Is anyone here a pet groomer?

[Navah]

Hi all. My boyfriend and I eventually would like to get married and have children. We both agree that we want me to be an at home Mom to take care of the children. This being said I would also like to find a way to still work (I’m a working woman.. I can’t see me not working) but on my own time and at home.

I am seeking jobs that I can do at home by adding a section to our house (we are building next year so I’d like to add something to the plans with its own entrance). I just started looking at options and just happened to get my cat groomed today and noticed my groomer works from her home. That got me thinking into starting a grooming business.

My questions to all your groomers out there: Do you like your job? Are you satisfied at the end of the day? Do you wish you were doing something else? Do you hate your job? Is your job just a job that you really don’t like or dislike? Anything else you can let me know about being a groomer. I guess all those questions lead to one question LOL do you like being a groomer?

Thanks!!

[kiwilrdg]

I am not a groomer but I am a firm believer in trying fields out before commiting to them as a career. Grooming is a field that this is possible since most places with several groomers also have bathers. You can see a lot more of the day-to-day routine by working with the groomers than you would get from asking them what it is like.

You would also get an idea of how you would feel when confronted by the pet owners who think a dog only needs food, water, and a bath every few years or the dogs who are barely able to stand because they are picked up from their bed and carried in a purse all day.

[Jax08]

I would suggest trying to find a job with a groomer as well. There is so much more to it than just washing and brushing.

[King&Skylar]

My mother is a groomer!
She works from home (well, her building is in our backyard) and boards cats and dogs aswell.
She started when 8ish years ago, and it's her first job since she had us kids. She LOVES doing it, but says its labor-intensive, espeically in the summer with the heat. IMO, she loves it a lot, she's always outside with the animals (boarding) and grooms 2-3 dogs per day. She loves the flexibility of working for herself, i've been homebound for 5 years and back and forth to the hospital, inpt stays and appts, surgeries etc. and it's been a blessing that she was able to work and support us.

She has been talking about slowing down on the grooming because it is so much work. She started by volunteering at the SPCA to get used to different situations with animals, temperments etc. and then she went to watch another groomer, her friend before she decided it was really what she wanted to do.
then she took ICS Canada courses, dog grooming and animal sciences.
And now she supports myself, my younger brothers, herself and when needed my older brother.

Is that enough info? LOL. if you have any questions just PM me and i'll ask her specifics for you!

[Navah]

Thanks all so much! I think ill need to volenteer my time to a local groomer part time nights and weekends just to get to know how it works and if i will enjoy it.

I havent really heard (asking around with my animal friends) anyone who hated being a groomer unless they had a crappy work enviroment (boss, co-workers).

Id still like to hear everyones stories =) I have time to think about it but want to know what all of my options are.

Thats great King&Skylar that your Mom was there for everything. Thats exactly what i want to be able to do as well. Thanks for the info!

[Liesje]

I know a few groomers and the ones that hate it are the ones that work for chain stores and hate that aspect of it, not the grooming.

If you're serious about it, I'd start now because there are so many breeds and cuts you'll need to learn!