Dog Grooming Schools

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Dog Grooming Schools

Pet grooming schools can be found in almost all U.S. states as well as other countries.

Pet grooming schools will give you the training to help you achieve a rewarding career working with animals. With the education you receive from a pet grooming school, you can open your own pet grooming company or work for a business in the industry. Since there is no governing body that decides what each school must teach or what skills must be achieved to graduate, pet grooming programs are available in a wide variety. With this understanding, a potential student must research and determine the depth of education needed when choosing an appropriate school.

Location

Pet grooming schools are located in almost every state in the U.S., as well as in Canada, the UK and Australia, among other countries. Notable exceptions, where dog grooming schools are not found, include the states of Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming. Pet grooming schools tend to be located in areas with a high population. Some states, such as California, have over 10 pet grooming schools. Overall, if pet grooming is a career you intend to lead, you will not have to travel too far to find a school that offers instruction.

Admission Requirements

Admission to a pet grooming school is fairly open. Most schools require that an enrolling student have a high school diploma or GED. If a student has graduated from high school but is not yet 18 years of age, a parent or legal guardian will need to give consent and register the student. A basic interview and test is also a requirement of most grooming schools. Due to the physical work involved in the trade, persons with physical handicaps may not be able to fully complete the tasks needed to graduate. Talking with an admissions consultant about any physical limitations is recommended.

Fees/Length of Program

The length of a pet grooming program differs from school to school. The Merryfield Pet Grooming school in Florida offers a program that can be completed in 37 weeks, whereas the program at the California School of Dog Grooming can be completed in as little as 15 weeks. Since there is no overseeing institution that dictates what must be taught in a dog grooming program, it is best to determine how much training you wish to receive and how much time and money you are willing to invest. Programs that take longer to complete will, understandably, be more in-depth in their training. Likewise, fees differ from program to program and can range anywhere from $4,000 to $10,000 for tuition, textbooks and equipment, as of early 2011.

Lessons

The training taught at pet grooming schools always focuses on cleaning, combing, brushing, trimming, shaving and other grooming techniques, but may also cover breed identification, animal behavior and characteristics and handling techniques. Some schools also cover topics such as shop organization and customer relations, giving the student a fully-rounded education on start a career in pet grooming. Various schools also integrate "work placement" programs in which students utilize the techniques they have learned in an actual work environment.

Accreditation

There is no nationally or internationally recognized accreditation for pet grooming. Each school awards its own diploma, certificate or completion of program. However, a good pet grooming school will be licensed by the state as a vocational school. When researching pet grooming schools, ask for proof of licensing or contact the Better Business Bureau to see if the school you are considering has any complaints registered against it.

10 good facts

Thursday, December 19, 2013