Question:
ANyone have a home grooming buisness? I am toying with the idea of grooming dogs in my home to make extra money while I am home with the baby. Has anyone done this? How hard is it to get started?:confused:
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I, too, am very interested to read what you all have to say about this. The biggest zoo in Michigan is likely to be shut down, and being a zoology major, I'm considering other possible career choices.
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Hey me too, I wanna quit my bank job and take up pet grooming but due to the new hse I bought I can't go for it yet. I am toying with the idea of doing home grooming but I need to go through the course 1st.
Any help on this is much appreciated.
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Does anyone know???
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Are you talking about just bathing the dogs or actually trimming them etc. I would imagine you need plenty of training on the different cuts different breeds have. funnily enough I have just had a shed put up outside so that I can bath and groom my dogs for shows up to now I have always done this outside in all weathers and I am getting too old for this, so got hubby to buy me a plastic shed, had it fitted with water and electricity etc. since having it done a few people have suggested I take in dogs to bath, but not having any training or experience in different breeds I am reluctant to do this. heres my set up. basic but does the job lol.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a230/icescape/100_0281.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a230/icescape/100_0284.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a230/icescape/100_0287.jpg
Mo
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I guess you would say I run my own home grooming business. I started last summer. I'm really cheap, and I even put up with those awful dogs that fight and fight to not be groomed. I know if the people took those kind of dogs they may have to put them out to groom them, making the grooming even more expensive for someone that isn't rich, so I put up with it.
I've groomed a Brittany before. She got a bath, nails trimmed, as well as some trimming on her ears, butt, feet and legs. I only charged $15 (or was it 10?)
I've mostly gotten some Shih Tzus to groom. The owners always want them fully shaved down, but to leave some hair on the head and tail. Heck, it keeps them mat free and it is a comical loook! :D
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/tessa_s212/Other%20Dogs/doggy.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/tessa_s212/Other%20Dogs/doggy2.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/tessa_s212/Other%20Dogs/doggy3.jpg
This dog I charged $20
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Another dog I groomed was a Shih Tzu/Peke mix. This dog would NOT let me near her face or head. I ended up having to try to scissor instead of clipper the face. She didn't like the scissors any better, but they were not as loud and I could snip here and there and get back out before she tried to bite me. ;)
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/tessa_s212/Other%20Dogs/Starbefore.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/tessa_s212/Other%20Dogs/Starafter.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/tessa_s212/Other%20Dogs/Starafter2.jpg
As you can see, the dog was very badly matted on her but before. She had several mats on her tummy, inner thighs, legs, and feet as well. If this grooming was being paid for by an adult, I woudl have had to charge at least $25 for the time, my blade(matting), and for having to have my mom help hold her so she wouldn't bit me... BUT this was a friend's dog. The kid was paying for it by herself, so I only charged the normal $20 ONLY if she promised to bring the dog back before the hair got too long the next time. If she did that, I'd only charge her a $5 to do a quick brush through, perhaps some clipping and trimming, a bath, and nails trim. In fact, I think this person should be bringing her dog back about right now. Perhaps I will call her and ask her to bring her down.
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Another dog I groomed was Ziggy, another Shih Tzu.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/tessa_s212/Other%20Dogs/ziggybefore.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/tessa_s212/Other%20Dogs/ziggyafter.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/tessa_s212/Other%20Dogs/ziggyafterface.jpg
As you can see I really just clip their entire face. Many of the owners do not like the beards as they collect food, water, and dirt in them...
This I have groomed several times. I guess you can say he's a "regular". He is a wonderful boy witha great temperment. Grooming isn't the best thing in his opinion, but he behaves very well. He doesn't like the clippers near his face, but with some convincing(my mom petting him and relaxing him) he'll let me do it.
I do feel bad for charging the full $20 when he always behaves so well, but the owners usually insist on paying me twenty. This past time it was the husband that payed me rather than the woman, and he gave he $40!! I told him it only costed twenty but he told me to keep it! Guess he likes the comical look too!
