What made you want to become a dog groomer?

After I finished school I imagined I would go to college. I have always been an animal lover, I have my own horse and I used to walk dogs. I am somebody who would like to be hands-on rather than looking at a computer screen. I knew I wanted to do something with animals but I found it difficult to find the right college course for me.

I ended up studying for an arts degree but after a year, I decided it wasn’t for me. That was when I decided to look into animal-related courses outside of the regular colleges. I came across dog training and grooming and had an interest in both. I did complete an online course for training but found it hard to find somewhere I could study it in person. I then decided to try a QQI course in dog grooming and never looked back.

What qualifications did you need to get before opening your business?

Unfortunately, dog grooming is an unregulated service meaning no formal qualifications are required. For myself, I began by completing a QQI course in dog grooming. This course taught me the basics and was enough to help me reach the decision that I did want to become a groomer full time.

After this I researched numerous courses and I settled on a six-month private course in a working salon. I received a distinction in both courses. After this I worked in a further two salons. Hands-on experience is a must and it is great to work with others as there is always more to learn.

What is your favourite breed of dog to groom?

My favourite breed of dog to groom would probably be a retriever. As they are a double-coated breed they should not have their coat clipped. Lots of owners request a short clip for the summer as they are unaware that clipping the coat can damage it. I will always encourage them to allow me to remove the dead undercoat and tidy the feathering. Using specialised equipment such as high velocity dryers, shampoos, and brushes we can remove a huge amount of hair without having to clip the coat at all.

Thankfully, owners come back shocked at how we have transformed their hairy dog into a skinny pup and delighted that they agreed not to clip them. It is really satisfying to see the pile of hair removed from these particular breeds and know that both the owner and dog are happy with my advice. All of that aside, I really enjoy grooming larger breeds. Retrievers have lovely natures and are always so well behaved. The only issue with them is their tails never stop wagging!

What is your typical day like?

At Woof ‘n’ Ready we operate on a one-to-one basis. This means that there is one dog in at a time being looked after by one groomer. I feel that this is the best way to run the salon as having a large number of dogs in the salon at one time can become loud and stressful. It also means that the groomer’s attention needs to be in numerous places at once. We have lots of nervous and/or rescue dogs who come to us so it is important that they feel safe in a calm environment.

The number of dogs we get through in a day depends on breeds, temperament, etc. At the end of the day we look after the admin and return any phone calls, messages or emails we missed throughout the day. With barking dogs and dryers going we can miss the phone a lot!

What’s the best thing about being a dog groomer?

There are lots of great things about being a dog groomer. As well as doing a job that I love, I get to meet a variety of both dogs and people. I am delighted that after only one year in business I have lots of regular clients whom I now know well. It is lovely to see my regular dogs as excited to see me as I am to see them. It is brilliant to see puppies who have come to me from a young age grow up and behave so well in the salon knowing that I have helped desensitise them and have made grooming a pleasant part of their life.

Obviously playing with dogs after their grooms is another big perk! I also love helping dogs. Grooming is not just a cosmetic procedure. Grooming is a vital part of a dog’s health and well-being. It is amazing when I get to help dogs who are matted. When you remove tight knots that have been tugging on a dogs skin or cut nails that have curled back into the paw pads, there is no better feeling than seeing the dog jump around like a puppy afterwards and knowing how much better they feel thanks to you.

What’s the most challenging thing about being a dog groomer?

Grooming is a physically demanding job. You are on your feet all day and often dealing with large breeds who are much stronger than you. There are also some dogs who simply don’t like being groomed and don’t co-operate. This can be a challenge but I always try my best to figure out the best way to get the dog groomed as fast and as comfortably as possible.

‘Humanity before vanity’ is my motto and sometimes the dog might not leave the salon looking like a show dog but they will leave feeling happier rather than stressed. Understanding and meeting owner’s requests can also be a challenge. As everybody’s dog is their baby you want to style them as best you can according to the owners requests. Communication and clarification is key. I have learnt the hard way that everybody’s definition of ‘short’ is different so talking and checking with the owner as much as possible is really important.

What advice do you have for people wanting to work in dog grooming?

I would advise those wanting to work in the dog grooming industry to get as much hands-on experience as possible.

Complete courses, work experience and apprenticeships if you can. Practice on friends’ and family’s dogs.

I would not recommend online courses on their own as you cannot compare written knowledge with hands-on experience. There is a lot of skill involved and we are using sharp scissors and blades very close to the skin so you need to be trained properly.

At the end of the day, we are working on a moving animal who won’t always stay when you ask. Another piece of advice would be to know your worth.

As I said, this is a highly skilled trade that not just anybody can do, so do not undervalue yourself. And remember that as a dog groomer you are not just playing with dogs all day. A large part of the grooming is customer service. We are constantly dealing with people and trying to adhere to their requests so you must be able to communicate with your clients – both two- and four-legged.

What things do you wish you knew before you started your dog grooming business?

I would like to have known more about the business side. I would also like to have known that owning your own business is not just a nine-to-five job. Although it is brilliant to be able to choose your own hours, there is a lot of work to be done after a day of grooming.

I spend a lot of time in the evenings and on my days off working on accounts, tax, budgeting, etc. As it is my own business I want it to be as successful as it can be, so it can sometimes be hard to switch off and take the time out.