Not All Dog Grooming Courses Are Alike
Online dog grooming classes can prepare you for a career as a groomer. Animal Behavior College’s program combines a comprehensive online dog grooming curriculum with real world experience. Our students get a strong foundation in grooming and graduate with confidence in their new skills.
The first nine stages of the curriculum are done online, then the 10th stage sends you out into the world for an externship. Every student gets paired up with a professional groomer to get first-hand experience.
Under the supervision of a local mentor, you’ll get a minimum of 150 hours to practice what you learned. The externship lets you see what a real groomer does on a daily basis and with your mentor there to guide you, you may get to practice scissoring, trimming, and bathing dogs.
By the time you leave the externship you (based on your personal abilities), will be able to do a full groom on your own. The externship lets you enter the grooming profession with experience and confidence.
What Does the ABC Dog Grooming Curriculum Include?
The course includes a 900+ page digital curriculum and instructional videos designed by professional groomers. Our course material is interesting and keeps your attention. Once you finish the program and earn your certification, you’re ready to start your career. We even provide our students with a 30+ piece professional grooming toolkit to help get you started.
If you need help, you’ll have a personal program manager team to step in. Our students love having individual help and give their program managers high marks.
Even after you’ve been certified as a groomer and leave ABC, you’ll always have access to updated curriculum for easy referral. Our alumni benefits also include a private job board, posting on our dog groomer directory, discounts on pet insurance, free business-building templates and forms, and more.
Dog Grooming Curriculum by Stage
Stage 1 – INTRODUCTION TO PET GROOMING – 28 Days
In order to become a certified pet groomer, you need to start with the basics. As such, this stage introduces you to the world of pet grooming; its history, its current status and its future. In addition, before you actually begin working on dogs, you need to be knowledgeable about breed groups and specific breeds. You also need to know what breed standards are and how they can affect how a breed is typically groomed, such as when a dog competes in conformation events.
Stage 2 – CANINE HEALTH – 21 Days
As an aspiring groomer, you must think beyond the quality of the groom you give. Because from start to finish of every grooming session there are standards and practices that help keep every pet who visits the facility safe from disease. This stage details these practices, which include making sure pets meet vaccination requirements; thorough check-in exams; parasite control; and dedicated and effective cleaning and disinfection at every stage of the grooming process. It develops your understanding of how vaccines work and educates you about the diseases, conditions and parasites that are most dangerous to dogs. And it teaches you how to visually assess a dog from head to tail to identify the presence of potential
Stage 3 – SAFETY – 14 Days
This stage teaches you how to reduce your risk of getting hurt at work. It educates you about procedures for keeping pets safe in the grooming facility. It also tells you what to do if a person or a pet does get injured within the grooming space. This stage also teaches you how to read a dog’s body language so you can anticipate how different dogs might react to different parts of the grooming process. Detailed instructions on how to approach and work with dogs of varied temperaments will guide you in creating safe and effective interactions.
Stage 4 – PET GROOMER’S TOOLKIT – 28 Days
This stage introduces you to the tools, equipment and products of your new trade and their specific functions. These include brushes, combs and rakes; shampoos and conditioners; clippers, trimmers and shears; grooming tables, bathing tubs and dryers; and much more. As part of this program, ABC provides you with a Groomer’s Toolkit that includes an assortment of essential grooming tools and products.
Stage 5 – CAT GROOMING – 14 Days
Grooming cats has some similarities to grooming dogs, however, depending on the breed and individual feline, it can be more difficult and time-consuming. Because of this, many groomers do not add cats to their repertoire. In this stage, you will learn about the evolution of cats, feline communication and how to brush, bathe, dry and trim cats safely and effectively.
Stage 6 – BATHING, BRUSHING AND DRYING – 28 Days
Stage 6 of our dog grooming course contains valuable information on how to properly bathe, brush and dry dogs based upon their coat type. Not all dogs have the same type of coat, so it’s important you learn about the different techniques and procedures for grooming dogs, depending on their coat.
Stage 7 – CLIPPER USE & SCISSOR CONTROL TECHNIQUES – 14 Days Two of the most common tools you’ll use in your career as a professional groomer are dog grooming clippers and shears—both of which you learn how to utilize and master in this stage. Clipper instruction includes how to properly hold dog clippers, how to complete a basic shave down as well as clipping patterns and ideas for desensitizing a puppy or dog new to grooming.
Scissoring instruction consists of how to choose the right shear and how to hold your shears as well as basic scissoring skills and finishing techniques through the use of hand-scissoring.
