In-Class vs. Online Dog Grooming Schools
Learning dog grooming online can be a difficult concept to wrap your head around. After all, dog grooming is a very "hands-on" profession. Surely it needs to be taught in-class by an instructor, no?
Definitely not. With the advancement of online learning in recent years, online dog grooming schools can be just as effective (if not more!) than in-class training. No one can dispute that online learning is far more convenient than in class. The key is to find an online dog grooming school that allows you the same (if not more!) hands-on practice that a classroom curriculum would.
Below is a comparison of a typical in-class dog grooming school vs. an online grooming school like QC Pet Studies.
Admissions
In-Class
Enroll by a specific date for the next year's classes
Online
Enroll at any time. No admission dates or class schedules.
Location
In-Class
Specific campuses that are equipped with dog grooming facilities.
Online
Study from anywhere; groom dogs at home or go to self-serve grooming areas.
Instruction
In-Class
Teacher gives in-person lectures on a strict schedule, and students read/study course books as homework.
Online
Students watch instructors on video (DVD or online) and read course books whenever it's convenient.
Practice
In-Class
Students work on dogs in a classroom environment with other students.
Online
Student practices from home as often as he/she feels appropriate to master skills.
Finding Dogs
In-Class
Students are provided with a "class dog" or are asked to find/bring their own dog to class.
Online
Student are asked to find their own dogs to groom.
Theory Assignments
In-Class
Students complete written assignments with strict deadlines. Tutor marks assignments & occasionally discusses results with students.
Online
Students complete written assignments at their leisure with no assignment deadlines. Tutor grades assignments & provides detailed audio feedback to each student.
Practical Assignments
In-Class
Students complete full grooming assignments in-class. Tutor provides grade and feedback.
Online
Students complete full grooming assignments from home, submitting photos/videos of their work. Tutor provides grade and feedback.
Program Completion
In-Class
6 months to 2 years (depends on the program)
Online
Flexible—Complete the program at your own pace. (average 6 months to 1 year)
Business Training
In-Class
Not usually included
Online
Business Training
Tuition Cost
In-Class
$3,000 to $5,000
(average)
Online
$1,000 to $3,000
(average)
Certification
In-Class
Industry-Recognized Certificate of Completion
Online
Industry-Recognized Certificate of Completion