Michelle here!

[newbie]

Hi! My name is Michelle!

I just wanted to introduce myself! I am 22 years old, currently saving $$ to purchase a mobile unit. I started bathing when I was 17 years old. I wanted to desperately learn to groom, however I could not find anyone willing to teach me. So...I stayed a bather...

I then started staying late after my "bathing" and cleaning job was finished to sit and watch the groomer who employed me, just to watch. I met groomer after groomer asking if I could learn from them, but no one wanted to teach, so I faithfully stayed a bather at the salon I was in.

I would watch videos, read books, but didn't have any dogs to experiment on...see as I had a black lab (he passed away after having him for 13 years) Then my dad brought home "princess" a stray that we rescued. She is a lhasa apso, so I was able to experiment her! Poor thing!...she probably didn't know what kind of dog she was! As I would practice different breed cuts such as cockers and schnauzers, poodle, puppy, lambs, lol..anything I could do to her! Of course the cuts weren't 100% because you can't change the way the dog looks, but boy did I do my best! haha.

People often ask why I don't just go to a grooming school....well, because I can't afford it. I have to work full time to pay my bills and the schedule of grooming school would force me to have to work less hours and I can't afford to.

After seeing my persistance, my groomer I was working for started to teach me the basics since I already had my own equipment (must say I thoroughly enjoy my Andis progroom clippers - recently changed from the UltraEdge) It's much smaller and lighter and I find it easier to get around with the small pups. I find it is quieter as well, but that is my personal opinion! She even started letting me do some of the customers dogs! Under supervision of course.

Sad to say, I had to quit working at the salon as a bather before I was able to learn all of breeds of grooming because I was just not making enough as a bather to pay my bills. So....back to a normal college student job. Delivering pizzas, while finishing up my last 2 semesters. I do however work on call for groomers on my days off. There are a couple of shops that call me when they are busy to see if I can come in for the day. I long for the day that I can go back to the dogs full time.

Hence where I am now....finishing college (my major is Animal Science) and I received certification in Small Business Management. I am now saving up for a mobile grooming unit and filed my DBA (Picky Paws), working on my website (PickyPawsOnline.com) ---currently under construction--- and hoping to make enough $$ next month to buy some more DVDs and instruction. I am then going to go down to the shelter and find out if I can "volunteer groom" dogs to gain more experience.

Well...that is me! lol, sorry for the novel...but figured some background would be nice to give so you all know me a bit better!

A bit about me: I enjoy anything outdoors! art, music, animals and all that fun stuff

One day, I am going to look back at my road to owning my own mobile grooming business and know it was all worth it!

Thanks for reading! I look forward to getting to know all of you better!

[Chihuahuafan]

Welcome to the best board on the web! You'll learn alot on here and become an addict real fast! Way to go, wish you lived in Wa. I'd love to have someone so interested in learning grooming to help out in exchange for some grooming instruction. Hang in there and keep asking around and maybe there is a shop owner in your area that you could work for as an apprentice. I think the best way to learn to actually be in a shop doing hands on learning with an instructor. I have lots to learn myself still, only been grooming about 3 1/2 yrs. now. This board is a huge help there is so much to learn. I learn something new almost everyday on here. Don't be afraid to ask away everyone on here is super nice and a big help.

[diemonster]

Hi, and welcome to the board! Sounds like you're a real go-getter!

Just out of curiosity though, if you want to become a dog groomer, why are you going to college? (boy, I'm definitely not PC today!)

Granted, higher education is great, but it's expensive, and since you want to "be your own boss" having a diploma from a university won't be nearly as important as having a solid grooming education under your belt.

(I've been in and out of college for 4 years, had 4 different majors, and racked up $20k worth of student loans.. if only I'd stayed out of college and went to a trade school right out of high school.. would have been much better.. and my husband stuck it out.. he has a BS, but a lot of good it does him when he owns his own business!).

Don't get me wrong. I believe education is sooo important, however (as you've learned), most of the most valuable education you can receive they don't teach in the classroom.

But.. to each his/her own! Congratulations on knowing what you want, and I wish you the best of luck! You've come to a wonderful place/resource.

[PAWS]

Wow, you are really deterimined! That in itself will make you a great business owner, and you can see that your heart is really in it. Welcome to the board! You will learn so much, and no one here will ever refuse to help you learn something...that would be silly. Best of luck

[newbie]

Thanks for the welcomes! I'm such a dork! I came on this site and saw that I had replies and got all excited, haha. I will def. be asking questions as I get further along in my career.

