Dog Grooming: The Perfect Job for Stay-at-Home Parents

A Work-From-Home Job You’ll Love

Being a stay-at-home parent is a choice made with careful thought and love. You want to be available for your kids at any time they might need you, and staying home is often the best way to achieve that. Some parents who choose this lifestyle might be interested in a work-from-home job to add more variety to their lives. However, finding a job that is fulfilling and can work around your parenting schedule isn’t an easy task.

For the animal lovers among these parents, there is a perfect solution: become a professional dog groomer.

Becoming a dog groomer is the perfect remote job for stay-at-home parents who need flexibility in their schedule. With options of working part-time for a grooming company, or starting a pet grooming business of your own, you can start making money while working around your own and your family’s needs. Being a dog groomer also has the added perk of getting paid to spend time with dogs, which is a pretty great way to spend your working hours.

Why Become a Dog Groomer?

Becoming a dog groomer has more benefits than just a flexible schedule. Dog groomers are in high demand, and the demand is likely to grow. According to Consumer Affairs, pet ownership among Millennials has surpassed that of older generations, and their willingness to pay for pet services and products is also much higher. This means there are plenty of opportunities for those who are certified and experienced.

For stay-at-home parents, one of those opportunities can include running their own business from home. This could empower a stay-at-home parent, giving him the freedom to schedule as many or as few appointments to accommodate his schedule. And as his kids grow and enter school, the parent can start upping his hours with his newfound freedom.

What Do Dog Groomers Do?

Dog groomers have a myriad of tasks and services that they offer pet owners. These include:

• Bathing
• Nail clipping
• Ear cleaning
• General trimming
• Grooming fur

These are tasks that many pet owners don’t feel comfortable doing themselves for various reasons. For example, many owners fear the dog nail trimming process. They’re scared they might cut too far and injure the quick of their pet’s nails.

Other times, pet owners lack the equipment and home setup to properly groom their pets. Anyone with large dogs knows how difficult it can be to get them in the bathtub, and the resulting clogged drain from all the loose fur is more than enough motivation to take his dog to a facility to get professionally groomed.

There are also dogs of all sizes that have high maintenance coats that require specific grooming techniques and style (think show dogs). People are willing to pay for these services because of the convenience and expertise they get out of it and, of course, a happy and well-groomed pet.

How to Become a Dog Groomer

With technology as advanced as it is these days, it’s easier than ever for someone to get certified as a professional dog groomer. A dog grooming program that combines online classes with hands-on, real-world training is the perfect option for busy stay-at-home parents. Online classes are self-paced, meaning you can take classes around your own schedule and take the time you need to understand the material.

A complete curriculum will also cover grooming techniques that range from basic to breed-specific as well as health and safety information surrounding the profession. Along with an externship with a professional groomer, the certification process will prepare you for a dog grooming career.

Online education is legitimate, and just as thorough and effective as traditional schooling. The only difference is the flexibility and self-paced nature that allows people — like busy parents — to work the schooling around their own schedule and location. In the end, they come out with the same level of education as someone who went traditional.

Becoming a certified dog groomer is a win-win-win situation for stay-at-home parents: a flexible schedule, a creative and challenging outlet that generates cash, and the chance to work with dogs. That’s about as good as life gets!