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I heard on the news this morning that the pet grooming industry is one of the few jobs not effected by the economy/job loss. In fact they say that there are always job openings for groomers and this past year it's made more money than last year, coming in at $4.5 M!!
Also 62% of American homes have pets. Thought I'd throw that in to.

Being a hairstylist, I've often thought about switching over to dog grooming. Maybe I should give that some more serious thought? I could groom dogs at the RV parks!

Barbie

BarbaraRose wrote:Being a hairstylist, I've often thought about switching over to dog grooming. Maybe I should give that some more serious thought? I could groom dogs at the RV parks!

Barbie

What a great idea that is!

I believe that, in fact I've thought about getting back into it, went to school for it
many years ago and did it for about 6 months, maybe even a year, after that I just
did it for friends, family and myself. I quit doing it because it upset me so much to
see how badly some people let their dogs go before getting them groomed. But there
was one lady that brought me her schnauzer once a month like clockwork, did that
dog for a very long time in my own home.

The shaving down of dogs that were never meant to be shaved down.... that is what a lot of groomers have to get used to....the goldens, even labs....they all get shaved...... And then there are the owners that say they don't want the groomer to shave the dog down but the mats are down to the skin A friend of mine routinely puts her opinions on Facebook....some days her clients come looking for magic wands.....

I had a dog groomers licence and my own shop many years ago. Barbie, remember you don't have to lift your cliens in and out of baths and up onto tables! It was really hard work. Of course the advantage is the dogs didn't talk! But then again, some of them bit!

Another need you could fill is "pet sitter" at RV parks. Many times I have skipped activities I would like to do while traveling because I can't leave the pets that long. (Donkey trip to the bottom of the Grand canyon is one). I imagine there are many others in the same situation who would welcome a handy solution.

I have also thought of the pet sitting thing too. And haircuts as well. Do campgrounds mind if you do things like that for a little extra money? Do you have to get their approval first?

Barbie

BarbaraRose wrote:I could groom dogs at the RV parks!Barbie

Now THAT'S a thought!

In what would you wash 'em, dear Barbie, dear Barbie? In what would you wash 'em, dear Barbie, in what? Any of you remember that song - there's a hole in my bucket.....Well I guess if your rig had a bath tub, but you'd be using the campgrounds water and electricity. I don't know if they'd be happy with that, plus dog hair going into their septic system. But if it was allowed I'm sure it would be popular.

That's why I am asking these questions because you all think of things I haven't thought of yet. Maybe just pet sitting would be good. I could still do haircuts tho. I used to do outdoor haircuts at parties...(before I started drinking for the night, of course!

Barbie

Not to be the spoil sport here...but don't cosmetologists and pet groomers both have to have a license in most states? I have a friend who had let her license expire...but still had several long standing clients who she provided services. Had to quit because the state came down on her for working without a license...turned in by a local shop. She still cuts my hair..barter system only...no state taxes to worry about. My end of the deal is lots of buttons sewn on, alterations and mending. I draw the line at replacing zippers in blue jeans!

Pet groomers don't need a license, but cosmetologists do. I accept "donations/tips" for my haircuts outside of a salon. There is no law against doing haircuts without a license as long as you don't "charge" for it.

Barbie

I too am a hairstylist... and I have had my time @ dog grooming, and i gotta agree w/ the girls... it's about 10 times as much work! I was much younger then, ,but still it whipped my butt! Now, that i'm "0lder" ,, i know it would kill my back and someone was right when they said how badly ppl let their animals get bfore they bring them in and talk about WORK!

It's a killer! but whatever floats your boat!

Last year when I worked my "retirement" job at a vet clinic....I got to know the young groomer. It seems that the groomer at one of the other owner's clinic had had a back injury lifting a 40 pound Am cocker !!! So, that woman , who was older , only accepted smaller dogs. She didn't have to worry at all about the large matted Golden Doodles The young lady grooming at our clinic accepted all dogs (knowing that time wise she would have actually made more money because she could have "finished" more small dogs in the time frames and the increase cost wasn't enough to make up the difference. She did have an advantage for her "clients" that needed to be sedated to be safe to handle...the clinic would do that for an additional charge to the owner...otherwise the dog would not have been able to be groomed...which was why several clients came to her...... So...if you just take in the small friendly guys....