To answer diemonster- I'm going to college because well, I guess I figured it would be helpful to learn the "business" side of things. Like I said in one of my posts, my classes are all hands-on and I've learned alot. In my "pet shop management" class we had a person come that does business plans and helped us with a semester long project of completing one. So now I have a professional quality business plan for Picky Paws mobile grooming to help me with getting a loan and just for personal use to keep on track. It was also helpful because it gave me a rough idea of my profit/loss and how many "dogs" it would take to break even and so on. In my "handling & restraint of wild & domesticated animals" class, I learned how to handle a wide variety of zoo & home animals. We also learned how to properly handle rough/aggressive dogs & cats (this was the not so fun part of it being hands on! lol), but it was very good to learn. I also learned my breeds in "Canine Management" and we did obedience training on a litter of pits and a litter of collies and labs. In my "Small Business Management" course we learned the laws of CA and taxes & so on. In "Animal Nutrition" we learned how to read the ingredient labels of food and what is required of diff. animals and what they need, etc. Those are just a few of my classes that were required for my Animal Science major. The way I see it, is that it doesn't teach me to groom--but it taught me valuable lessons for owning my own business and working with animals.

I figured I should complete it because I started to go and then quit - but when I couldn't find a groomer to teach me, I decided to go back and finish because I need a job that would pay well (I figured I could get into an upper mngmt. position of a pet store or sumin) and then I could save for grooming school/mobile unit, etc.

Chihuahafan -- Thanks for the reply! and if I lived in WA, I'd be there in a heartbeat to learn!!

Paws- yes, I am determined! I must be honest and say sometimes I start to feel like giving up, and then I come on here and read everyones posts about their work and so on and it just pushes me to keep going! It just frustrates me sometimes that I can't afford certain things. And it's not like I want to go out and get Gucci clothes or Prada bags, lol....I want a freakin Mobile Trailer!!!! haha. gosh! yup --I'm the average 22 year old Cali girl!!! haha.

[diemonster]

Wow, it sounds like your courses really taught you a lot! That's wonderful

Of course I learned a lot in school as well.. but am just frustrated that society keeps pushing kids to go to college, and college really doesn't prepare most kids for whatever career they're going to end up in (at least the 2 schools I attended). I see a ton of graduates who get out and are floating around, not sure what to do.. and usually end up in a field that they never needed college to begin with! Then they're working for a mediocre wage, and have student loans to pay off.

However I'm happy to hear that the educational system is working for some

I wish they'd have a class in high school for juniors or seniors that would spend an entire semester or year looking at careers and offering 1 on 1 counseling for the students so more people would have a clue when they get out of high school!

Sorry for venting on your post.. I'm so happy that you know what you're doing and getting there!

[Angie]

Welcome Newbie! I love your avatar. Very cute. Too bad your not in Iowa. I could use someone like you in my shop. )
That is how I learned, Hands on. I was a vet assistant in a very high scale vet clinic in Nebraska. I loved my job but the pay was low. I was single and living on my own. I became friends with the groomer gals and realized they were working shorter hours but made more money than me. So, I asked if they would take me under thier wings and they said yes. I had to be a bather for a year before I got into the other training, but it was worth it. After I was bathing for the day, I would go over to the vet side and assist the vets for the rest of the day.
Now I have been grooming for 11 years. Best decision of my life.
Good luck to you!

[Wisconsin]

Thanks for the welcomes! I'm such a dork! I came on this site and saw that I had replies and got all excited, haha. I will def. be asking questions as I get further along in my career.

To answer diemonster- I'm going to college because well, I guess I figured it would be helpful to learn the "business" side of things. Like I said in one of my posts, my classes are all hands-on and I've learned alot. In my "pet shop management" class we had a person come that does business plans and helped us with a semester long project of completing one. So now I have a professional quality business plan for Picky Paws mobile grooming to help me with getting a loan and just for personal use to keep on track. It was also helpful because it gave me a rough idea of my profit/loss and how many "dogs" it would take to break even and so on. In my "handling & restraint of wild & domesticated animals" class, I learned how to handle a wide variety of zoo & home animals. We also learned how to properly handle rough/aggressive dogs & cats (this was the not so fun part of it being hands on! lol), but it was very good to learn. I also learned my breeds in "Canine Management" and we did obedience training on a litter of pits and a litter of collies and labs. In my "Small Business Management" course we learned the laws of CA and taxes & so on. In "Animal Nutrition" we learned how to read the ingredient labels of food and what is required of diff. animals and what they need, etc. Those are just a few of my classes that were required for my Animal Science major. The way I see it, is that it doesn't teach me to groom--but it taught me valuable lessons for owning my own business and working with animals.

I figured I should complete it because I started to go and then quit - but when I couldn't find a groomer to teach me, I decided to go back and finish because I need a job that would pay well (I figured I could get into an upper mngmt. position of a pet store or sumin) and then I could save for grooming school/mobile unit, etc.

Chihuahafan -- Thanks for the reply! and if I lived in WA, I'd be there in a heartbeat to learn!!

