, you have to expect barking dogs. Design and floor plan workbooks available from Grooming Business in a Box™ can significantly lower sound levels.

Another common task for pet groomers is cleaning pet wastes. You should expect to clean up pet waste every workday. Some of our job applicants without previous pet care experience halted their interviews right there! Did they think we hired someone dedicated to cleaning pet wastes? Okay, so how do you feel about blood? Inside of every dog and cat nails are blood vessels. If you break these vessels you will have to immediately stop them from bleeding using agents stocked by all groomers. Does this bother you? Can you overcome it? If not, you won’t make a successful pet groomer until you do.

Click the Next bone now to learn more about the demands of pet grooming.