This course consists of 400 hours training and takes three to six months to complete. This course is geared to those individuals that have little or no prior knowledge of dog grooming and who wish to graduate as an all breed dog and cat groomer with the skills to work for an employer. They are taught the basics of brushing and bathing, handling the dogs, and their owners. They are taught all basic and advanced breed dogs (and cats if they choose). This course is also offered to future groomers that are from another state and are not able to stay for school for the entire number of hours required. These students have the option to ‘test out’ of each breed groom. Students testing out early are required to pass all tests with a score of 85 or higher out of 100.

This course is a good fit for the learning pace of most students that plan to work for an employer. Students graduate with an all-breed certified dog diploma.

The equipment that comes with this course:

Cost: $4,400.00

• 1 Andis two speed clipper                1 large nail clipper
• 1 Andis #40 A-5 blade                    1 bottle of styptic powder
• 1 Andis #30 A-5 blade                    1 bottle of clipper oil
• 1 Andis #15 A-5 blade                    1 bottle of blade disinfectant
• 1 Andis #10 A-5 blade                    1 bottle of ear powder
• 1 Andis #7F A-5 blade                    1 tweezers
• 1 Andis #5F A-5 blade                    1 dematting rake
• 1 Andis #4F A-5 blade                    1 undercoat rake

• 1 Andis #3F A-5 blade
• 1 Andis #3/4 A-5 blade
• 1 set of blade attachments
• 1 short straight scissors
• 1 medium curved scissors
• 1 long curved scissors
• 1 smock
• 1 large slicker
• 1 small slicker
• 1 greyhound comb
• 1 Diploma upon completion

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Course III Advanced - Professional
Groomer Training

This course is a 2 part course that combines the Basic and the Advanced Courses. This course is geared towards the future business owner that needs a strong base knowledge in bathing/ brushing/and technical grooming skills. This course teaches dental care and teeth scaling, common medical issues seen in the grooming room, customer service and phone skills, scheduling time, and the importance of kennel and shop sanitation.

Basic bookwork and money management are addressed. The emphasis of this course is geared toward personal business ownership. It consists of 710 hours of hands on training and bookwork. Students that wish to open their own business are encouraged to bring their future shop measurements, and dimensions, budgets and business courses taken. They also should bring the average prices for grooming small (mini poodles), medium (cockers), large (collies) and extra-large dogs (New Foundlands) for the area where they will be opening. This course takes 6 -12 months to complete.

This course is perfect for the future business owner, or employee that wants advanced training. This course offers significantly more equipment for the future employee that wants to graduate with the confidence of having more experience and advanced grooming skills. The equipment that comes with this course:

The cost of this course is: $7,400.00

• 1 Andis two speed clipper                1 large nail clipper
• 1 Andis #40 A-5 blade                    1 bottle of styptic powder
• 1 Andis #30 A-5 blade                    1 bottle of clipper oil
• 1 Andis #15 A-5 blade                    1 bottle of blade disinfectant
• 1 Andis #10 A-5 blade                    1 bottle of ear powder
• 1 Andis #7F A-5 blade                    1 tweezers
• 1 Andis #5F A-5 blade                    1 dematting rake
• 1 Andis #4F A-5 blade                    1 undercoat rake

• 1 Andis #3F A-5 blade
• 1 Andis #3/4 A-5 blade
• 1 set of blade attachments
• 1 short straight scissors
• 1 medium curved scissors
• 1 long curved scissors
• 1 smock
• 1 large slicker
• 1 small slicker
• 1 greyhound comb
• 1 Furminator
• 1 large dematting rake
• 1 small dematting rake
• 1 Diploma upon completion
• All - breed groomer Certification Papers upon completion
• 1 Wall Diploma upon passing





Meet Sara and Jim Goss.

Their experience with this course went so well, they purchased and now operate the Pooch Parlor West location in Oldtown, Idaho.

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Course IV - Groomer Confidence Training

This course is geared towards groomers that may need more hands-on-time before they graduate to feel confident utilizing the skills needed to work independently from Pooch Parlor. This course can become a requirement for those students needing more skill before receiving their certification. This course can also be taken by any student that has received their certification, but wants more time before using their skills in an employment arena.

