Dog groomer
Bathe, dry, brush and trim dogs of every breed, check their skin and coat, and advise owners, in a salon, a vet practice or your own mobile business.
- Salary£15,000 – £23,000
- Hours30 to 37 hours a week, including evenings and weekends as customers demand
- Working for yourselfSelf-employment is common
What the job is like
Dog groomers make dogs clean, comfortable and looking their best. You need calm, gentle handling as much as scissor and clipper skills, because each dog arrives with its own coat type and temperament.
There is a Dog Groomer Level 2 apprenticeship, plus college and accredited private courses. Many groomers start as assistants and later work for themselves, from a home salon or as a mobile groomer visiting owners.
What you'll do
- Check each dog's health, temperament, skin and coat
- Look for skin conditions and parasites
- Bath, shampoo and dry dogs
- Trim and style coats with clippers and scissors to suit the breed
- Keep dogs calm and safe throughout the groom
- Advise owners on coat care between visits
- Take payments, keep records and keep the salon clean
Where you'll work
- Indoors
- In customers' homes
- In a team
- On your own
Skills and hobbies that help
Weighted by how much they matter in this job, from the official job profile's skills and tasks. Tap one to see other careers that use it.
Key skills
Used a lot
Handy to have
Hobbies that give you a head start
How to become a dog groomer
Apprenticeship
Dog Groomer Level 2 apprenticeship (typically about 12 months); Animal Care and Welfare Manager Level 3 if you plan to supervise or manage
College
Dog grooming courses from introductory to advanced, covering things like canine behaviour and breed styling
Direct application
Start as an assistant in kennels or a grooming business and learn from an experienced groomer
Other ways in
Private courses from providers accredited by the Pet Industry Federation
Where it can lead
- Self-employed groomer working from home
- Mobile dog grooming, visiting owners' homes
- Opening your own salon
- Teaching dog grooming
Good to know
- Volunteering with dogs at kennels and rescue centres (for example Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, RSPCA or PDSA) helps when applying
- The work can be dusty and physically demanding
Courses and training
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Trade training
Dog grooming courses – Pet Industry Federation
The Pet Industry Federation's range of courses and qualifications for pet professionals who work with dogs.
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Apprenticeship search
Find an apprenticeship – GOV.UK
The official GOV.UK service for searching and applying for apprenticeship vacancies in England.
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Course search
Find a course – National Careers Service
The National Careers Service search for college and training provider courses in England, including Skills Bootcamps.
Official information
Sources
We checked these pages in September 2026. Rules, pay and courses change, so always confirm with the official source.
- National Careers Service: Dog groomer nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/dog-groomer
- Skills England apprenticeship: Dog groomer (Level 2) skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0943-v1-1
- Skills England apprenticeship: Animal care and welfare manager (Level 3) skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st1359-v1-0