How to Become a Dog Groomer in West Virginia

If you’re an animal lover from West Virginia in search of a job, you can consider becoming a dog stylist.

Dog groomers have a lucrative occupation that is easy to enter.

Here you’ll learn more about the job itself as well as what you should do to become a pet groomer.

Dog Groomer Job Requirements

In West Virginia, future dog groomers need to have a high school diploma or an equivalent.

There are no requirements when it comes to minimum age or specialty training.

Other aspects decide if you’re a good candidate for this position or not.

For instance, good communication skills are very important as you’ll interact daily with people as well, not just dogs.

Speaking of dogs, depending on where you work, you might come in contact with other animals as well, most notably cats.

This is especially true for animal rescues and shelters.

In these places, you might even come across injured animals that need their fur removed to facilitate treatment.

In such situations, compassion and patience will be useful, as you’ll be working with animals in pain or scared.

Many pet groomers spend a lot of time standing, so being in good physical shape is pretty important for this position.

Dog Groomer Job Description and Responsibilities

If you never had to go to a dog groomer, you probably don’t really know what this job is all about.

Taking care of the animals’ appearance is just a part of the job.

You’ll also have to make sure to clean your work station, disinfect it, as well as ensuring that your tools are clean and in good working condition.

When you welcome the client and their companion, you’re supposed to give the pet a quick inspection to see if there are any skin or fur issues.

Sometimes the owner will point them out but this is not always the case.

You’ll have to be very careful when performing this inspection as you could discover early signs of serious illness that the owner should know about.

The duties that relate directly to grooming include: 

• Nail cutting
• Ears and eyes cleaning
• Applying shampoo and rinsing it off
• Applying conditioner
• Drying and styling the fur of the animal
•  Cutting the fur or shaving the animal
• Performing the finishing touches

Dog Groomer Training and Certification in West Virginia

Training and certification are not mandatory either, however, many employers prefer candidates who graduated from a training program and obtained certification.

Finding a training program is relatively easy especially since you can complete one online as well.

Accreditation from the National Dog Grooming Association of America is needed for these classes.

This Association issues a nationally recognized and accepted certification, thus the best one to have.

The programs are generally short, around 70 hours long, spread over a couple of months.

You’ll see many people who enroll in apprenticeship programs which are another popular way of entering this industry.

Dog Groomer Employment and Salary Information

You have many options when it comes to finding employment:

• Pet stores
• Vet clinics
• Animal rescues
• Pet grooming salons

Your salary will depend on the city you work in, the facility you work for, as well as your skills.

Regional Salary in West Virginia

Dog Grooming Schools in West Virginia

Additional Information

Just like any other stylist, you should continue improving your skills by enrolling in workshops and other dog grooming-related events.

With the appropriate business license, you can even open your own grooming salon for dogs.

Dog Grooming by State