Qualified pet groomers in demand to keep dogs looking good
You may not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, but more workers need to re-train to become pet groomers to meet a shortfall of qualified staff.
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MORE pet groomers are needed to keep up with Australians’ insatiable desire for owning a pet.
More than half of households now include at least one fur baby, compared to just 35 per cent of households that are shared with a child.
Pet Stylist Academy principal Emily Myatt says the increasing humanisation of pets, coupled with time-poor owners, has led to a dramatic shortage of qualified in-salon and mobile pet groomers.
She says many groomers work without appropriate qualifications, increasing the potential for injury to both the groomer and pet.
“When you do the training, you learn about animal handling, pet first aid, dog psychology and anatomy – all the things you need to know so that the dog remains comfortable during grooming, rather than trying to eat you,’’ Myatt says.
“You learn how to bath a dog, blow dry, how to de-mat or reduce knots, as well as all the different techniques for different coat types.
“There’s nothing better than having a dog come in knotty, dirty and uncomfortable and going home clean and happy.’’
Qualifications start at a Certificate III in Pet Grooming, with graduates able to progress to a Certificate IV in Pet Styling, which teaches more elaborate cutting techniques and skills in tinting and colouring.
Box Hill Institute pet grooming teacher Verity Hall says new dog breeds that require specific grooming techniques, along with ever-changing dog cutting trends, is contributing to the need for more groomers.
“At the moment, the Asia-fusion style is really popular, where you clip dogs to make them look like teddy bears,’’ she says.
Brett Preece, pet services manager at Greencross, which owns pet stores and vet clinics under the Pet Barn, City Farms and Greencross Vets brands, says demand for pet groomers shows no sign of slowing.
“Grooming can be very difficult to do yourself,” he says. “A lot of people try but end up bringing them into a salon in the long run.
“People are also more educated on how grooming can improve the overall wellbeing of the animal and its health, especially in picking up lumps and bumps early on and getting (early) treatment (that is) saving them costs in the long run.’’
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Hannah Graham, 30, spent 10 years as a pharmacist before training as a dog groomer, landing a job with Brisbane’s Pawz of West End before she had even graduated.
“I have always loved dogs and pets and I just didn’t find pharmacy exciting anymore,’’ she says.
“I’m thrilled to have found a job so quickly.
“Although with all the cavoodles and (crossbreed) dogs that need grooming out there, the demand (for pet groomers) doesn’t really surprise me.’’