Building Bonds and Beautifying Dogs: How Dog Grooming Schools Foster Canine Well-Being

Can you learn dog grooming by practicing on neighborhood dogs, shadowing a groomer or getting a job at a dog spa? Possibly, but chances are pretty slim that you would learn everything you need to know; there is so much more to dog grooming than just clipping fur.

And when you consider that dog owners are trusting you with their beloved pets, you owe it to them to provide the most conscientious, knowledgeable care possible.

October is National Pet Wellness Month, so it’s a great time to explore dog grooming schools and their impact on the lives of our fur babies. Too many dog parents think of groomers in the same way they view human hair stylists: that they exist mainly to keep up a pup’s looks. They don’t realize the health aspects of dog grooming and the role groomers play in maintaining canine fitness and mental health. Dog groomers are a valuable partner in the overall well-being of pets.

Advantages of Becoming a Certified Dog Groomer

Naturally, dog grooming schools teach students grooming and bathing techniques, how to trim nails, and how to safely handle dogs, but relationship-building is important, too. You want to create a positive bond with owners and dogs alike because, hopefully, it will be a long relationship. You want your clients to be able to trust you completely, and you want their dogs to feel familiar and comfortable as you work with them.

It is important to foster a good relationship with the dogs you groom. The more care taken to make sure a dog feels comfortable and relaxed during the grooming process, the better. A dog that is at ease is far less likely to get hurt–or hurt you.

One of the many advantages of attending dog grooming school and getting certified is learning to recognize skin problems and other medical disorders. While dog groomers are not medical professionals and should never claim to be, when you work so closely with individual animals, you recognize what is normal for them and what isn’t. As you work on a dog’s coat, for instance, you may find bumps, moles, or skin irritations or pests like ticks and fleas that the owner may not have noticed.

Keeping a dog clipped, clean, and frequently brushed has other advantages. Aside from removing dead hair, it increases airflow to the skin and can improve circulation. This is extremely beneficial for dogs with long, thick coats. Regular visits to the groomer keep a dog’s coat healthy and free from matting.

Groomers also clean dogs’ ears, reducing the chance of infection. Clipping their toenails prevents them from growing too long and causing pain.

Untrained Dog Groomers Can Cause Great Harm

Unskilled, uneducated groomers can do a lot of damage. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) report that groomers have caused a variety of injuries and deaths among dogs. Among other things, dogs have been badly cut, incurred heat exhaustion from dryers, strangled, and sustained fatal injuries from being beaten, kicked, or thrown.

So many of these horrific incidents could have been avoided had the groomers been properly taught to use grooming tools, monitor and observe the animals in their care, and deal with frightened, stressed-out dogs. Dog grooming schools cover these types of aspects of animal welfare.

Animal Behavior College Can Prepare You for a Successful Dog Grooming Career

Taking a course from a dog grooming school and getting certified allows you to attain the necessary skills and knowledge to become a well-rounded, top notch dog groomer. The Animal Behavior College Grooming Instruction Program provides excellent career training, phenomenal student support, and it can be completed in about 12 months.

If you are serious about becoming the best dog groomer you can be, check out the advantages of Animal Behavior College and the stories of students who went on to have great careers. For questions or to get started on the path to your own career as a dog groomer, call 800-795-3294.