Dog Grooming Career

Work With Pets

How often have you thought about having a career with animals? If you love dogs and want to be in a creative field, then a dog grooming career may be right for you. Professional dog groomers provide a service that contributes to the overall health and well-being of pets. In addition to giving pets stylish cuts, a professional dog groomer will also complete sanitary check-ups and check for mats.

Why You Should Become a Dog Groomer

The demand for professional dog grooming services is projected to increase by 11% from 2014 to 2024—faster than the average for all occupations.¹ This represents one of the largest growth opportunities available as the pet care industry continues to expand, giving you many possibilities to start a pet grooming career or pursue other animal careers

Where Dog Groomers Can Work

As a dog groomer, you may have the opportunity to work at a variety of locations, such as:

Grooming salons
Mobile grooming facilities
Animal shelters
Veterinary clinics
Doggie daycares
Pet supply stores
Kennels
Your own business

Why Become an ABC Certified Pet Groomer (ABCPG)

The ABC Dog Grooming Program provides you the knowledge and skills to gently and effectively groom pets. Our program combines an online dog grooming course with hands-on training. Dog grooming is a physical animal job, which is why we require you to complete an extensive externship in a qualified grooming facility near you.

Gain Hands-On Training Experience

Becoming a dog groomer requires more than textbook know-how; it requires hands-on training experience. This is why we require our pet grooming students to spend a minimum of 150 hours at a grooming facility. There, you’ll get to observe and assist professional dog groomers. You’ll also be able to practice what you’ve already learned and experience a dog grooming career first-hand.

Get Your Pet Groomer Certification

Having an ABC Pet Groomer Certification has the potential to give you an advantage when applying for dog grooming jobs. As an ABC Certified Pet Groomer (ABCPG), you have the most up-to-date knowledge on proper grooming techniques and tools that may prove useful in your dog grooming career. 81% of all groomers surveyed by PetGroomer.com stated they would prefer to hire graduates with grooming skills.² This is another reason why ABC includes hands-on training in our dog grooming program.

^{1. Bureau of Labor Statistics}
^{2. State of the Grooming Industry 2016 Report by PetGroomer.com}