[Dawn125]

Pretty much there are two ways to learn to be a groomer. Grooming school and apprenticing with a professional groomer. Grooming school can be tricky depending on where you live as there are not that many good schools around. Figure on from $5000 to $10,000 tuition and 3+ months full time course. There are online courses that could be an ok start but definitely not enough to go right into business afterwards. Even if you go to a regular grooming school you should work with an experienced groomer for a year or two before going it alone. Finding a professional groomer willing to teach you is hard but if you do manage to get an apprentice position you can be learning while you work and bringing in some income while you are learning. You may want to get a part time bathing position in a grooming salon for a while before doing either to make sure you really want to be a groomer. Grooming cute little 5 lb yorkies is just the tip of the iceberg. The reality can include being bitten and scratched, hair in your eyes, mouth, and imbedded under your fingernails and skin (hair splinters), eye boogers, drool, poop, pee, anal glands, smelly ear infections, oozing warts and sores...the list goes on and on. On the plus side...all the doggy kisses you want, wagging tails, the warm feeling you get when owners rave about how beautiful their little one looks. It's a great profession if you can deal with the icky stuff and one that can be run out of your home if your zoning allows home businesses.