Is dog grooming a suitable post-retirement job for seniors?

More and more people are taking a not-quite-retirement. Statistics show that after reaching traditional retirement age, an increasing number of us are continuing to work for significantly longer. This means that this milestone in life can represent switching from one career to another, and there are any number of things that people in this position can turn their hand to for the first time. 

A post-retirement career is an opportunity to do something that’s not only truly rewarding but different from what has gone before. Before this age, you might never have considered dog grooming, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a suitable job. It’s a varied, fascinating business that provides a range of rewards for your emotional and physical wellbeing. 

Whether you’ve spent decades in a job that brought you little fulfilment or you’ve loved what you did throughout your working life, you might be surprised by just how much dog grooming has got in store for you. Even if you’re a lifelong dog lover, there are more benefits to be discovered from our canine friends...

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Who is a career in dog grooming suitable for?

You might assume that only the most ardent dog lover would go for a role in dog grooming – after all, you’re working in close quarters with these wonderful creatures, spending at least as much of your day with them as you are with human colleagues. But what we’re constantly impressed by at Groomarts Dog Grooming Academy is how many different types of people come through our doors. 

People of all backgrounds have discovered dog grooming through our courses, and while many start out as canine devotees, many more discover the true joys of working with dogs as they embark on their training and their new career.

What are the benefits of working in dog grooming?

Everyone who has switched jobs to work in the dog grooming business has their own reasons why they love it, but among the biggest are…

• It improves your mental health. Dogs provide unconditional friendship, and you can form a special bond with more than one of them over the course of a single day as they love meeting new people. Spending time around dogs is known to release hormones in the brain that alleviate stress, anxiety, depression and loneliness – all problems which can occur after retirement. 
• It offers variety and flexibility. No two days as a dog groomer are the same, and this is because of both the range of services you’ll offer and the different ways in which you can work. You could be in a salon or a studio, working in a clinical setting or even provide services as part of a mobile dog grooming business. Some dog groomers also pet sit and dog walk as part of their business, and some specialise – for example in styling dogs for shows like Crufts.

What does dog grooming involve?

Dog grooming is about much more than appearance – it plays a pivotal role in the wellbeing of dogs, and your work as a dog groomer can make a real impact on overall canine health. Among the services offered by a dog grooming business are brushing, nail clipping, bathing, hair removal and coat shaping. 

Dog groomers can also prevent dogs from health problems by detecting swelling, cuts, heat, thrush, signs of parasites and changes in behaviour. The most successful dog groomers are able to really understand the unique ways dogs communicate with humans, and use this knowledge to the dog’s benefit.

Is dog grooming demanding work?

It goes without saying that a certain amount of physical fitness is required in order to be a dog groomer – after all, you’re working with animals that vary in both size and unpredictability. There is cleaning, maintenance of equipment and the occasional bit of heavy lifting to do. 

But some of the most demanding aspects of dog grooming come from the fact that many of our course graduates run their own dog grooming businesses, which is a big commitment in terms of time and energy. Joining a salon business as a dog groomer can be a flexible career that takes as much or as little of your time as you like. 

What is the average salary of a dog groomer?

A job in a dog grooming salon at entry level carries an average hourly wage of £10.18. However, there are a number of reasons why this can vary including the level of specialism and the location of the salon. Joining an established salon business gives opportunities for fast progression, and salon managers can earn around £24,000 per year working full-time.

Looking to kick-start your dog grooming career?

Of course, with social distancing measures still in place and the risk of coronavirus transmission still high in enclosed spaces, now is not necessarily the time to be embarking on a career in dog-grooming at post-retirement age. However, if you’re comfortable doing so then you’re welcome to join us for our in-person courses in St Albans (with all the appropriate hygiene precautions in place) – and we’ll be pleased to welcome you to the world of dog grooming at any time in the future.

At Groomarts we offer a complete range of dog grooming courses, from a one-day introduction to dog grooming to a full Level 3 Diploma qualification. These are designed to make sure that you can pick up the knowledge, experience and expertise you need to make a success of your dog grooming career. Get in touch with us today for more information by calling 01727 826950!

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