Cost: $500/month

Training Days/Availability:

Student training days are Mon, Wed, Thurs, and Friday. Students come from 8:30 - 3:30 for training, and choose the days that work best for them for training. Students train at their own pace. Only 2 new students a month are taken at this time and reservations are required if you have a specific start and graduation date that you would like. The majority of students start their training at the beginning of the new month.

Groomers that are currently working, or have been informally trained and that are not certified, that wish to be certified, can test through the required breeds to get their state certification. Testing days and brushup required (no more than 5 days in school) are arranged between student and teacher. Certification only requires that the student own or purchase his or her own equipment for the testing. Cost $1,000.00

Deposits for courses:

The basic course requires a minimum of $1,000.00 down no later that 2 weeks before the 1^st day of class.  The advanced course requires a deposit of $2,000.00 to be paid no later than 2 weeks before the 1^st day of class. The Advanced Professional Course requires a deposit of $3500.00 to be paid no later than 2 weeks before the 1^st day of class. Course 4 is paid at the beginning of the month.  The remaining payments are due weekly until the class is paid in full.  The balance of the course must be paid in full by the time the student has completed half of the course. Courses and deposits can be paid with visa, mastercard, American Express, check, or money order. Visa, and Amex will be charged a 2% processing fee.

Refunds:

The deposits are not refundable as they are used to buy the equipment for the course.  In the event that the student discontinues the course before 20 hours of training have been completed, the equipment is theirs to keep or sell.  In the event that the student discontinues the course 20%-50% into the course and does not have the course paid for, the equipment becomes the property of the Pooch Parlor. (Drop-out students will receive no credit for the hours spent during their first training should they decide to retake the course at a later date.) Refunds of the balance of monies paid will be prorated up to 50% completion of the course.  After 50% completion, no refunds will be given.

Non-Compete Agreement: By signing this document, trainees are legally bound and agree to the terms of the non-compete clause for the Pooch Parlor.  No trainee can open an independent grooming facility within 20 miles of either Pooch Parlor location.  Working for an establishment that has a grooming facility in place at the time of the signing of this document is acceptable course of employment.

Physical limitations:

Dog and cat groomer can be physically challenging on your back and feet.  It is worth considering what your physical limitations may be before, during, and after your career as a pet groomer.  Please notify your trainer of any physical considerations necessary to complete your course, including asthma, epilepsy or arthritis, or skin issues.

Clearview girls: Any student that is introduced to the Pooch Parlor via the ‘Clearview’ Program in Montana is required to be enrolled in the Clearview Program for the duration of their training, and/or volunteering at Pooch Parlor. Any exceptions to this must be authorized by the Clearview Director.

Diplomas and certifications of completed courses: All students that graduate will be certified groomers through the State of Idaho and can use their diploma as a qualified all-breed groomer anywhere in the world .

Cleaning: All students are required to help with cleaning the shop during and after the work day.

Many students training at the Pooch Parlor Pet Groomer Academy come from out of state to learn the trade of pet grooming. I offer student boarding at my home in Priest River to accommodate those students who need housing and/or need extra time and help mapping out there future in pet grooming. One shop is 7 miles away, and the other is 30 miles away.

Students typically drive with me to school. Many students can only stay for 6 weeks to train or for those students training to open their own shop, much of the planning and shop design is during after hours at my home. Currently, there are is a 2 bedroom apartment available above our garage. We rent each bedroom for $600-$1200 monthly. Prices depend on week and weekend stays and food.

Each bedroom is furnished with a queen bed, dresser or built in dresser, desk, TV, cable and phone line with hi-speed internet. Linens are included. The apartment has a full kitchen that includes coffee maker, a washer/dryer, flat screen TV and DVD player, separate balcony and separate parking area. The apartment has 1 large bathroom. The house has a separate guest bathroom and bedroom.

Students that board at my home are welcome to share the kitchen, the living room and the laundry room. My husband Mike, a contractor, and I live with our standard poodle (6) Monty, our Rottweiler mix (7.5), Marli, and our new mini schnauzer Greta 4months. Our pets are housebroken, and used in the grooming room daily for students to practice on. I often do take home clients dogs for boarding.

The cost of student boarding is $50/night. This includes a furnished room, bathroom, laundry facility, food, TV, cable, phone with internet, transportation to and from The Pooch Parlor locations. Please call for availability.

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