Dog grooming is a flexible and rewarding profession perfect for animal lovers. If you’re thinking about making this career change, you might be wondering how grooming school works, what kind of program you should enroll in, and how the current job market is. Below, the instructors at Dog Grooming School of Pennsylvania in Yardley answer these and other common questions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Grooming School
1. How Long Does Training Take?
The length of training varies between dog grooming programs. Dog Grooming School of Pennsylvania’s program, for example, is four weeks. Students complete 100 hours of course work and cover all aspects of the industry such as basic first aid, dog anatomy, bathing, drying, brushing, scissoring techniques, and nail clipping. Other programs may be longer or shorter, but it is important to make sure the curriculum is comprehensive and taught by state approved instructors.
2. Can You Learn Dog Grooming Online?
There are plenty of dog grooming programs available online. However, they do not provide the same level of education that on-site programs do. Many online programs do not give students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience. Some connect students with random grooming shops after they complete their online curriculum, but there is not a state approved instructor present.
On-site programs like Dog Grooming School of Pennsylvania, on the other hand, are taught in-person by experienced professionals. These instructors give immediate feedback, so students know how they’re performing. Participants also get to work with actual dogs — which are provided by the grooming school — every class.
3. How Is the Job Market?
According to a 2019/2020 pet owners survey, an estimated 63 million U.S. households own at least one dog. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for animal care and service workers is expected to grow by 22% between 2016 and 2026 — much faster than average job growth. By going to grooming school, you can join this sought-after industry. In 2020, the year when the pandemic was raging and businesses were closing permanently all over the country, $99 billion was spent on pets in the United States. People continued to bring their dogs in for grooming during the pandemic. The industry didn't suffer and actually increased from 2019 when $99.7 billion was spent in the pet industry. Families were adding dogs to their family during the pandemic; thus, increasing the need for groomers even more. Work with animals doing a job you love while joining a thriving recession and pandemic proof industry.
4. Where Can I Work After Graduation?
Dog groomers work in a variety of places such as pet stores, kennels, shelters, and veterinary clinics. You can even open your own grooming center or become a mobile groomer. Just remember, it is important to obtain your dog grooming certification at a state licensed dog groomer training academy. Students have traveled from all over Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland and Massachusetts to attend Dog Grooming School of Pennsylvania, and their diplomas are valid nationwide, so graduates can work in any part of the country.
Have any more questions about grooming school? Call Dog Grooming School of Pennsylvania at (215) 752-1111. Their instructors will be happy to answer any queries about this ever-growing industry. For more on their curriculum or admissions process, visit them online.