Dog grooming courses are great for anyone with an interest, be it personal or professional, in learning how to groom dogs. Whether you want to make a career out of it or simply want to take better care of your own dog, dog grooming courses are a great way to learn the skills you need.
What will dog grooming courses teach me?
A dog grooming course will teach you the basics of how to care for a dog's coat and nails, including:
- How to bathe a dog
- How to trim a dog's coat
- How to dry a dog
- How to clip a dog's nails
- How to clean a dog's ears
- How to clean a dog's teeth
- How to treat parasites
Some courses will also teach you the value of diet and the impact this has on your dog's coat and overall health.
Depending on your level of skill (i.e. whether you are brand new to grooming or whether you've had experience) courses can also teach you in-depth techniques, teaching you how to trim coats for various breeds and how to implement a higher level of detail in your grooming.
Do you need a license to be a dog groomer?
You don't need a license to practice as a dog groomer, however, it's recommended that you get a diploma or certification from an accredited grooming centre if you want to pursue dog grooming as a career.
If you want to specialise and groom dogs ahead of competitions, you could also consider taking an advanced grooming course for a particular breed or coat type.
How long does it take to become a dog groomer?
It usually takes between 4 - 34 weeks to become competent in dog grooming, however, there are online courses that can be completed in roughly 36 hours. The length of the course you choose will likely depend on whether you are perusing dog grooming for your own pet or whether you want to make a career out of it.
If you want to pursue a career as a dog groomer, we suggest taking a diploma in dog grooming or a BTEC in dog grooming. BTEC qualifications usually take 36 weeks to complete, whereas a diploma course takes around 5 weeks (subject to variation depending on the training provider).
Can I study dog grooming online?
Absolutely! Online dog grooming courses give you the opportunity to study at your own pace and learn the theory behind dog grooming without being in the potentially stressful environment of having to immediately put this knowledge into action. A lot of learners prefer to start their training online and then progress to a more advanced course in order to practice on real dogs.