Paws- yes, I am determined! I must be honest and say sometimes I start to feel like giving up, and then I come on here and read everyones posts about their work and so on and it just pushes me to keep going! It just frustrates me sometimes that I can't afford certain things. And it's not like I want to go out and get Gucci clothes or Prada bags, lol....I want a freakin Mobile Trailer!!!! haha. gosh! yup --I'm the average 22 year old Cali girl!!! haha.

Wow, think how well rounded you will be when you graduate. Sounds like a great major!

Welcome to the board and grooming. I know how you feel about no one wanting to teach you. I asked around myself with no luck and finally just sucked it up and went to school. I'm only grooming part-time as I need my full-time job to pay the bills until I'm comfortable going it on my own. This will allow me the time I need to set my business up properly and gain real-world grooming experience, not just grooming in school.

Everything you learn will be that much more experience added to your bio. Sounds like you're on the right track to being a sought after professional groomer. Keep up the hard work!!!

[KantScareMe]

New from Missouri

Hi, I just want to introduce myself. I am a, 46 year old female, wanna be groomer who loves animals. I have just retired from social work and I'm ready for a change. My hubby and I live on a large farm and our kids and grandkids show cattle and goats. I have experience clipping and fitting these animals for the shows and hope that some of my experience will help me in my new career. My biggest problem is finding a school or groomer willing to train me. Since I live in a very rural area my only choice is to travel 100 miles for hands on training. I am hoping that within the next few months I will be on my way. I love this website and all the wonderful ideas that groomers post. Keep up the great work...and ...Thanks so much....

[newbie]

Wow, it sounds like your courses really taught you a lot! That's wonderful

yes! they are...however, I am still frustrated at the fact that I will know how to successfully run a pet business....but I still cannot groom on my own!!! How can I have my own mobile grooming if I can't Groom!?! lol. o wells. i'm on my way..workin on it!

I wish they'd have a class in high school for juniors or seniors that would spend an entire semester or year looking at careers and offering 1 on 1 counseling for the students so more people would have a clue when they get out of high school!

my high school had this class...it was interesting...however, i think i was the only one who wanted to be a pet groomer! haha, so my teachers couldn't help much. i didn't really get much out of it. it was basic careers.

Sorry for venting on your post.. I'm so happy that you know what you're doing and getting there!

Oh I didn't take offense to it! I just figured you were asking me a question! So I figured I'd answer! lol. that's what i like here, everyone has their opinions and it's okay to differ opinions..it's just nice to hear different ones...a person might learn hear something put a way they never thought of...

[newbie]

Welcome Newbie! I love your avatar. Very cute. Too bad your not in Iowa. I could use someone like you in my shop. )

ya! it seems like alot of groomers outside CA on this site is willing to teach...but none around here

Now I have been grooming for 11 years. Best decision of my life.
Good luck to you!

Congratulations!!!

[newbie]

Wisconsin - Thanks for the kind words! And yes..it's a great major! I'm glad to have learned of it! It used to only be a Certificate program, but now they have made it into a science degree with a diploma, of course it is longer and more requirements than the certificate...but worth it. I've had great fun with it --I got to work with the baby sea lions and baby dolphins at Sea World San Diego while doing a semester project for my "animal breeding" class. I did my project on sea world's breeding program. each person had to have a different topic so I jumped on that one! I love Sea World!! I'm such a kid!

Good luck with everything you do in your life and your grooming!

KantScareMe - Welcome to the board! Sounds like we have had similar problems!

[sheilabgroomer]

Newbie, welcome!! Wow, you sound like such a self-motivated and with it person. That is so refreshing to find in a 22 yr old!!! You are going to make it big kiddo, I can tell!
That is great that you are getting so much out of your education. It seems that so often students have to take nonsense classes to get to their goal courses. Have you looked into student financing for any of the grooming schools? Another thing, do any of your tech collages teach grooming? The girl that workes w/me went to tech and was able to use state lottery money for it. Granted, it was definately not the best school, but at least she learned what not to do...lol...
If you move to SC look me up, I would be delighted to teach you!!! Then Patti (Bow wow wheels) can show you the mobile ropes....lol
Keep us posted on what is going on in your very interesting life!!

[petstylist]

EEgads! Why cant I ever find a newbie like you girls??? Im about to open my own shop (by the end of March) and my past experiences have shown me that its almost impossable to find dedicated help that is willing to learn everything, not (as one of my former so called apprentices said) "just teach me the stuff to make quick money!"
Tammy

[sheilabgroomer]

EEgads! Why cant I ever find a newbie like you girls??? Im about to open my own shop (by the end of March) and my past experiences have shown me that its almost impossable to find dedicated help that is willing to learn everything, not (as one of my former so called apprentices said) "just teach me the stuff to make quick money!"
Tammy

I understand where you are coming from!! I have a pretty good crew now, but I have had the "show me the easy money" types in the past. I am not suprised to hear she is a "former" apprentice...lol