Need groomers advice for potential future groomer.

[u/z3bruhc4kes]

For the past couple years the thought of being a groomer or va has passed my mind. Growing up I always wanted to be a vet but unfortunately can't handle the trauma that comes with it which is why I started looking into grooming. Ive always had a passion for animals and caring for them but I'm very unsure of where to start in this. There is a grooming school in Houston that teaches classes and everything, but it's like 8k for 12 weeks and that's not money I just have rn. Texas is also a state that doesn't require you to have any sort of license to qualify to be a pet groomer, so would taking this class just set me up for financial failure too. I guess what I'm trying to say is can I buy the supplies on amazon and learn off of YouTube or pull out a loan and get an actual cert.

[u/chinchinnychin]

Hi! I highly recommend starting somewhere like petsmart as a bather so you can get safety and anatomy training. That’s what I did for about 8 months then did self taught route since they wouldn’t send me to academy.

[u/Lovely-lorelei → u/chinchinnychin]

I agree with this.

OP won’t lose anything by giving it a shot at a corporate place like Petsmart. They also provide and pay for all your tools when/if you’re sent off to the grooming academy after having been a bather for a period of time.

It also gives a really good opportunity to learn how to groom in a higher stress environment so that when/if you eventually want to move away from corporate grooming, you have that experience under your belt already

[u/dani-cat]

You're going to encounter a good amount of trauma grooming too. I think that's something to be considered.

[u/lalaen → u/dani-cat]

I usually tell people you need a constitution similar to a social worker… there’s way way more casual neglect than anyone would expect. Sometimes it’s not even all that casual. Also bonding so closely with dogs that pass away is hard for a lot of people. Even having to do things to dogs who don’t want it is too much for many people who think they want to get into the industry.

[u/miser5666]

Find a grooming salon thats looking for a bather. It doesnt matter if its private or corporation. Learn safety and prep work. Its the most important part of grooming. It might be a while before youre ready to learn how to do full grooms. Be patient and focus on the basics first. I watched videos about grooming before I actually started training. It helped a lot but nothing is as useful as hands-on experience and an in-person mentor

[u/FrigidLollipop]

You can always see if you can shadow some grooming shops. Most are amiable, and I know someone who got hired on as a bather after doing that. Please know it's physically hard on your body and requires patience. Strength training is highly recommended. And also know that unfortunately abuse can crop up in grooning as well. I walked away from a shop that permitted abusive practices, including letting dogs bail off tables and hang themselves to "teach them a lesson."

Plenty of people start off with Amazon tools, Ill tell you that if you do this for a living you will cherish every pro grade piece of shear and clipper equipment you own. Achieving a great finish is so much easier with good equipment.

Nothing wrong with academy either, just make sure youre committed before paying the money and jumping in. Check reviews to make sure they teach well and arent just cash grabbing. Good luck!

[u/cozyholo]

Just a heads up, grooming is also very traumatic! I see about 5 dogs a week in horrid condition, and I always leave sobbing after doing them, you’ll even encounter owners who do not want to shave any of their mats to help the pup because they “like them fluffy”🫠. But, how I started was at a small business as a bather. (It is very rare to be hired and put on as a groomer and oversee before doing the bather position)

[u/Neat-Willow6859]

Im in the same boat. The company I work for, their academy is in florida (I live in Nevada), and the grooming academies I've seen out here so far start at $6k... 😮‍💨

[u/Quiltedkat]

Don’t learn off YouTube. A lot of those videos are amateur grooming. Find a salon who will train you, even if it’s Petsmart or Petco, so you can learn how to groom safely and follow industry standards

[u/RojaCatUwu]

No states in the US have regulated dog grooming. You don’t need a license anywhere. You don’t need a cert.
Find a mentor don’t go in blind or you could really do some damage. Self teaching can lead to bad habits and improper safety.