[CrazyDog]

For those of you that don't know, right now I am a store manager of a busy local pet store. I have been working for the same company for over 10 years now, worked my way up to management and so on. I am now to the point I really don't like what I am doing and would love to get a job I can enjoy. I love working with animals especially doggies! I've have always been interested in grooming and a couple of times was going to become one but got offered more money or a better position at my current job. BIG mistake! I have now made up my mind and will be leaving my current position soon.

We have a groom shop at the store I work at and I am ALWAYS in there helping them bathing dogs or trimming up face, feet or fannies, etc... I just love being in there. If I get transfered into the groom shop I will take a drop in pay only for a short while, but I will also get to keep my benefits and vacation time etc. After the initial drop in pay I could go to groom school and become a groomer within two months then my pay will go back up to what I'm getting paid now if not MORE. The groom school and everything, besides equipment will be paid by the company. The next groom school starts in two months and after that the next one won't be for 6 months. I am sitting on the fence on this one and don't know if I should get transfered into the groom shop at my current job or go off and venture into it on my own at another place or just get a different job altogether (not including animals). What do you all think about this? Would it be rude or awkward to work at the same place with a lower position? Would it be rude to ask to go into the groom shop? Is one or two months long enough to bath dogs and get used to the job before going to groom school? I am no dummy at dog breeds, cuts, bathing, nail trimming, etc....... I just never gave a dog a real hair cut.

Also, can all you professional groomers give me some Pros and Cons of the job, just to give me some other incite and opinions on the job. Not that money is the issue here (my hubby gets paid well enough) but if you all don't mind what is the current income/pay in your area for a groomer. At the place I work most of the groomers work less hours then me, don't have the responsibilities I do and get paid MORE then me, the store manager. I know, SAD isn't it!?!?

[LMH]

It sounds like you pretty much have your mind made up to groom. Why not take advantage of where you work now if they are willing to let you go to school for it and stuff. Who cares if you need to take a lower position for a while. You will be doing something you enjoy. And it's not like you have to stay there forever. You can get some experience and leave if you want.

[Love's_Sophie]

Pros...its a really fun, job; you get to meet all kinds of wonderful dogs, cats, and their owners. It's a good paying job.

Cons...sometimes your clientele will drop, given the time of year, or drop in financial market in your area; sometimes you may feel like you should have another job besides, because grooming "can" be somewhat unstable, and unpredictable. For all the wonderful clients you will gain, you will have some real idiot ones too; the ones that don't like your groom job no matter how good you are, or how great the dog looks...they've just always got something to say.

[zerolover]

I've worked with so many newbies who started bathing, thought they wanted to groom and eventually weren't cut out for many reasons. You should definetly try bathing first, grooming school will make so much more sense with a little experience and you'll know what your getting into. Plus, the school I went to was 5 grand (plus equipment) but if you were confident in bathing, nail trimming, controlling them properly, using tools ect. it was only three thousand dollars and I felt like I fit in and asked knowledgeable questions. Look for a smaller shop with an owner willing to adopt a new groomer. They'll help with the cost because it's a great investment having someone learning under their wing and having similar grooming styles as them!