How to Become a Dog Groomer in New Hampshire

When you find yourself unsure which career path to follow, stop for a minute and ask yourself…

What are you passionate about?

Is that passion profitable?

Do you see yourself happy working at such a place?

If your answers are all positive, then your decision is clear.

After all, as they say, “Do something you love and you won’t have to work a day in your life!”

And passionate canine lovers found their path toward dog grooming.

It’s a job for which you get minimum schooling but can still create a meaningful profession out of it.

Let us show you how to become a dog groomer in New Hampshire.

What Is Dog Grooming?

If you’re familiar with modern trends, then you’re probably familiar with modern jobs like dog grooming.

A lot of people see dog grooming as a job that makes dogs beautiful.

Indeed, grooming does consist of tasks like bathing, trimming, cutting, and cleaning.

But, once you graduate as a dog groomer, you’ll see what else is expected from this modern career.

For instance, make arrangements, interact with clients and keep your working station nice and neat.

A Dog Groomer’s Responsibilities

Every grooming process starts way before the dog arrives at your place.

A groomer has to have the work area and the tools clean and prepped for the clients.

Everything must be neat and disinfected in-between sessions.

And so, keeping your workstation’s hygiene level high is extremely important.

Then comes the grooming process.

It consists of the following steps:

1. Examining the dog for potential skin or hair problems
2. Bathing to get the dog clean or flea-free
3. Drying with towels and dryers
4. Combing and cutting the hair
5. Trimming nails
6. Cleaning ears, eyes, and teeth
7. Hairstyling

Sometimes owners will ask for a treatment that requires the use of special methods.

This might sound like a lot of work, but it’s nothing you can’t manage on your own.

After all, grooming programs are there to show you everything about the grooming profession.

Tools and Equipment a Dog Groomer Uses

Truth be told, a groomer is completely lost without good grooming tools.

Methods like hand stripping and hand scissoring will help you, but they can’t substitute clippers or combs.

So better make sure you’re equipped with these tools:

• Curry
• Shedding blade
• Clippers
• Combs
• Slicker brush
• Teasels
• Bristle brush
• Wire pin brush
• Rake
• Stand dryers
• Perfumed coat sprays
• Ribbons, hair clips, and the like

Dogs vs. New Hampshire’s Climate Conditions

There are over two hundred various dog breeds registered by the American Kennel Club.

All of them have different skin and coat types and require different grooming approaches.

Some dogs need everyday brushing, while others like pugs, for example, must have their nasal region cleaned daily.

The weather conditions in New Hampshire are unstable in all four seasons.

That’s a precondition to developing dry skin, rashes, or even shedding when it’s not the season.

In a state like this one, regular visits to the grooming parlor are simply a must!

Now, let’s see how you can join a dog grooming program in New Hampshire.

A Dog Groomer’s Education in New Hampshire

Only a trained professional should be trusted with a dog grooming process.

No one will let you work with pups if you don’t have the necessary knowledge and experience.

To start, you can choose between the following education options:

• Formal education in schools
• Apprenticeship with an experienced groomer

No matter which option you choose, you will learn how to take good care of dogs.

However, we recommend that you do both if you can.

In this way, you get the best of both worlds, expanding your understanding of dog grooming.

Popular Programs

Licensing and Certification in New Hampshire

Each state has different licensing requirements, and so does New Hampshire.

So if you want to start your own business in the future, you should get hold of the following:

• Doing Business As (DBA) License
• Dog Grooming Business Permit
• Dog Groomer’s Selling Permit (if you also want to sell dog grooming products)

Meanwhile, individuals who only want to work as staff have it easier.

You don’t need any special permits or licenses to work.

But if you get the official NDGAA certificate, you’ll have more career opportunities available to you.

Job Opportunities in New Hampshire

According to the May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics report, New Hampshire had opened 1,120 jobs for animal caretakers like dog groomers.

And this number will continue to grow in the future as the demand for pet care increases.

What does this mean for you?

It means that you’ll have more employment options and won’t have to worry about unemployment.

So don’t hesitate to apply at these places:

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

Of course, you can always try solo work and start your own business.

This way, you could set your own work hours and experience perks like traveling around, meeting new people and dogs.

Besides, no one said dog grooming should be focused in establishments like clinics or stores.

Potential Salary in New Hampshire

Dog groomers in New Hampshire are blessed as the state offers salaries on par with the national mean wage.

According to Salary.com, the average salary per year is $36,201 as of January 2022.

It can go as low as about $23,000 to as high as $53,000 annually.

The figures below show much your base salary will be if you belong to a certain percentile.

Further, check out the table below for the average annual salary in New Hampshire cities.

Average Annual Salary by City

Regional Salary in New Hampshire

Helpful Resources

Grooming resources are a terrific way to find a job and learn more about the industry.

So we encourage you to visit these websites:

• New Hampshire Humane Society
• NDGAA Certified Groomers in New Hampshire
• New Hampshire Dog Grooming Directory

Final Words

Lucky are those who manage to work in the dog grooming industry.

This profession is more than a job from nine to five.

It’s a vocation only a true dog lover could take.

Now that you know all the perks of being a dog groomer, are you ready to start educating yourself?

New Hampshire dogs await you!

How to Become a Dog/Pet Groomer by State