Stage 8 – BREED PROFILES AND MIXED-BREED STYLING – 35 Days
This stage focuses on different body styles of dogs. Once you’re knowledgeable with the different styles of cuts for a dog’s head, stomach, legs, tail, etc., you’ll learn how to incorporate them for specific breed cuts. You’ll be educated on how to complete grooming cuts for some of the most common dog breeds, including the Poodle, Shih-Tzu, Yorkshire Terrier and Schnauzer.
Stage 9 – BUILDING A PET GROOMING CAREER – 21 Days
This dog grooming stage explores the business side of the pet grooming industry. Many graduates opt to work for a pre-existing grooming facility; some, when ready, will start their own mobile or home-based business, or decide to open a brick-and-mortar salon. This stage provides you with the information to start you off in the right direction no matter which path you choose.
Additionally, this stage will provide you with the skills and information needed to work as an employee in the pet grooming industry, including resume writing, job searching skills and interviewing techniques. Please note that no school can guarantee employment after graduation.
Stage 10 – EXTERNSHIP – Up to 21 Weeks
Upon reaching stage 10, you’ll be given the opportunity to reinforce your studies by practicing what you’ve learned. We believe that a hands-on component will help you develop your skills, get a better understanding of the career, and enter the profession with confidence. To that end we pair each student with a local mentor grooming facility.
The externship consists of a minimum of 150 hours of unpaid work experience, which includes dog grooming basics while assisting a professional groomer with his or her four-legged clients.
You’ll observe the inner workings of a grooming salon and their day-to-day routines. You’ll also assist the groomers based on the mentor facility’s assessment of your grooming abilities. In order to successfully complete this hands-on training portion of the program, you must perform a full groom under your mentor’s instruction.
Pet CPR and First Aid Certification
Being able to react calmly and safely in the event of an emergency is important when you work with animals. Animal Behavior College’s Pet First Aid and CPR Certification will give you the knowledge needed to respond safely and effectively to medical emergencies like choking, heat stroke, bleeding injuries, and poisonous bites from insects and snakes.
You’ll also learn how to artificially keep a pet’s heart and lungs working until you can seek veterinary help along with many other vital life-saving skills. By learning what can happen and how to respond appropriately, you may prevent many pet emergencies from ever happening and thereby help ensure the safety of not only your own pets, but also any pets in your care.
Stage 11 – GRADUATION – 14 Days
Once you have completed stages 1-10 (course work and externship) you’ll be given the Final Exam. First, you’ll be encouraged to review all of the material from the previous stages to prepare for the final. This review time is allotted for you to re-read and study the various concepts that were taught. The Final Exam is designed to test your overall knowledge of skills required to become a dog groomer and will cover all areas of the curriculum.
Benefits of the ABC Online Pet Grooming Program
Study From the Privacy of Your Own Home
When you choose to enroll in ABC’s Grooming Instruction Program, you can keep your present job while completing your grooming training. The online portion of our dog grooming course brings the classroom to your living room, which means no added expenses will be incurred for housing at a distant dog groomer school and no time will be wasted with commuting back and forth to campus every day.
Flexible Hours
Our program provides you the opportunity to learn while you maintain your current job or school schedule. With this flexibility, the normal completion time is 52 weeks.
Personal Program Manager
Although the first portion of the dog groomer program is done in the privacy of your own home, you won’t be alone. An ABC Program Manager will be appointed to you upon enrollment and they will give you their direct contact information for future interactions. Your Program Manager will be there to support, counsel, answer your questions and grade your exams as you journey through the program. Enroll in our dog grooming course today by calling 800-795-3294.
Short Term Programs
ABC offers Short Term Programs to those individuals interested in continuing their education. Although you may sign up for any of the Short Term Programs upon enrollment, you will only be granted access once you have successfully completed stage 3. This is done to ensure you have the knowledge necessary to maximize your learning experience.
Training Shelter Dogs
As an ABC Certified Dog Trainer, you may encounter dogs temporarily residing in shelters and rescues due to owner relinquishment. This devastating situation calls for immediate attention. This program consists of 250+ pages of digital material authored by Teoti Anderson, former president of the APDT, with contributions from Kelly Gorman-Dunbar and numerous members of the ABC staff. The wealth of information provided discuss understanding the different kinds of shelters, how to approach them, identifying dogs for adoption and defensive handling, as well as temperament assessments, including some excellent information from the ASPCA MYM Safer Program.
Upon completion of this program, you’ll have a solid foundation of knowledge regarding the training and treatment of shelter dogs with specific attention to re-homing. You’ll also learn the skills that could help launch an animal shelter or dog rescue training program. You may hold classes for dog owners and/or seminars to improve the knowledge of people in your community. As an ABC Certified Dog Trainer, you may have the opportunity to not only train shelter dogs, but to place them in permanent, loving homes as well. Every hour spent with a shelter dog makes a world of difference and, upon completion of the Training Shelter Dog Program, you’ll have the knowledge to positively transform the lives of shelter dogs.
