by 
If you are an animal lover with a flair for style, you may be considering becoming a dog groomer.
At first glance, it seems like a perfect career.
You spend your days pampering pups and making them beautiful.
What’s not to love?
Does the reality live up to the hype?
Let’s find out.
Article Table of Contents
Pros of Being a Dog Groomer
First, let’s take a look at the benefits of being a dog groomer.
Pros of being a dog groomer include:
- Be Your Boss
- Work with Dogs
- Interact with Pet Owners
- Lots of Job Opportunities
- Little to No Education Required
- Work Where and When You Want
- Stay Up to Date on Trends
- Immediate Gratification
- Can Make a Good Income
1. Be Your Boss
Most dog groomers own their own business.
However, you can also choose to work for places that offer dog grooming services, like Petsmart.
Owning your own business puts you in control of your schedule and earnings, and you won’t have to answer to a boss.
If you are an independent person, this can be a great benefit of being a dog groomer.
2. Work with Dogs
This is likely the best benefit of being a dog groomer.
Dog lovers typically love all dogs, not just their own.
It’s hard to imagine anything better than spending your day with pooches and making new canine friends.
You’ll get to see different types of dogs, and may even learn about a few new breeds while being a dog groomer.
3. Interact with Pet Owners
While you’ll be working directly with dogs, you’ll also interact with their owners.
This can allow you to make some new friends or at least acquaintances.
Pet owners typically return to the same dog groomer regularly, so you can get to know your two-legged clients over time.
4. Lots of Job Opportunities
Dog grooming and related pet professions are expected to grow by 29%, which is several times faster than the average growth rate for careers.
This gives you job security.
You won’t have to worry about technology eliminating your job either, as this is a profession that requires a human to do the work.
5. Little to No Education Required
You can get started as a dog groomer with nothing but a love for dogs and a few basic tools, no education or training is required.
Of course, if you don’t know what you are doing, you won’t do very well, so you may want to consider taking a training course or two.
Another option is to start with an apprenticeship.
This is the method typically recommended by dog groomers, as it allows you to get hands-on experience under the supervision of an experienced groomer.
It can also help you to land clients when you step out on your own.
If you want to work for a corporation, Petsmart offers a paid training program that lasts for 800 hours.
6. Work Where and When You Want
Being a dog groomer gives you lots of options.
You can work from your home, or rent a small space for dog grooming.
Mobile dog groomers are popular, and do their work out of van designed for the purpose.
You’ll also be able to set your hours if you are self-employed, at least in theory.
We’ll talk about how this typically works more in the cons section.
7. Stay Up to Date on Trends
If you enjoy staying up to date on doggie fashion, you can consider that part of your job description as a dog groomer.
To serve your customers, you’ll want to be aware of the latest styles.
Imagine browsing dog magazines as part of your workday.
8. Immediate Gratification
One of the best benefits of being a dog groomer is that it gives you immediate gratification.
You’ll take dirty, shaggy, and often uncomfortable dogs, and make them beautiful, clean, and ideally, happy.
If you enjoy seeing the results of your work, dog grooming might be the right career for you.
9. Can Make a Good Income
Dog groomers earn an average of $25 an hour, with hourly rates ranging from $15 an hour to $43 an hour.
If you are self-employed, you’ll set your rates.
However, there’s certainly a compromise between what you want to earn and what customers are willing to pay.
Generally, the more experience and skill you have as a groomer, the more you will earn.
Cons of Being a Dog Groomer
Along with the benefits of being a dog groomer, there are some downsides.
The cons of being a dog groomer include:
- Physically Demanding
- Apprenticeship pay is low
- Financial Instability
- Difficult Dogs
- Difficult Owners
- Some Dogs Require a lot of Grooming
- Working Weekends
1. Physically Demanding
Being a dog groomer is rewarding, but it’s also physically demanding.
You may find yourself wrestling a Great Dane or lifting a German Shepard onto your grooming table.
You’ll spend long periods on your feet and need a reasonable amount of physical strength and endurance to be a dog groomer.
2. Apprenticeship Pay Is Low
If you choose to do an apprenticeship, you can expect to make a low wage until you complete the apprenticeship.
However, this can lead to you making more money in the long run.
3. Financial Instability
This brings us to the next con, financial instability.
While you can earn a good living as a dog groomer, you are unlikely to make the same amount every week.
This financial unpredictability can make budgeting difficult.
You may find some seasons are busier than others, or you may have lulls where clients are hard to find.
You’ll need to be prepared for these times when you begin your career.
4. Difficult Dogs
Even the most passionate dog lovers will admit that some dogs are difficult to work with.
They may have separation anxiety, fear of the grooming tools, or aggression issues.
While most dogs will be a pleasure to work with, you’ll need to be ready to deal with difficult dogs as well.
5. Difficult Owners
Owners can be as difficult, if not more so, than the dogs themselves.
Some owners are very picky and are difficult to satisfy.
Others may want to pay less for the services you are offering or want you to offer a service that you don’t.
You may also encounter owners who don’t understand why you charge more for grooming their Great Pyrenees than you did a previous client’s chihuahua.
6. Some Dogs Require a Lot of Grooming
Of course, grooming some dogs is straightforward, while others are much more time-consuming.
You’ll need to have the patience and stamina to deal with dogs who require extra time and effort.
Be prepared for this to happen at the worst possible time, like when you are about to stop for the day.
7. Working Weekends
Being your boss means setting your hours.
However, working with clients means you’ll need to consider their schedules.
It’s difficult to have a dog grooming business without working some weekends and potentially weekday evenings because many clients can’t bring their dogs during regular business hours due to their obligations.
8. Burnout or Boredom
Not everyone who loves dogs is cut out for grooming them.
This is one reason pet owners bring their pets to groomers.
You may find yourself feeling burnout or getting bored if it’s not something you truly enjoy doing.
Pros and Cons of Being a Dog Groomer – Summary Table
| Pros of Being a Dog Groomer | Cons of Being a Dog Groomer |
|---|---|
| 1. Be Your Boss | 1. Physically Demanding |
| 2. Work with Dogs | 2. Apprenticeship Pay Is Low |
| 3. Interact with Pet Owners | 3. Financial Instability |
| 4. Lots of Job Opportunities | 4. Difficult Dogs |
| 5. Little to No Education Required | 5. Difficult Owners |
| 6. Work Where and When You Want | 6. Some Dogs Require a Lot of Grooming |
| 7. Stay Up to Date on Trends | 7. Working Weekends |
| 8. Immediate Gratification | 8. Burnout or Boredom |
| 9. Can Make a Good Income |
Should You Be a Dog Groomer?
If you love dogs and get along with people, you should consider being a dog groomer.
However, you do need to make sure that you enjoy grooming dogs, as well as hanging out with them.
Bathing a dog is a bit different than feeding them or taking them for a walk, and not everyone enjoys spending time getting a dog coat just right with a trim.
You’ll also encounter some difficult dogs and difficult clients along the way.
While education or training isn’t required, you will likely need to start with some training or an apprenticeship, which means you won’t earn as much when you start.
However, it can be very lucrative as you gain experience and clients.
You’ll also enjoy meeting new people and dogs, and develop friendships with them.
You’ll feel a sense of immediate gratification, particularly after a taxing grooming session.
It’s highly rewarding to see a dog go from a dirty mess to a beautiful coat and grateful eyes.
You’ll get a lot of appreciation and gratitude from clients as well, which can make you feel like you are doing something to make the world a little bit better.
If you have lots of patience, some physical stamina, and don’t mind taking a financial hit until you get established, being a dog groomer might be the career for you.