The Digital Groomer: Is Online Dog Grooming Training Effective?

My journey to becoming a dog groomer almost ended before it began because of my misconceptions about online schools. If you want to become a groomer but are skeptical about online schools–as I was–I’d like to share my story. In Animal Behavior College, I found a hybrid program that offers a perfect blend of online classes and real-world experience with a mentor.

My Dog Groomer Journey

To go back to the beginning, I was never particularly a dog person, but about five years ago, a stray puppy toddled up my front porch steps. Those eyes! It was late, so I let him stay “just for one night.” You can probably guess the rest of the story.

I named him Frito, and he was definitely in need of a good trim. The local groomers were booked solid for weeks. When I finally did get a grooming appointment for Frito, I got a bad case of sticker shock. My dog’s groomer makes more than my own hair stylist!

That’s when it clicked. I’d been looking for a side gig to help me get out of debt faster. Becoming a groomer seemed like the perfect answer–more groomers were obviously in need in my area–and if I learned how to groom dogs I’d save myself a ton of money on Frito’s grooming services.

Finding the Right Dog Grooming Course

When I decided to become a dog groomer, I assumed I could find a grooming school near me and take classes in person. When I Googled dog grooming schools, though, I just kept coming up with online programs. The single brick and mortar school I found was an hour and a half away. With a full-time job, driving a total of three hours every time I went to class was not possible.

Even though it seemed like my only option, I really didn’t think an online school was the answer. How on earth could you learn a physical skill like dog grooming just by watching videos or reading about it online? Sure, you wouldn’t necessarily need an in-person course to learn about some things, like anatomy, breed characteristics, and safety and hygiene. Maybe you could even get a basic idea of the different types of grooming cuts and techniques via an online course; but without hands-on practice and someone to guide you in person, how would you ever master the skills? You couldn’t!

So I rejected the idea of an online school. Still, I kept searching. As I explored my choices, I kept coming back to Animal Behavior College. I assumed they were an online program like all the others, but one day I finally clicked on them and found my assumption was totally wrong.

What’s It Like Learning Online?

The way ABC approaches dog grooming training is brilliant, offering the best of both worlds. Their certification program is not an online grooming course but a hybrid of online learning and in-person training, or “externship,” with a mentor.

After speaking to an admissions counselor to learn more, I enrolled in ABC’s Grooming Instruction Program.

Once I got started, I couldn’t imagine trading the ABC experience for a brick and mortar school! Instead of wasting time and money traveling to an in person school for classes on the more academic aspects of grooming, I could sit in my living room and learn online. (It is the 21st century after all. Why not take advantage of technology?) Actually, my “classroom” could be anywhere. On Saturday mornings, I liked setting up at a dog-friendly coffee shop where I could work with Frito curled up at my feet.

The content was engaging, and the videos were especially helpful. If I got stuck, I could always turn to ABC and their program manager team, who are all groomers themselves!

When I started my externship at a local grooming salon, I knew I’d made the right decision. I loved transforming dogs, making them look and feel better. My mentor was awesome, and so patient. Sure, I made a few mistakes, but thankfully none that my mentor couldn’t help me clean up.

A year after I made that first call to ABC, I completed the program and earned my certification!

No Reservations

I have no reservations recommending ABC’s grooming program to anyone who wants to start a career as a groomer. In combination with the experience I got working with my mentor, online learning was a wonderful experience. I love being a groomer, and I’m about to take the plunge and open my own business (ABC’s curriculum helped with that, too, and the alumni support is awesome). Wish me luck!