This Short Term Program is approved by the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) and the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI) for CEU credits.
The Art of Selling and Teaching Private Lessons
Understanding how to conduct private dog training sessions is a crucial component of a professional dog trainer’s career. There are several reasons why learning how to offer quality private lessons is greatly beneficial to your training repertoire. Some clients are better served by one-on-one, individualized, personalized training rather than a group class atmosphere— perhaps the client’s schedule is especially hectic, her puppy is not of age to attend group classes or her older dog’s shyness renders him uncomfortable when forced to interact with other dogs. Regardless of the particular client’s reason, the demand for private-lesson training can be a wonderful opportunity for the professional dog trainer.
The Art of Selling and Teaching Private Lessons is comprised of approximately 300 pages of highly-detailed digital information on conducting private lessons. Authored by Teoti Anderson, former president of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), this Short Term Program will bolster your knowledge of proper private-lesson training and will instruct you on such imperative topics as sales techniques and tips, understanding communication styles, the different types of private training, developing effective training plans, how to teach off-leash behaviors, and how to achieve client compliance in order to maximize your training. Additionally, this program covers advanced tips for marketing yourself and your business and includes information on liability protection.
Upon completion of this program, you’ll have the knowledge to offer and conduct private lessons within a client’s home, at a local park or at your own facility. Your knowledge of how to obtain clientele and conduct efficient private lessons may assist you in growing your business and maximizing its potential.
This Short Term Program is also approved by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) and the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI) for CEU credits.
Pet Sitting and Dog Walking
This program provides detailed information on the proper care of and interaction with a variety of pets—dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, fish and reptiles. Subjects include understanding animal communication, such as body language and vocalization, basic nutrition and hygiene, and first aid and safety. You’ll also learn how to: build relationships with clients and their pets, ensure personal and homeowner safety, create and maintain schedules, build clientele, and much more—everything you need to know to start your own pet sitting and/or dog walking business. Upon completion of this course, you’ll have a new and highly sought after service to provide to existing and future clients and their pets.
Pet Nutrition and Diet
The Pet Nutrition and Diet Short Term Program discusses basic pet nutrition, the regulations governing commercial pet foods, and the nutritional needs for both cats and dogs. In this course, you’ll learn how to read pet food labels, including the importance of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and protective nutrients. You’ll also learn about the different types of diets (i.e. dry food, canned food, raw food, supplements, etc.) and how food can play a huge role in a pet’s behavior. After the completion of this program, you’ll have the knowledge to educate your clients on how to provide their animals with proper nutrition based on their pet’s individual age, weight and health condition.
Pet Massage
The Pet Massage Short Term Program gives pet groomers, dog trainers and veterinary staff the knowledge on how to calm each pet they interact with. The ability to soothe and calm dogs through touch improves the human-animal relationship and promotes trust and bonding. This comprehensive course includes step-by-step instructions that guide you through the details of the choreography of a massage for different sizes and types of pets. Topics include: general anatomy and physiology, principles and concepts for different types of massage, creating your workspace, preparing yourself, details for how to develop a pet massage business, and much more!*
This Short Term Program is also approved by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) and the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI) for CEU credits.
*State and federal laws regarding the practice of Pet Massage vary widely and are subject to change. Since ABC has no jurisdiction regarding state and federal laws revolving around the practice of Pet Massage, ABC highly recommends that potential students educate themselves on the state and federal laws and regulations and how that may affect their practice of Pet Massage before purchasing the ABC Pet Massage Short Term Program. It’s the responsibility of potential students to determine what laws and regulations their state has adopted to govern the practice of Pet Massage. ABC doesn’t assume any responsibility for state or federal regulations that prohibit or limit the practice of pet massage by the student.
Doggie Daycare
Dog daycare service is rapidly expanding; it has grown by more than 12 percentage points over the past 10 years and will continue to do so. Done correctly, doggie daycare service can be incredibly lucrative. Learn how to do it right and reap the benefits of this growing market by enrolling in ABC’s Doggie Daycare Short Term Program.
In this course you will find everything you need to know to start and run a successful doggie daycare. This program contains over 400 pages of detailed digital material, covering facility considerations, insurance, licensing and permit requirements, equipment needs, marketing and promotional advice, daily care and activities for dogs, and working with owners.
This Short Term Program is also approved by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) and the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI) for CEU credits.
Pet Fostering
The Pet Fostering Short Term Program instructs you on how to work with an animal shelter or rescue to set up a pet fostering program. You will learn how to select and retain volunteers as well as match foster animals with volunteers, along with other skills essential to maintaining a pet fostering program.
Pet Fostering is approved by the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) and for CEU credits.