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Oooh, wish I had more time to give you my info on home grooming. I'm a groomer and groom at home.
I have to step out for a few hours but will come back an give you my answer. :)
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Thanks for sharing your pics tessa!
here are a few of the rescue dogs I have groomed:
Bichon before:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/shepluvr/000_image001.jpg
and after:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/shepluvr/001_image002.jpg
very matted Lhasa mix before:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/shepluvr/002_image003.jpg
and after, notice the sores on his legs? I had to wait and finish the legs while he was out for his neuter. they were just to painful to him to do awake!
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/shepluvr/003_image004.jpg
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Matted poodle before:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/shepluvr/004_image005.jpg
and after:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/shepluvr/005_image006.jpg
I still need more practice with the poodles. Most of the dogs I work on are in such bad shape that they almost always need a very close cut. I haven't been able to really practice on many poodles in good condition.
Oooh, wish I had more time to give you my info on home grooming. I'm a groomer and groom at home.
I have to step out for a few hours but will come back an give you my answer.
I can't wait!! :)
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Moe: that is a cool set up...how hard was it to get water in that shed??? I am looking to set up a similar area in the shed I currently have. also, does that bath work well? I have seen it advertised in catalogs. Also, if you don't mind me asking, how much were those tiles? i have seen similar ones for much$$$$.
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Thats a nice set up, but I haven't gotten any hands-on apart from grooming my minature schnauzer for shows many years back and I have never picked up a trimmer since then. But will be most interested to know more since I can set up a small shed on my roof terrace.
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To get water to the shed I just had hot and cold supply taps put outside my house, and run a hose with spray attachement to it to the shed, I did it this way because if I want wash the dogs outside when weather is nice I can, or inside the shed when its not so good, also the bath is removeable, the bath has a hose attached for drainage, which I have had a small hole cut out in the shed to poke it through to go to a drain outside. the tiles were very cheap on offer at a stor here only £4.99 for a pk or four tiles, it took 4 pks to cover the 8x8 shed, I beleive some well know car parts shop in the USA sell them for $8.99 or there abouts, someone on another forum mentioned them, I will try to find out the store for you. I tried the room out yesterday and again today as I am getting the dogs ready for Crufts, I will say if you are bathing inside the shed, try not to have too powerful a spray on your hose, lol mine was way too powerful for such a small confined area and I did soak everything lol so need to do a little tweaking on the set up.
edited to add, the bath itself is fine except if you are washing a lage dog,(like my mals) I personally found it difficult to get to the dogs feet to wash, but I think this was because the dogs were unused to being in a bath (I normally wash them on a grooming table) so they tended to lean into me as I tried to wash their feet so didnt give me much room for manouver lol think this may improve with time. for smaller dogs its excellent IMO. plus it has a caddy attached to put your shapoos in, this is a lot easier than keep having to search out where you put it down while bathing them.
Mo
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Giny...where didja go??? you got me watchin for ya!
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Giny...where didja go??? you got me watchin for ya!
Oh my, a few hours turned into a few days. My PCs has been giving my some trouble these past few days. It’s taking for ever for a page to load up. Hopefully I’ll be able to post this time.
You did a great job on your grooming. And poor dogs, what a state they were in before you got to them. The poodle looks like a totally different dog.
I’ve been grooming for a while now, since 1989. I then worked for the lady I took my class from and found it to be beneficial to me in learning how to groom many different breeds since she constantly had dogs coming in. It also gave me more confident in knowing what to do in different circumstances. I know of many groomers that went on to grooming on their own right after they took the class and did great, it all depends on they type of person you are. Personally I don’t think I would have been ready.
