Build a career as a dog groomer

By Lydia Limbe

Kenya: Do you love dogs? Did you know that you could build a career as a dog groomer?

Dog groomers keep dogs’ coats in good condition. They also give their owners advice on coat care, grooming and diet. If you love dogs and want a skilled job, this job could be ideal for you.

To be a dog groomer, you should have the ability to handle dogs firmly, yet gently. This means having the ability to calm and control nervous dogs. To this, you also need to add patience and attention to detail.

Most of the dog groomers in Kenya are either expatriates or veterinary officers. You could train as a dog groomer by finding work with a qualified, experienced groomer and training/apprenticing on the job. There is no college in Kenya offering dog grooming courses, but the market is assured as more people are adopting dogs.

As a dog groomer, you would start by discussing with the owner what grooming they would like, whether the dog is used to being groomed and what its handling requirements are. You would also check for any sore areas or lumps on the dog’s skin, and for fleas or parasites.

You would then shape the dog’s coat with electric clippers or a stripping knife, shampoo and dry the dog’s coat and give a final trim with scissors. Sometimes you would be required to also clip the dog’s claws and clean their teeth and ears.

You would often follow standards for how different breeds should look. Poodles, for example, are usually clipped to a particular shape. This is particularly important when dogs are being prepared for a show.

Most groomers across the globe are self-employed, meaning they plan their own working hours.

The work can be quite physically demanding, especially when servicing larger breeds. It can also be dusty and hairy, and may not be suitable for some people with allergies. If you, however, think you can hack it, research and get right on it.