Reguarding grooming in general...not just yorkies...
 

Hello!!

I am just wondering when everyone started grooming dogs in general? How long did you "practice" before becoming a professional? Did you take any classes? Did you shadow anyone or have an apprenticeship? How did you get started?

I am interested in maybe starting a grooming business? I am at that stage of life where I don't know what I want to be or do when I grow up (I'm a first year college student) and I was trying to think of the things I love...and my list consists of my dogs...basically. I LOVE bathing them and cleaning their ears and everything. In fact, for fun on Saturday nights we have a spa day which consists of me torturing them. I bath them, brush them, blow dry them, file down their nails, clean their ears, and brush Lexie's teeth (Beau would literally hate me forever if I made him do it every Saturday). I haven't started grooming them (like with clippers and such) but I have a kit...I'm just waiting until it is warm enough for them to be trimmed down. I cut Beau's bangs and trim their ears though. I bought a book that I'm reading called "Dog Grooming for Dummies" and I have a quick DVD on the basics. This may all just be a phase I'm going through but who knows?

Any and all tips/life stories/comments will be GREAT! Thanks a ton!

dont remember the age i started grooming lexi, but as soon as her hair
was to long or wild i took a sissor to her.. i groom her myself, practice does
make perfect and i need lots of practice.. i trim her every 2 weeks or so
on her paws and face.. just keep lots of treats handy and good luck

I am working with a groomer in her shop. She pays me a commission while I am learning. There are not any schools around here so this was my only option. I drive a school bus and groom in between my routes. Good luck!! Grooming is hard work and is alot different working with dogs other than your own.

I used to work for a groomer and learned alot. It just takes alot of time and practice to become a good groomer. I would suggest that you ask some groomers if they will teach you the ropes and you compensate by working at no charge. I did this for about 5 hours per day and then went to my "real" paying job for 8 more hours. I would have liked to have stayed with grooming as a career, but there is no health insurance and at my age;) I do need that perk that is offered at my current job. Grooming is back-breaking , hard work but I really enjoyed it. Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!:)

go to groomers.net or petgroomer.com and talk with other groomers on theitr message boards.

For me I went to school, took a ton of sacrifice (11 week old baby and 2 year old at home, the tuition was around $6000, 5 months long, 2.5 hour commute ONE WAY, in the dead of winter, storms and all, leaving 5:30am and returing home ater 7pm Mon-Fri) but I wanted it BAD!!!!!

I did a business plan, mentored under other groomers and opened a shop...

Before that?? i spent a day with another groomer and LOVED it, I talked with other groomers, I reserached it to death for one year.

money wise I never made a cent for one year but now I am bringing home some spare cash.