Online Program Overview
Do you love animals and want to pursue a career that allows you to work with them each day? If so, learn how to become a dog groomer with Penn Foster Career School's Pet Grooming training. Our Pet Grooming Certificate program can be completed online in as little as two months.
In our online Pet and Dog Grooming School, you can learn how to groom and handle all breeds of dogs and cats. As you work toward pet grooming certification, you'll develop an understanding of dog and cat anatomy, personalities, behavior, and more. And, as part of the program, you’ll receive several grooming tools, including a universal comb, dog nail trimmers, and a dog slicker brush.
Pet groomers can be found working in a humane society, veterinary clinic, pet store, or kennel. Plus, our pet grooming classes allow you to save money and anxiety for both you and your pets by grooming your pets yourself!
Program Goal and Outcomes
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Program Goal
The Pet Grooming certificate program teaches students how to care for the grooming needs of their own dogs.
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Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Identify the duties of a pet groomer and how to establish a grooming business
- Know the historical background of the dog and cat and identify the anatomy of the dog and cat
- Identify grooming hand tools and describe their uses as well as know how to prepare a dog for grooming and bath and dry the dog
- Recognize how to groom dogs from the Terrier group, non-sporting group, and toy group
- Recognize how to groom dogs from the sporting group, herding group, hound group, and working group
- Recognize how to groom poodles, mixed breeds and drop-coat styles, and puppies
- Recognize this basic personalities of different dogs and understand how to groom dogs who have behavior problems
- Identify the characteristics common to cats' personality types and understand how to properly handle each type of cat
- Know the basics of bookkeeping, advertising customer service as well as pricing and fees to start a pet grooming business
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PEP016: Introduction to Pet Grooming
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Starting Your Program
Succeed by learning how to use your Penn Foster program.
Objectives:
- Understand how to use your Student Portal, including your My Homepage and My Courses pages.
- Access the Penn Foster Community and use it to find answers.
- Connect with Penn Foster on various social media sites.
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The Grooming Professional
Read about career opportunities in pet grooming.
Objectives:
- Identify basic equipment you’ll be using.
- Understand the professionalism and communication skills you’ll need to be successful.
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PEP017: Introduction to Dogs and Cats
PEP018: Pre-Grooming Procedures
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Equipment Selection, Use, and Maintenance
Objectives:
- Demonstrate the use and proper care of equipment and grooming tools.
- Understand maintenance and care of kennels and crates.
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Preparation of Dogs for Grooming
Objectives:
- Demonstrate combing and brushing techniques.
- Clean ears and pluck ear hair.
- Clip nails.
- Take care of eyes, stomach, and rectal area.
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Bathing and Drying
Objectives:
- Demonstrate the procedures for using shampoos, conditioners, and flea products.
- Explain basic bathing and drying techniques.
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Basic Grooming Patterns
Objectives:
- Demonstrate the procedures to treat mats.
- Demonstrate shaving down a dog and choosing the proper cut.
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Additional Course Materials
Learning Aids:
- Dog nail trimmers
- Dog slicker brush
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PEP019: Dog Grooming, Part 1
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Terrier Group
Objectives:
- Describe the various types of terriers and the particular cuts for each type.
- Understand the terminology related to terriers.
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Non-Sporting Group
Objectives:
- Describe the types of non-sporting dogs, the various breeds, and the original purpose of these dogs.
- Define non-sporting breed cuts.
- Describe the Bichon Frise.
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Toy Group
Objectives:
- Explain the types of toy breeds and the original purpose of these dogs.
- Understand the terminology and cut procedures.
- Describe the Shih Tzu.
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PEP021: Dog Grooming, Part 2
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Sporting Group
Objectives:
- Explain the types of sporting dogs, the various breeds, and the original purpose of these dogs.
- Define sporting breed cuts.
- Describe the Cocker Spaniel.
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Herding Group
Objectives:
- Explain the types of dogs in the herding group, the various breeds, and the original purpose of these dogs.
- Define herding breed cuts.
- Describe the Old English Sheepdog and the Bouvier des Flandres.
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Hound Group
Objectives:
- Explain the types of hounds, the various breeds, and the original purpose of these dogs.
- Understand the types and terminology of various cuts and procedures.
- Describe the Norwegian Elkhound.
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Working Group
Objectives:
- Explain the types of working dogs, the various breeds, and the original purpose of these dogs.
- Understand the working group breed cuts, the terminology, and the procedures.
- Describe the Giant Schnauzer.
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PEP022: Dog Grooming, Part 3
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Poodles
Objectives:
- Explain the types of poodle cuts and the terminology.
- Describe the lamb cut.
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Mixed Breeds and Drop-Coat Styles
Objectives:
- Explain the types of cuts for mixed breeds and drop-coat styles.
- Understand the terminology, procedures, and choosing the mixed-breed cut.
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Puppies
Objectives:
- Demonstrate the proper handling of puppies.
- Describe the types of grooming problems associated with puppies.
- Understand grooming in stages, recognizing signs of stress, introducing the puppy to clippers, bathing and drying puppies, and the positive grooming experience.
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PEP023: Dog Personalities and Behavior
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Specific Personalities
Objectives:
- Describe the various personality types of dogs.
- Understand groomer responsibilities, hazards, and the various procedures/techniques for working with each type of dog.
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Grooming Dogs with Behavior Problems
Objectives:
- Explain owner notification of problems with dogs.
- Understand the protection of yourself and others.
- Demonstrate the proper use of muzzles.
- Explain how to instruct owners to curb grooming behavior problems.
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PEP024: Cat Grooming
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Introduction to Cats and Their Personalities
Objectives:
- Describe the different types of cat personalities.
- Understand the problems faced by groomers with each type and the hazards involved.
- Explain kitten personalities and problems.
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Cat Grooming Procedures
Objectives:
- Understand proper handling procedures of cats.
- Demonstrate combing and brushing procedures, dematting and shaving down, bathing and drying procedures, and grooming kittens.
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PEP027: Business Practices
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The Business Side of Grooming
Objectives:
- Describe the job descriptions in a typical grooming business.
- Understand setting prices, phone procedures, customer service, record keeping, advertising, accounting and payroll, and zoning regulations.
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The Quick Reference Guide to Dog Grooming
Objectives:
- Review grooming techniques and procedures, including the use of equipment and the grooming styles for specific dog breeds.
- Recognize dog behavior, such as aggressiveness and stress.
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Computer Specifications
As you know this is an online academic program. This means you will need high-speed internet access to begin your program. In addition, you will need access to a Microsoft® Windows® based computer running Windows 7® or later or an Apple® Mac® computer running OS X® or later, and an email account to participate in and complete your program.
Sample Lesson
To view a Pet Grooming sample lesson, click here.
Pet Grooming Training Online
The Pet Grooming Certificate program at Penn Foster Career School includes an introduction to dogs and cats, basic health care of cats and dogs, dog breeds, preparation for grooming, equipment selection, bathing and drying, and more.
State Licensing Information
Licensing and/or certification requirements for jobs in this field are not the same in every state and may include educational, testing, and/or experiential requirements beyond those offered by your Penn Foster Program. You should contact the state professional licensing board or similar regulatory body in the state(s) where you plan to work to determine their requirements before enrolling in your Program. Please click here for contact information for state licensing/regulatory boards and certain industry licensing information.
