There is a misconception amongst some people that all you need to become a professional dog groomer is dog grooming training, some scissors, a comb and off you go.
Hopefully, you already know that is not the case, and whilst having the right tools, accessories and proper dog grooming training are essential, more is needed if you truly want to be successful and earn the right to be called a professional dog groomer.
Just as with many other professional careers, the training and the tools are not enough to be a professional dog groomer, so the question that follows is quite rightly, “What else do I need?”.
Well, read on and we will outline what we believe it takes to be a great dog groomer and one that clients, and more importantly, their dogs, will want to return to time and again.
A Dog Lover
Although this might seem obvious you would be amazed at how many professionals do not like the clients they are dealing with.
When it comes to dog grooming you must appreciate that each dog has an individual personality rather than you just regarding them as an animal.
The greater love of dogs that you have, the more you will want to ensure that you give every grooming appointment 100%.
Lots Of Patience
At first reading you might think that the patience we are referring to is the patience you will need to deal with dogs who do not cooperate, are excitable, and would rather run around than sit still whilst you groom them.
Patience is needed for all that, but, in addition, patience with dog owners will also be needed as they will often be the ones that try your patience more than their dogs.
Organisational Skills
To maximise your earnings from dog grooming you must treat what you do as a business. As such, being organised is one of the most important qualities you must have.
A robust appointment system, a client database including information about each dog, an ordering schedule for consumables like dog shampoo, and even ensuring you get your car regularly serviced if you work mobile, are just some examples.
A Willingness To Learn
Even once you complete your dog grooming training, you must see that as the start of your learning, rather than the end.
Being a professional dog groomer means you want to learn as much as you can about your vocation.
This will include continually wanting to learn the latest grooming techniques, grooming rarer breeds, and looking for information on new grooming accessories.
Creativity
You will soon learn that there are dog owners who see their dog as an extension of their personality, and so you will often be asked to ‘be creative’ when it comes to grooming and styling their dog’s coat.
This means that as well as knowing the dog grooming basics, you will also need some creativity and imagination when styling certain dogs.
A Great Communicator
This is another trait that will apply both when communicating with the dogs you are grooming and with their owners.
This applies especially to your listening skills and in particular listening to dog owners when they are explaining what they would like done for their dog.
The last thing you want is to give Fido an all-over trim when all the client wanted was their coat shampooed.
Marketing Skills
We touch once again on the fact that dog grooming if done professionally, should be regarded as a business.
For any business to be successful it needs to have a steady stream of new clients, and that is why marketing will play such an important role.
With the internet, you have an almost limitless number of options to market your dog grooming business online, which, added to any offline marketing you do, should mean your appointment diary is never sparse.