Pet Groomer
Pet groomers professionally groom dogs, cats and other pets. More specifically, a horse groom specializes in grooming, tacking and bathing horses. A pet groomer is responsible for the maintenance of an animal’s coat to avoid injury or matting. A pet groomer also provides customers with specific procedures for their pets to achieve a level of visual appeal.
Career Also Referred To As:
- Pet stylist
- Horse groom
What Responsibilities Will I Have?
- Greet clients and pets professionally and gather the client’s instructions for grooming
- Bathe and clean pets prior to grooming
- Groom pets by brushing and clipping fur, filing and clipping nails, and cleaning ears and teeth to the preference of the client
- Perform dematting procedures to reduce animal’s risk of injury and pain
- Administer grooming while ensuring animal welfare
- Recognize skin or coat issues as well as parasites, injury or disease symptoms to report to pet owners
- Maintain a clean and sanitary work environment including sweeping or vacuuming grooming area after each pet has been groomed
- Clean tub and grooming equipment after each grooming and perform necessary sanitizing procedures
- Instruct owners and clients on proper washing care for their pets
- Schedule, book and verify appointments
- Maintain records on pet care, scheduling and owner information
- Keep inventory of grooming products, such as shampoo and soap
Recommended High School Courses:
- agricultural education, especially animal science
- anatomy
- biology
Education/Training Required:
A high school diploma is required to become a pet groomer along with a certain level of experience, typically as an apprentice or trainee. There are also pet grooming programs available.
