Apprentice Dog Groomer

Summary

Do you have a passion for dogs and dream of a career in pet grooming? Join me a friendly and experienced dog groomer as a Dog Grooming Apprentice and gain hands-on experience while working towards your Level 2 Dog Groomer Apprenticeship Standard.

Wage

£11,778 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

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Training course

Dog groomer (level 2)

Hours

Monday – Saturday, 9.00am - 3.00pm with one day dedicated towards college work. Occasionally the salon is open from 8.00am - 4.00pm for customers with appointments.

30 hours a week

Start date

Monday 9 June 2025

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Bathing, drying, and brushing dogs of all breeds and sizes
Learning to clip, trim, and style coats under supervision
Supporting the with cleaning, preparation and customer service
Ensuring a safe and comfortable environment for pets in your care

What I'm looking for:

A genuine love of animals, especially dogs
Willingness to learn and take instruction
A friendly, reliable, and hard-working attitude
Good communication and time management
Some experience with dog grooming preferred but not mandatory

Where you'll work

56 HORSLEY HILL SQUARE
SOUTH SHIELDS
NE34 6RF

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

CITY OF SUNDERLAND COLLEGE

Your training course

Dog groomer (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Develop a dog grooming plan to meet the individual requirements of the dog and owner
Carry out a dog grooming plan to meet the individual requirements of the dog and modify as required throughout the groom
Identify normal signs of good and bad health including poor skin condition and external parasites
Identify when to report abnormal signs of health and advise the customer when abnormal health may require veterinary attention
Recognise and adapt to behavioural change indicators and signs of relaxation, fear, aggression and stress in dogs
Handle and move dogs, adapting own behaviour to meet the needs of the dog
Identify and use relevant dog restraint equipment to move and handle the dog according to temperament, age, breed, and size, and in line with manual handling and lifting procedures
Bathe a dog using procedures which account for breed, coat type and anatomical features, including selecting, preparing and using products according to coat type
Store grooming and bathing products, including medicated shampoo, in accordance with COSHH regulations
Dry a dog selecting and using equipment, methods and products which account for coat type, breed, and anatomical features
Handle the dog and use nail clippers and/or scissors to trim dog’s nails.
Select, handle, and use coat trimming equipment
Identify factors that require the groom to be terminated early, such as illness, zoonotic infections, behaviour, stress
Identify and escalate health and safety, and animal welfare concerns
Maintain dog records
Communicate with colleagues, customers, and stakeholders and use terminology suitable to audience
Clean, maintain, store and sterilise products and equipment
Clean and disinfect the work area and dispose of waste in accordance with COSHH regulations
Develop a dog grooming plan to meet the individual requirements of the dog and owner
Carry out a dog grooming plan to meet the individual requirements of the dog and modify as required throughout the groom
Identify normal signs of good and bad health including poor skin condition and external parasites
Identify when to report abnormal signs of health and advise the customer when abnormal health may require veterinary attention
Recognise and adapt to behavioural change indicators and signs of relaxation, fear, aggression and stress in dogs
Handle and move dogs, adapting own behaviour to meet the needs of the dog
Identify and use relevant dog restraint equipment to move and handle the dog according to temperament, age, breed, and size, and in line with manual handling and lifting procedures
Bathe a dog using procedures which account for breed, coat type and anatomical features, including selecting, preparing and using products according to coat type
Store grooming and bathing products, including medicated shampoo, in accordance with COSHH regulations
Dry a dog selecting and using equipment, methods and products which account for coat type, breed, and anatomical features
Handle the dog and use nail clippers and/or scissors to trim dog’s nails.
Select, handle, and use coat trimming equipment
Identify factors that require the groom to be terminated early, such as illness, zoonotic infections, behaviour, stress
Identify and escalate health and safety, and animal welfare concerns
Maintain dog records
Communicate with colleagues, customers, and stakeholders and use terminology suitable to audience
Clean, maintain, store and sterilise products and equipment
Clean and disinfect the work area and dispose of waste in accordance with COSHH regulations

Your training plan

Will gain the Level 2 Dog Groomer Apprenticeship Standard
Workplace based apprenticeship

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade Grade 4-9 Or Equivalent)
Maths (grade Grade 4-9 Or Equivalent)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Team working
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience

Other requirements

You will be required to work weekends.

About this company

My names Cassandra, I have been dog grooming for just over 3.5 years after being a dog walker for 5 years prior to this. My passion has always been dogs and I put this in motion to train as a dog groomer and offer a caring environment for all breeds. I also offer cat grooming in the salon to which I was taught by my college lecturer when she moved to my salon to work from. She unfortunately had to find somewhere closer to home but taught me so much more than college based learning. I am a very busy small salon at Horsley Hill Square and all my customers are amazing.

After this apprenticeship

Opportunity to stay on at the salon upon successful completion

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