How to Become a Dog Groomer in Mississippi

As dog lovers, we understand your affections completely.

It’s not that hard to love these creatures.

Dogs give you ultimate love and ask for just some attention in return.

No wonder dog-related jobs are so popular these days!

A classic option like becoming a vet is a huge commitment, and not everyone is born to dabble with medicine.

Luckily, there’s another career choice that still allows you to help take care of dogs.

It’s called dog grooming, and we’ll explain to you how to become a professional dog groomer in Mississippi in no time!

What Is Dog Grooming?

We’re sure a lot of you have a general idea of what dog grooming is.

Dog grooming consists of duties like bathing, trimming, cutting, and cleaning the dog.

But that’s not all.

You also have to interact with people, especially dog owners, and do other administrative tasks.

We’ve listed below the duties and responsibilities you’ll do as a dog groomer.

A Dog Groomer’s Daily Duties

As a Mississippi dog groomer, you’ll have a lot of work on your hands.

Besides keeping a dog clean, your job will be to keep a dog healthy too.

Before grooming a dog, every good groomer conducts a physical exam.

It’s done to check for potential rashes, ticks, fleas, and other conditions that might threaten its health.

Once that’s done, the dog can now be groomed.

You’ll have to do the following:

• Bathe and dry
• Clean eyes, ears, and teeth
• Cut hair
• Trim nails
• Style hair

Owners also add special requests once in a while, so you have to cater to these as well.

But your duties don’t stop here.

As mentioned, you have to do administrative tasks as well, including:

• Socialize with clients
• Advice pet owners
• Schedule appointments
• Do follow-ups
• Workspace cleaning and maintenance

Overall, regular visits to the groomer can only benefit the dog.

So be proud of how important your role is to their health and well-being.

Tools and Equipment a Dog Groomer Uses

Grooming tools are the most important thing for any dog groomer.

Here’s a list of what a dog groomer usually uses.

• Curry
• Shedding blade
• Clippers
• Combs
• Slicker brush
• Teasels
• Bristle brush
• Wire pin brush
• Rake
• Stand dryers
• Hair trinkets like ribbons

This list will also serve you well if you’re planning to open a dog grooming business.

Now, let’s see how you can start a dog grooming program in Mississippi.

Education in Mississippi

In Mississippi, one of the best ways to learn as a dog groomer is to apprentice under an experienced groomer.

This way you get to learn the industry techniques and secrets that are helpful for your career.

Of course, there are plenty of formal schools as well for those who prefer traditional education.

If you choose to go for this, there are online programs with certification that you can take advantage of.

With it, you can learn everything in the comfort of your own home without spending hours stuck in a classroom.

What’s great about these online courses is that they’ll help you intern at a partner facility near you.

In this way, you can get hands-on experience to practice and polish the skills you learned.

Popular Programs

Certification and Licensing in Mississippi

Mississippi has no state or federal agencies overseeing the licensing of dog groomers.

So, as soon as you graduate from the dog grooming program, you’re good to work immediately.

However, you are encouraged to take a certification exam, preferably from NDGAA.

Earning it means you’re highly skilled and qualified to work professionally as a dog groomer.

Then, it’s only a matter of finding the ideal job position for you.

Good thing Mississippi has a lot of work for future groomers!

Job Opportunities in Mississippi

The next big step after graduating is finding a job.

Lucky groomers will get the chance to keep working at the place where they did the apprenticeship.

Others might not be that blessed and have to find a position at local establishments like:

• Pet and vet clinics
• Animal shelters
• Pet stores
• Grooming salons

Note that you have the same responsibilities whether you work as a mobile groomer or at an animal shelter.

It’s mostly because you put the dog’s health as your primary concern over other matters.

Potential Salary in Mississippi

Working in a nice area and having special skills can take you to the top of the Mississippi dog grooming society.

According to Salary.com, you can earn an average salary of $31,001 a year as of January 2022.

The salary range typically falls between $25,000 and $38,000 a year.

Here’s how much you’ll likely earn if you belong to a certain percentile.

Mississippi’s a bit low from the national average annual salary, which is $35,701.

Whether this is an acceptable number is up to you to consider.

The table below shows the salaries in each city of the state.

Average Annual Salary by City

Regional Salary in Mississippi

Helpful Grooming Resources

Every Mississippi groomer should pay attention to the following websites:

• Dog Groomers Community – Mississippi
• Pet Groomer Ads – Mississippi
• The Humane Society of United States
• National Dog Groomers Association of America

Not only do they provide excellent info about the grooming industry, but they also serve as a job-searching base ground.

So make sure you check them out once in a while.

Final Words

Don’t get discouraged by the fact that Mississippi has lower wages for dog groomers.

It’s not all about the money.

Besides, there’s something satisfying about making dogs happy.

So work hard, improve yourself, and the income will get better with time.

As long as you’re doing a job you love, you’ll never be miserable.

How to Become a Dog/Pet Groomer by State