Things to Look for in a Good Grooming School

1. Check out the quality of the dogs that are being styled.
   Are they clean, fluffed and styled to perfection? Because that is the quality you will learn.

2. How are the dogs handled?
   Are the dogs relaxed?
   Are the students relaxed?
   Is it a calm atmosphere?
   Is the school clean and well kept?

3. Are you going to learn how to groom any breed design and how to accomplish client’s designs for     their pets?

4. Does the school have a dedicated state-approved instructor and assistant according to the class  
   size?

5. How much time will you spend bathing and drying, learning the prep work and especially styling?
   You don’t want to become a bather, prepper and shave down expert.
   You need dogs with hair to learn blending, scissoring, outline shaping and balance.

6. Does the instructor install confidence in you?
   Are they calm and self-assured?
   Do you believe they will be a support to you in training?
   Not all stylists can teach.
   Teaching takes a certain skill set.

7. Is the school state licensed to teach?
   Look at their approval from the state.
   To become a state licensed school is rigorous process.
   The state reviews the schools curricula, does background checks
   Reviews the schools financials
   The school has to be approved by a board of educators who qualify the school.
   The schools also have to follow state rules and regulations
   Have to keep proper student records
   Are inspected by the state at least once a year.


Questions to Help You Interview Schools

A professional school interviews prospective students to decide their appropriateness to handle pets safely and meet the rigorous physical demands of grooming. As the other party involved in a contract for training, interview them. We suggest you ask the following questions:

•Is the institution "approved" or "licensed" as a vocational education institution? Schools outside U.S. may
        have an alternate form of approval or no approval may be required. Inquire with the school if they are
        subject to governmental approval. A few U.S. states do not license vocational education institutions.

•What is the field-related background of the institution's owner and instructors?

•How many instructors are there per student?

•What is the enrollment limit per class?

•Is the institution accredited?

•If they are accredited, by whom?

•Do they offer government related financial aid?

•Do they offer private financing or payment plans?

•Does the institution provide references from graduates?

•Do they provide textbooks, handouts, videos or other forms of course materials?

•Will you learn to groom multiple breed groups and various types of mixed breed pets?

•Will you learn to groom cats?

•How are the course hours divided between classroom and hands-on pet grooming?

•Is the size of the institution's pet owner clientele, and average number of daily grooming appoints,
       adequate to supply all enrolled students with pets to groom every school day?

•Do you have to share pets for grooming assignments with other students? If you do share pets how often
        can you be expected to share them?

•Does the institution offer a job placement program and statistics for their actual placement success?
•If you intend to be self-employed after graduation, will you learn pet grooming business management
        instruction as well as pet grooming skills?

•If you are attending from out of the area, do they offer housing assistance?

•Are you responsible to purchase a “toolkit?” What is the cost?

•What happens if you are ill and cannot attend a class?

•If you decide that grooming is not for you and you want to terminate your enrollment, are you eligible for a
        refund?

•If you want to add more training hours at the end of the program in which you are currently enrolled, can
        you add more?

•Do they provide field trips to trade shows or other extracurricular activities?