Many people consider starting a dog grooming career do not realize the possibilities for specialization within the profession. By choosing to specialize, you will be able to stand out and attract customers looking for your specific services.
Dog groomers can specialize in several areas:
- Grooming of show dogs
- Grooming pets with special needs or disabilities
- Grooming senior dogs
- Offer creative grooming services
- Offer spa treatments
What does each specialization require? Read on to get a better idea of the different services provided by each type of groomer.
Show Dog Grooming
You might think that show dogs require a lot of sophisticated grooming techniques, but the truth is that show grooming is relatively minimal. Since show dogs are judged against written breed standards, conformation and movement feature more prominently than elaborate cuts.
Dogs must have an impeccably clean and well-brushed coat as well as clean ears and teeth; and they should not have any “dog” or unusual odor. Show groomers aim for a neat cut that shows good conformation and minimizes a dog’s less desirable characteristics.
Grooming Dogs with Special Needs
Dogs, like humans, can have a variety of special needs. Some might have lost a leg or an eye. Others might be blind or hard of hearing. Each of these challenges requires special treatment from a groomer.
Dogs with a missing limb may need a special hammock or harness for support, or they may need to be cared for while lying down. A dog missing an eye will have soft, sensitive skin in the empty eye socket.
Blind dogs may need you to keep a reassuring hand on them at all times. They need extra help understanding what you’re doing, so allowing them to smell or listen to the sound of your grooming tools before using them can ease their anxiety. The same kind of advice applies to hearing-impaired dogs. They will be less nervous if you go slowly and let them understand what you are doing. Groomers who work with animals with special needs find a way to report their actions.
Grooming older dogs
Because aging dogs can have many problems, this is the perfect opportunity to offer mobile grooming. Older dogs may be anxious, have stiff or painful joints, and their skin thins with age. It is far better to groom them on their familiar ground with their beloved human nearby to help them.
In the case of older dogs, comfort or humanity should always trump vanity. Older dogs often cannot stand long enough for a thorough grooming. Fancy cuts shouldn’t be the focus; health and comfort should be.
Special equipment may be needed, such as belly bands or hammocks for support, a “Happy Hoodie” to protect the ears, a mat to cushion the feet and prevent slipping, or padded loops to protect the neck and armpits .
With an older dog, groomers often focus on the most important task first. This way, if a groom has to stop before the end, the main problems are solved.
It is important to take it slowly and gently. Seniors require a very light touch. Their thinner skin may be sensitive or painful to the touch. Legs should not be pulled to the side to avoid injuring stiff joints.
Older dogs may need frequent potty breaks, and groomers should keep cleaning supplies on hand in case of accidents. Finally, it is important to know in advance about any health problems, such as heart or respiratory problems. This way you can monitor the dog more carefully for signs that he needs a break or that the groom needs to be stopped altogether.
Creative Grooming
Only recently has creative grooming exploded in popularity. Shows like Pooch Perfect and the HBO documentary Well Groomed have exposed more of the population to this quirky niche segment of the grooming world in which dogs become art.
Groomers use non-toxic dyes, accessories like ribbons and googly eyes, and their vivid imaginations to transform dogs into cartoon characters, flower gardens, or zoo animals like tigers, giraffes, or pandas. A poodle’s top knot can be cut and dyed to imitate a bowler hat.
Increasingly, competitive grooming competitions offer divisions for creative groomers. Size and clipping, the groomers compete in a carnival atmosphere. Dogs are so used to it that they often doze off for much of the process.
Due to its popularity, many pet groomers now specialize in creative services. Some dog owners want their dogs turned into tigers or pandas, but many are happy to add a little pop of purple or green to their pups’ ears or tails.
Thermal cures
More and more groomers are specializing in spa treatments, the more luxurious the better! Customers are willing to pay premium prices for services such as:
- an ozone spa bath infused with green tea and aloe
- mud treatments to detoxify and remove dead skin, dirt and oils
- Blueberry facials to deep cleanse and prevent odor, especially in dog breeds with a lot of wrinkles
- deep conditioner to nourish and moisturize the coat
- coat whitening
- “pawdicures” which may include paw soaking, nail trimming and filing, steam towel wrap, massage, and dog-safe nail polish
- acupuncture to relieve joint pain or allergies and asthma symptoms
- massage
- sugar scrubs to exfoliate and unclog pores
- soaked salt to relax stiff muscles and nourish the skin and coat
For pups who can’t stand the heat, spa groomers can provide heat-free drying booths that slowly dry a dog’s coat via jets of air into the floor.
Today’s pet owners are willing to spend huge amounts on their pets, and spa grooming services are becoming more and more prevalent.
Learn Grooming from the Pros
Whether you want to specialize or offer more traditional services, dog grooming is a great career that offers a lot of job satisfaction without requiring years of study.
College of Animal Behavior has been training dog groomers online for many years. Their approved certification program includes an internship, allowing you to gain hands-on experience working with a mentor groomer near you. Students give ABC (Animal Behavior College) high marks for its student support and the quality of its program. For more information or to register, call 800-795-3294 today.