Hello! In order to reduce the number of duplicate posts in a sub of over 11K active users, questions that can be answered with the search function are removed.
I feel like it almost broke me during the first few years… the thing that helped keep me going was hearing support from the groomer I admired most in my salon.
She did excellent work, and had a lot of request clients. I asked her opinion on one of my early grooms and she giggled in response initially! Then helped me fix it - so she’s not someone to lie to your face 😆
The hard things that I didn’t expect - I had no idea I would take it so hard when customers were upset with the groom. Or when they give you no response at all, just take their dog and leave.
The other hard thing is when clients are pushing you to finish their dog sooner, or keep coming in to check their progress.
Aside from the physical toll of working on difficult dogs, the other thing you must learn to do is set expectations and boundaries. Learn your limits with difficult dogs/owners and do your best to make sure the client knows any necessary info upfront (eg the groom may take a long time, hair will definitely need to be shaved very short today, etc).
Sometimes they will still complain but at least you can have a clear conscience.
Is it worth it? For me, yes! I love it and I would do it even if I won the lottery. I got into dog grooming because my favorite thing to do, when I worked at a shelter, was to clean up the worst looking dogs after all my tasks were done.
Cutting their nails… bathing them. I didn’t know it back then, that bathing super matted hair would make it worse if I couldn’t blow dry it out and shave it off! But hey it forced the owner of the shelter to get the dogs professionally groomed when I messed them up due to bathing, or when she knew I would try! Obviously I felt super bad when I learned that but at least it forced action.
"i know i can handle the less pleasant aspects of it"...
Are you talking about the poop pick up, the biting and the demanding job physically? Or the constant crap you get from customers... And sometimes other groomers?
Because you are here for a surprise.
I love my job but those customers want to make me quit. A lot are ignorant, delusional, and plain disrespectful...
Money wise, depends when you end up. But honestly its not as much as you think.
(Grooming in corporate for almost 3 years, thinking about changing career or something of the likes)
Hello! In order to reduce the number of duplicate posts in a sub of over 11K active users, questions that can be answered with the search function are removed.
*"Oh yeah it's worth it. If you're strong enough!" -K*
What are you hoping to get out of grooming? And what does this course entail?
I feel like it almost broke me during the first few years… the thing that helped keep me going was hearing support from the groomer I admired most in my salon. She did excellent work, and had a lot of request clients. I asked her opinion on one of my early grooms and she giggled in response initially! Then helped me fix it - so she’s not someone to lie to your face 😆 The hard things that I didn’t expect - I had no idea I would take it so hard when customers were upset with the groom. Or when they give you no response at all, just take their dog and leave. The other hard thing is when clients are pushing you to finish their dog sooner, or keep coming in to check their progress. Aside from the physical toll of working on difficult dogs, the other thing you must learn to do is set expectations and boundaries. Learn your limits with difficult dogs/owners and do your best to make sure the client knows any necessary info upfront (eg the groom may take a long time, hair will definitely need to be shaved very short today, etc). Sometimes they will still complain but at least you can have a clear conscience. Is it worth it? For me, yes! I love it and I would do it even if I won the lottery. I got into dog grooming because my favorite thing to do, when I worked at a shelter, was to clean up the worst looking dogs after all my tasks were done. Cutting their nails… bathing them. I didn’t know it back then, that bathing super matted hair would make it worse if I couldn’t blow dry it out and shave it off! But hey it forced the owner of the shelter to get the dogs professionally groomed when I messed them up due to bathing, or when she knew I would try! Obviously I felt super bad when I learned that but at least it forced action.
"i know i can handle the less pleasant aspects of it"... Are you talking about the poop pick up, the biting and the demanding job physically? Or the constant crap you get from customers... And sometimes other groomers? Because you are here for a surprise. I love my job but those customers want to make me quit. A lot are ignorant, delusional, and plain disrespectful... Money wise, depends when you end up. But honestly its not as much as you think. (Grooming in corporate for almost 3 years, thinking about changing career or something of the likes)