Is this even feasible?

[mrose_s]

Okay, so I've wanted to be a groomer for a while. My auntie used to have her own business she ran from her back shed. She did really well from it, she learnt everything out of one book and just started form there, she wouldn't do show clips because she wasn't proffessionally trained and she didn't want to get blamed incase someone did badly at a show.
So I was thinking, what if I used our garage, read a few books (she offered to lend me hers and I have another one I want to get my hands on) and just put an add in the paper and did peoples pets?

there are about 4 groomers in my area and a few mobile washers etc.
It'll be expensive to set everything up, I'll need a table, clipped, scirssors, crates, dog bath, shampoo etc etc etc but thats all stuff I'd like to have anyway. I used to clip daisy at home and we did a pretty good job of her eventhough we only had $20 human clippers and nothing else.

Wondering if it would be an okay way to earn experience to get groomers to take me on and train me professionally. Just tell me straight out what you think as I really don't know a hell of a lot about this.

[blue]

If your aunt can do it in a shed you can do it in a garage.

[corgipower]

around here, it is very common to apprentice with other groomers and then set up your own shop. or often continue to work for them while saving money to be able to set up your own shop.

but i'm in NJ, in the US, and i don't know what the groomers are like in AUS. some people i know also practice grooming on shelter dogs.

[mrose_s]

Ran it by my mum, she said not while we're renting. I'd still like my own set of clippers eventually and in about 4 months I can start volunteering at the local shelter. They often have some fluffies in there that I suppose I could practice on.

I'm just nervous about approaching the groomers in town, I want to buy "notes from the grooming table" and read right through it so I have an idea about it more before I approach them. Any cover letter tips?

[Saintgirl]

Well, I have just made my official career change into the dog world- and started my dog grooming apprenticeship on Friday. The groomer who has taken me on is very experienced. She has told me the books that she would like me to have and has me work with her so I can get as much hands on experience as possible. However- typically apprenticeships are not free, you do pay the groomer to teach you the inns and outs. For myself this was the best way to go, as the only grooming school in my part of the country was too far away and doesn't have the best reputation. One woman who graduated from this course came out after 4 months of training with only hands on experience with one dog.

I recommend that you take a day and volunteer with a groomer to see if you really like the work. It will never hurt to read as many books on grooming as you can, because even if one book only offers one tip- they hey! you have gained some knowledge that could help you out down the road!

[MysticRealm]

Tho some people may be able to do it just by reading a book the majority cannot! There are so many intricet details that going into grooming. So many ways to cut a dog, so many ways to hold a dog to avoid cutting it and avoid getting bit. I disagree with learning online to groom (it's far too hands on, you need someone to show you) and just reading it from a book is even worse. I would NEVER send my dog to be groomed by someone who 'read it in a book.' so I don't know how many people you could get.
Try apprentising at a shop so you can actually learn what to do (make sure they are good groomers not mediocre ones). That is definately the way to go.
In this job you will get bit, peed on, pooped on, owners screaming at you for cutting their dog too short when the owners instructions were "I want him really short", you will cut dogs and you will quick dogs, you will break your back trying to get them in the tub or try to hold a 130 pound dog on your table, owners will cry cause you cut off their dogs pretty eyelashes, you will have to muzzle some dogs, you may get old dogs that will have seizures on your table. This is a very physical job and many groomers quit grooming not b/c they want to but b/c their bodies can no longer handle it.

But there are good things too. Owners LOVING the haircut you gave their dog, calling you even the next day or so just to tell you that it looks amazing and they have recommended you to all their friends. You can make good money, if you can get the clientell to go to your garage for grooming your expenses would be down so then you really could make money (though it is harder to gain clientell when you do it out of your own home) seeing a poor matted dog come in and turning it back into a beautiful dog.

I would go for a day to watch the groomer you would like to apprentise under (talk to them first to make sure they are ok with it and would be willing to apprentise) and go from there

[mrose_s]

The idea about volunteering is a great one. I'm so nervous about approaching groomers as there arn't many here and I don't need to make a bad impression.
I can ask work if I can have all wednesday off as I've already asked for the afternoon off due to flyball.
My aunite stuffed her back with lifting big dogs and byt the tiem I was born she woudl only clip small dogs. One day she had to call my mum to come help her out as a GSD she's been grooming had bailed her up in the corner.
Everyone I talk to about getting into work with dogs says "arn't you afraid of getting bitten?"

lol the pee and poo isn't that bad. We have 5 animals that that all have periods of throwing up everywhere, I just stand in the background, let them finish, offer them water and a cuddle then go clean it up now.
Plus having 2 girls in heat at the moment means a messy floor and a lot of mopping.
I would feel a lot better asking if I could volunteer one day a week then say "hey, can you hire me, i know nothing" and it would help get my foot in the door.

Also gotta ask, how do you pick a good groomer? We've only ever had one dog that needed proffesional grooming, my auntie did her till we moved, then we did it ourselves.
Should I take Buster in for a bath at differnt places and hang around and watch? Maybe asking questions about what its like to be a groomer while he's there? I'd like to hang around so they don't do soemthing relaly dumb like shave him. I've seen 2 shaved BC's around here latley so someone must do it and I'd hate my little guy to have that done to him.

[Saintgirl]

Word of mouth is maybe the best way to find out who the good groomers are in your area. Ask people you see walking down the street who have a dog who has a great clip where they go to have their dogs groomed. People won't mind you asking, "Excuse me, but your dog looks great, where do you have him groomed?" Don't worry about being shy, asking a groomer questions will get you the best answers and they won't mind you asking- people ask them grooming questions all of the time!



Also, any groomer who would shave your BC without having your ok on it would not be a good groomer in my books. Your groomer will ask you what you want to have done, and should do what you have asked.

[MysticRealm]

To find a good groomer I would not bring in my own dogs. Most groomers do not like grooming dogs with the owners around cause the dogs act much more crazy then. Go and watch them grooming other dogs, see if you like their handling techniques and see how good their grooms look when finished. Remember with the handling techniques that some dogs will scream and flail as if you are killing them even when you aren't doing anything at all to them