Any dog Groomers here?

[Shalamar]

I am very interested in getting into dog grooming. My ultimate goal would be to have my own shop someday. I would just like to know how you all got to were you are today.
I've seen dog grooming schools and was wondering what you thought of them, would it be worth going to for training? I know they are very expensive, I've only seen them for $3000-6000. Do you think its worth it? I am a Licensed Vet Tech, not sure if that would help me at all. Would I need some sort of certification in order to groom?
Just let me know how you dog groomers got started, any websites would be helpful too.
I am western new york, if anyone knows of any schools in that area (rochester is about an hour drive so I could drive there, or could stay with family in Ithaca if there is a course there)
Absolutely any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

[beth55051]

One of my best friends is a dog groomer. She started out by working part time at a boarding kennel feeding the animals and doing the ocasional bath, then she worked up to just grooming, bathing and learning to clip under the owner.

She now also manages a grooming salon.

She never went to school, she did "apprentice" for quite some time before getting a "real" job grooming. Otherwise she's learned the specialty cuts out of books and from other professional groomers.

[tuffsmom]

My best advice is to find a dog groomer in your area that will train you. They usually have have you start out as a bather and you move up from there. My sister got a job at a pet shop 35 years ago and worked with the groomers there. She worked her way up to a groomer. She owns her own shop and is now training a couple of new girls.

[wildcat180]

A couple of the best groomers I've known have never set foot inside a "formal" grooming school. Some of the worst groomers I have known graduated from them.

It's not the schooling, it's the experience that matters. If you can handle the dog AND get it groomed up nicely, you'll build your own customer base, even if you work for someone else.

Like other posters have said, find a shop to work in that will train you. But research them. If the dogs leaving look like crap, you obviously don't want to work there.

I did the whole grooming thing for a few years. You can't pay me enough to do it again. But good luck to you!

[pasomystic]

I did the whole grooming thing for a few years. You can't pay me enough to do it again. But good luck to you!

Afraid I agree, lol. A lot of work--especially with the larger woolier breeds, lol.

I also agree that experience and hands on learning under a good groomer in a busy shop is usually the best way to go--plus, you may be able to be paid to learn, as I was, instead of paying for a course!

[rebels mom]

I started at the poopie end at a boarding and grooming facility and now I am Manager and full-time groomer.

[repetesis]

Well, I used to raise and show Am Cockers. I groomed them my self, was self taught. Then I decided I wanted to open my own shop. So I took a grooming course. But and this is a big BUT, I did my research before I signed on the dotted line.
There are 100's even 1000's of Grooming schools out there. I asked questions and decided on going to a school with a CMG (she was also the tester for BC). And she has been on Groom Team Canada for several years. When you come out of her course you have done your written exam and only need to take the practial exam to get your Certified Master Groomer. If your not good she wont pass you! From her I learned a lot. Much more than working, cleaning cages and washing dogs!
Your experiance with being a vet tech is a big advantage, you know dogs well.
You could go to petcetra or one of those and start at the bottem and work your way up. Then you get paid while you work.
And, I own and run my own shop. You can make pretty decent money grooming.
So, good luck on what whatever you decide to do.