Dog groomer

As a dog groomer, you'll:

• prepare the dog for bathing
•  shampoo and dry the dog's coat
•  check for common disorders and parasites
•  shape a dog's coat with electric clippers or a stripping knife
•  use scissors to trim and style the dog's coat
•  manage the dog's behaviour while in your care
•  deal with clients, give grooming advice and do admin tasks

• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• customer service skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• to be flexible and open to change
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to work well with your hands
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• specialist courses run by private training organisations

With experience and qualifications, you could become self-employed and work from home or become a mobile dog groomer, visiting owners' homes.

You could also open your own salon or teach dog grooming classes.