How to Become a Dog Groomer in Maryland

There are a few ways in which you can take care of animals and earn some money.

The most common ways are:

• Veterinarian
• Pet groomer

Out of the two, becoming a pet groomer is easiest and faster, and if this is something you’re interested in, read on!

This guide will present the process you’ll go through in the State of Maryland to become a pet groomer.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an animal lover.

Ideally, the individual will be comfortable with working with both dogs and cats, or even other types of animals.

Some of your skills or attributes will include:

• Compassion
• Good communication skills
• Able to stand for extended periods
• Sociable, at least to some degree
• Patient

Dog Grooming Duties and Responsibilities

Grooming pets sounds like an easy job, however, the professional plays a pretty important role in the animals’ lives.

A groomer’s job is one that contributes to the overall health and happiness of the pets and their owners.

The daily duties include:

• Calming and controlling the animal
• Fur washing, cutting, trimming and shaping
• Trimming the nails of the animals
• Removing matted and knotted hair
• Cleaning their ears and eyes

The grooming process also involves the examination of the skin, to ensure the animal is not injured or showing signs of allergies.

This inspection can reveal potential health problems that the owner may not know about.

The groomer will have to tell his or her discoveries to the pet’s owner.

Owners might request a certain look for the dog, such as coloring the fur of the nails.

You’ll have to know how to perform these procedures without harming the dog.

In some instances, you’ll have to give some indications to owners on how to maintain the appearance of their pets.

Training and Certification

Holding a certification in Maryland is not mandatory, but is something you should consider if you hope to develop a career in this field.

Certification is obtained by enrolling in a pet grooming training school.

Usually, a period of apprenticeship is also needed by these professionals.

As a rule, there are no requirements to enroll in the training programs for this profession.

It will be preferable to hold a high school diploma or GED, though.

The certification issued by the National Dog Groomers Association of America is the one preferred throughout the country.

Employment and Salary

It’s very common for dog grooming trainees to find a job in this industry before getting certified.

The places where finding positions the easiest are:

• Humane societies
• Pet stores
• Veterinarian clinics

The median salary in Maryland for dog groomers is $35,776 annually, though a series of aspects influence the income of a person.

Some of the aspects are:

• Experience
• Whether this is a full or a part-time job
• Competition in the city

Several cities, including Germantown, Silver Spring, Waldorf, and Rockville, offer higher median salaries to those working in this field.

Additional Information

Many pet groomers specialize in offering the best service to a single breed of dog, or rarer breeds.

They can earn more money this way.

Those running an independent business in this industry might need to obtain proper licenses from their local authorities.

Dog Grooming by State