QI want to learn to be a professional Dog Groomer, is your course suitable?
AThat is exactly what we do. At our dog grooming school in Darlington we run a number of dog grooming training courses. Our Dog Grooming course is structured to provide the practical hands-on training for those wishing to enter the field of dog grooming as a professional Dog Groomer .
QWhen I start up for myself, how many dogs will I be able to groom each day?
AInitially, we recommend that our students aim to book in 2 or 3 dogs each day, depending on the breed, complexity of the groom and anticipated condition of the coat. This should allow new starters to be able to generate enough revenue to run your business and to draw a modest wage. In time, with experience, the number of dogs groomed each day should increase towards 5 or 6.
QWill I be able to competently groom dogs when I’ve finished?
AOur aim is to equip you to turn each dog that you groom into a smart example of it’s breed (in a breed-specific style), in an efficient time, at a fair cost to your customer and without any undue stress or discomfort on the dog. You should be equipped with these grooming skills when you complete our course.
QWill I be able to grow my Grooming Business?
AWith a gradual increase in bookings, reflective of your increased experience and competence, daily appointments should be able to be increased without letting your standards fall due to overbooking.
QI think I can groom more dogs in a day than you suggest, should I do it?
QYou will be much better to concentrate on turning out 3 well-groomed dogs per day than to create 6 ‘rush jobs’. You should aim for a quality result, which will enhance your reputation and ensure repeat bookings, or you can expect your business to suffer as a result of poor workmanship. Remember that each dog that leaves your salon is a walking advertisement for your dog grooming business.
QIf I need more staff to help with grooming who will train them?
AWhen you reach a level where you need to take on additional dog grooming staff, our dog grooming school is always here to help with the training. You will have enough experience to start them off in a manner that suits your business and to familiarise them with using the grooming equipment - then you may want to consider enrolling them onto our Enhanced Skills course, where they will be tutored in obtaining a wider experience with various breeds of dogs and a better class of results. It worked for you it will work for them!
QWhat happens if I take longer than usual to learn some of the things?
AWe carefully monitor each student’s progress through our dog grooming course. Until you are confident and able to work to an acceptable standard, we don’t allow you to progress further into the course - each unit that we teach relies to some degree on your understanding of the previous one. As a dedicated teaching establishment our facilities are constantly available, so a few extra days for you to gain the confidence of the skills we have taught you is no problem for us.
QDo I see the dogs that I have worked on when they are finished?
AWe believe that our students benefit from seeing the completion of the dog that they have had a part in grooming, especially when the owner arrives to collect them and expresses their delight at the grooming. For those reasons, we always try to ensure that our students see a dog through to completion – even if it is completed with the assistance of one of our own experienced staff.
QAm I too young/too old for your course?
AWe have trained many people to a competent level of Dog Grooming. Starting from young people who have recently left school and wish to embark on a career in dog grooming, to mature students who may have taken early retirement or opted for a career change and decided to start dog grooming in their later years. There are no applicable age limits, and no restrictions by previous abilities or otherwise.
QDog grooming is a female profession, isn't it?
ANo - it most certainly is not! We train many men who go on to run successful dog grooming businesses. In fact, on some occasions we have more men on our course than women. We have trained men who have recently left school or college and wish to go into a grooming career, men who have chosen a change of career mid-life and men who have decided to establish their own grooming business at retirement.
QHow many dogs will I actually be grooming during the course?
AThroughout the dog grooming training course we aim to give you hands-on experience on one or two dogs each day (sometimes this will be a part of the dog's grooming and other times this will be grooming the dog from start to finish). Depending on breed, complexity of the cut and your stage on the training course, this will mean that some days you may only groom one dog, other days you may have no grooming at all (theory teaching days), whilst other days you will have experience with more than 2 dogs. You will have experience with at least 20 grooming incidences throughout our Dog Grooming Course and will leave us with the practical knowledge of styling at least seven breeds and the ability to approach and correctly style any breed of dog.
QWill I be offered advice on setting up a Dog Grooming Business?
AWe can advise all of our Dog Grooming Course students on setting up and running a dog grooming business. We have experienced and qualified staff who can give advice relating to location, premises, equipment, funding, advertising, competition, staff, cash-flow, overheads and other items that will become a necessary part of running your business. This advice is given specific to your own business aspirations, however we do recommend consulting your accountant and/or bank with specific regards to finance and running your business.
