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Before You Train: Is Grooming Right for You?

What groomers really do, why hands-on training matters, and how to choose the right course.

Dogs & Welfare · 5 lessons · about 11 min

Join The Hound Table

Thinking about becoming a dog groomer? Start here. This short course covers what the job involves day to day, the care that goes beyond a haircut, and how to choose training that will actually make you a groomer.

Written by the team who train groomers every week at Upper Hound in Fleet, Hampshire.

What’s inside

  1. Part 1The job

  2. Part 2Choosing your training

More than just a course

  • Filmed in a working salon

    Real dogs and real clients at Upper Hound in Fleet, Hampshire.

  • Made for your phone

    Short lessons you can watch between dogs, and pick up where you left off.

  • Taught by groomer trainers

    The team who teach the Level 3 Diploma, with over 30 years between them.

Questions groomers ask

Do I have to have trained at Upper Hound?

No. The academy is open to every dog groomer, wherever you trained, and whether you work from home, a van or a salon.

Can I learn to groom from scratch here?

No, and we’d be wary of anywhere that says you can. Grooming is hands-on: you need to practise on real dogs with an experienced groomer beside you. The academy is for groomers who already groom, and for anyone deciding whether to train. To learn from scratch, start with our taster session or Level 3 Diploma, in person in Fleet.

Is the advice for UK groomers?

Yes. Prices, policies and the law around deposits and cancellations are all from a UK salon’s point of view.

How long are the lessons?

Most are 5 to 15 minutes, so you can watch one between dogs. Every course works on a phone.

Do I keep a course I buy?

Yes. A single course is yours for good, whether or not you ever join the membership.

Who’s teaching

  • Kate, Salon Owner and Teacher

    “I adore grooming, and with our training academy alongside, it’s a privilege to train and see new groomers flourish in the industry.”

  • Lauren, Salon Manager

    Nearly ten years in grooming, running salons across Surrey, Hampshire and London, and teaching at seminars around the country.

  • Faye, Stylist and Trainer

    A stylist in the Upper Hound salon, now helping train the next groomers in the academy.

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