I love grooming at home now. I have a 10 year old son and I love the fact that I can schedule my time around when it’s more convenient. Make sure that your town coding enforcement agency has your home in a zone where you can start a business. My shop isn’t in my home. It’s in a building outside in my back yard. It’s a small building so I made sure to make it look as nice as possible for the clients when they first walk in. Also look into getting liability insurance just in case anything might happen to client while on your property.
This is what it looks like from the outside. I don’t have my light installed yet in that photo, you can see the wires hanging out. It was a shell of a building before my husband got to it. A conduit had to be built under ground for my electricity/water/sewage/phone. I have a water heater especially for my shop that’s located in my house so I never run out of hot water. I also have a washer and dryer in my basement especially for the towels I use in the shop.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/GinyB/Grooming%20Shop/PicinJune.jpg
Having all the right equipment also helps. If you want to know a list of things I got when I started let me know.
This by the door as you walk in. I have a greeting counter set on the side to make it more convenient in greeting the clients.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/GinyB/Kassietwelve.jpg
This is my tub. It’s a regular fiber glass 2 piece tub bought at homedepot. It’s set up so that the tub is located just under my chest above my waist. Much easier on the back.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/GinyB/Kassiefive.jpg
I dry my dogs on a separate table to where I groom. It’s much easier that way if you have more then one dog to groom. I have a regular stand up dryer and a high velocity power dryer. Bother are an asset to have for grooming.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/GinyB/Kassieeleven.jpg
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Wow this is long, sorry. I had to make another post since I can only post 4 pictures a page.
I have cabinet set in the back, as you can see here. I also have some cabinets set above those ones but you can’t see them in this picture. It help to keep the salon looking clean and not overwhelming when the client comes in. This table is where I do my grooming. My husband installed a outlet on the ground under my table. That way I don’t get entangled in my clipper cord.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/GinyB/Kassiefour.jpg
Here are some of my clients.
A schnauzer before
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/GinyB/Maskara.jpg
And after
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/GinyB/Maskara5.jpg
A welsh terrier after being groomed http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/GinyB/Grooming%20Shop/Baileyinshopafter6.jpg
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ohh.. Giny you did a great job with the dogs :) and you have a very nice place to do your home grooming. I wouldn't have that big a place if i had to start home grooming.
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Wow that is a really nice set up! You did an awesome job with the grooming too. Thank you so much for posting that.
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Thank you Wings and puppyluv! :)
Wings, it may look deceiving because my salon is not big. Enough for one groomer.
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I just love your grroming building, its ideal for running a business from. lovely job.
Mo
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Giny that is an awesome set up...it is just what I had in mind. The shed that I have does not look that nice by any means. Do you mind if I copy the photos for reference if I get a chance to put this dream into reality?? Your dogs look awesome also..I wish I could get some practice on dogs of different lengths. I wish you were near me so you could be my mentor!! :D Thanks a lot for posting this. Also, I do have some basic equipment although my force air dryer recently gave out on me. I would be interested in what you felt were the "essentials" of start up.
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*bump* for Giny..
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Giny that is an awesome set up...it is just what I had in mind. The shed that I have does not look that nice by any means. Do you mind if I copy the photos for reference if I get a chance to put this dream into reality?? Your dogs look awesome also..I wish I could get some practice on dogs of different lengths. I wish you were near me so you could be my mentor!! :D Thanks a lot for posting this. Also, I do have some basic equipment although my force air dryer recently gave out on me. I would be interested in what you felt were the "essentials" of start up.
You faltter me! *blush* I wish you lived close too, I'd love to help you out. And yes, you are more then welcome in using my pictures as references. Thank you so much for asking, I wish more were like you in asking permission. :)
Your definitely in the right direction when it comes to your work, you do awsome jobs. I do get scissoring jobs but what you'll notice more often are people who just want to get their dogs clip down short.
I have a list of my first inventory stored into my document files that I'd love to share with you. If only I knew where to host documents files? If I can't find a place then I'll just figure out a way to PM it to you. I'll keep the merchandise code number, it's through PetEdge, and price too.