The COVID-19 pandemic has kind of turned everything upside-down, hasn’t it? With many cities having declared states of emergency, people everywhere are being advised to stay home as much as possible and avoid contact with others. Streets are barren, all non-essential businesses are closed, and toilet paper has become the world’s hottest commodity. This situation is definitely surreal, to say the least.
While it’s absolutely essential that we all do our part to flatten the curve, let’s also be real: being cooped up at home all day, every day, gets old pretty fast. You can only watch so much Netflix, or play so many video games, before things begin to feel stagnant. What you need is something productive to maximize your time!
If you love dogs, and dream of a job where you get to interact with them all the time, then a career as a dog groomer would be perfect for you! The good news? You can use this time to work towards your professional certification by enrolling in online dog grooming school!
By the time things go back to normal, you’ll be ready to enter the industry and start booking clients!
Learning online is just as useful as learning at a physical school!
Let’s get something out of the way immediately: there’s a misconception that online grooming courses can’t possibly be as beneficial as in-person ones. This is false – full stop.
Admittedly, there are scam ‘schools’ out there that take people’s money in exchange for nothing but a few flimsy quizzes. To be clear, these AREN’T actual dog grooming schools, and they can’t be trusted.
On the other hand, legitimate, accredited online grooming schools provide high-quality training and course materials that are just as beneficial for learning as what you’d get at a brick-and-mortar institution.
If you’re worried that online dog grooming school won’t provide you with hands-on training, don’t worry. You absolutely will receive this as part of your education, alongside the practical grooming knowledge you’ll read about and be tested on!
You’ll also learn other valuable information, such as:
- Dog anatomy
- Dog breeds
- Health and safety
- Dog behavior/temperament
- Client relations
- Skin conditions, etc.
As part of your tuition, your online school will also provide you with high-quality dog grooming tools of the trade. Your program will help teach you all about each one, and what they’re used for.
Videos and textbooks will examine – from the ground up – how to groom all types of dog breeds, ages, etc. Your expert tutor will review all of your work thoroughly, so they can always provide feedback that will allow you to grow.
Many grooming institutions will also offer students some sort of First Aid Course. QC Pet Studies provides this course for free for all Dog Grooming Course students!
Lastly, if you have aspirations of one day starting your own grooming business, the best online grooming schools will ensure to include a business component to their curriculum. However, you’re also equally trained to work within a salon as well!
The fact is, every school – online or in-person – is different. The right school for you is dependent on YOU, your lifestyle, and your learning habits.
A dog grooming certification will help you stand out from the competition!
It’s true that dog groomers don’t technically need formal education or training. You don’t even necessarily need a professional certification in order to do the job. Since there isn’t any regulation for this profession, a ‘license’ isn’t legally required.
That being said, you really shouldn’t be grooming a dog WITHOUT knowing what you’re doing. If for no other reason than you could be putting the dogs in danger. Beyond that, though… Don’t you want to be the very best groomer you can be?
If you’re passionate about making this your career, you’ll want to receive proper training. You’ll want to learn all there is to know and become a true expert.
Not to mention, while having your dog grooming certification isn’t mandatory, it’s definitely going to improve your resume! Whether it’s to potential clients or salon employers, seeing that you’ve put in the time, effort, and dedication to earn professional qualifications will be very impressive.
It illustrates your professionalism. It says to the world that you’re a hard worker, and you know your stuff!
Think of it this way: if you wanted to have your dog groomed, and had to choose between a groomer who has no formal training or certifications, versus one who does… who would YOU likely pick?
Online dog grooming school is convenient!
Right now, there are many people who don’t have the option to go to work or attend school – because most in-person establishments are closed indefinitely. You, on the other hand, have the freedom to pursue your career goals, without needing to leave your home!
This flexibility, in general, is one of the biggest reasons why online schooling is so popular (pandemic or no pandemic). Online schools are also flexible in the way they allow their students to approach the curriculum. Because the thing is, not everyone learns the same way, and some people have incredibly busy schedules.
Not everyone can commit to the rigid deadlines imposed by real-life schools. This is especially the case if the schooling conflicts with something else taking place in their life, such as work or taking care of children.
Online schools, however, are done entirely at your own pace. With all the time having to be spent at home these days, we’re willing to bet that you have at least some open availability in your schedule that you can semi-regularly devote to your schoolwork!
Many of QC’s students and grads have found that, on average, devoting 1-2 hours per week on their studies was all they needed to be able to finish their course in as little as 6 months. This is totally doable for most lifestyles!
Pro tip: One downside to there being no deadlines or due dates, is that it can become all too easy to push everything off to the last minute. Try your best not to procrastinate on your schooling! Set yourself a realistic schedule that works with the rest of your lifestyle, and then do your best to stick with it as much as possible.
It’s also extremely affordable, even during a pandemic!
Investing into any lifelong passion is going to require at least a little bit of money. This is just reality. In fact, as a general word of caution: if you find an online dog grooming school that promises suspiciously low tuition rates, proceed with caution. A high-quality education can be affordable – but it’s never going to be dirt cheap!
(The flip side is also a red flag, too. If you find an online grooming school that charges outrageous fees in exchange for very little course work/materials, it’s probably a scam.)
All that being said, we also understand that things are tough right now. The economy is in a difficult spot. And thanks to COVID-19, a lot of people are either currently out of a job, or living on a reduced income. For many, money is tight. So, what you DO have can’t all be going towards your schooling. That’s just not realistic.
But you still have options! When it comes to dog grooming school, online courses will almost always be more cost-effective than in-person ones. This is in large part because there’s no physical campus incurring fees or maintenance costs.
On top of offering cheaper tuition than brick-and-mortar schools, online courses will often offer students the option of affordable, low monthly payment plans. You should be able to pursue your goals, advance your career, and earn your dog grooming certification – WITHOUT worrying about going broke in the process!
The important thing to remember is that although times are hard right now, they won’t last forever. Eventually, life will return to normal! Use your current circumstances to your advantage, and keep your sights focused on your bright future ahead!
That way, once you’re able to break out into the industry, you can hit the ground running and take the dog grooming world by storm!
How do you learn how to actually work on the grooming techniques. I have a dog but I can’t groom him every day.