When people think of dog grooming school, most think of a big room of students watching as a master groomer demonstrates technique at the front of the class. However, not everyone has the time to commit to attending daily classes. Many people already work full-time jobs! If you think that a career as a groomer is perfect for you, don’t let a lack of time stop you from switching your career path to follow your dreams! Online dog grooming school may offer an alternative that fits perfectly with your busy lifestyle.
Since dog grooming is an extremely hands-on occupation, you’re probably wondering how you’ll be tested at an online school. Can it provide you with the same quality education as a brick-and-mortar institution? Read on for answers to some of your pressing questions!
Time Management
Many online courses have no scheduled class times or strict due dates. If flexibility is important to you, choose courses where you can learn at your own pace. You’ll be able to submit assignments when it suits your busy schedule. Self-paced courses come with great responsibility. It will be up to you manage your priorities and find time to practice.
Practice is extremely important in dog grooming. Like the saying goes, if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it! So, staying organized and motivating yourself to keep practicing is one of the biggest challenges. To be successful at dog grooming school, we recommend using an agenda or digital calendar to track your priorities.
Carve out time on a daily or weekly basis to practice your dog grooming skills and complete your assignments. If you’re not good at creating new habits, this may be a significant challenge for you. Put in the effort and you will be rewarded, though!
Finding Dogs for Assignments
Because dogs can’t be ordered and shipped online (obviously!), you’ll need to find your own dogs to practice and complete your assignments. Do your friends have pets and are excited to support you on your journey towards becoming a dog groomer? If so, this may not be one of your biggest concerns.
However, if your life is seriously lacking in the furry friend department, finding dogs to practice on will require a little more effort. And if you’re more introverted, reaching out to people you don’t know well, or even complete strangers can be stressful!
But consider the challenge as practice for when you have your own business.
As a freelance dog groomer, you’ll be required to search out and market to potential customers. Reaching out to people during your studies can help build and improve your networking skills. Plus, the connections that you make during your training may translate into future customers! As a business owner, your ability to network will be a key element of your success.
Practical & Theory-Based Assignments
Throughout your pet studies, you’ll be required to complete a variety of practical and theory-based assignments. Online learning doesn’t mean that all your study materials come in digital format only. Your school should send you both physical and online materials. Look for courses that provide you with professional grade grooming tools to help you complete your assignments.
Theory-based assignments should cover topics like grooming tools, dog behavior and temperatures, and unique challenges associated with special needs dogs. Assignments that constantly test and challenge you in both theory and practical assignments are the most beneficial to you. While written assignments may seem boring or unnecessary, believe us, you’ll be happy you did it. Knowing key concepts will give you context about why certain grooming techniques are necessary for specific breeds.
Practical assignments are probably the area you’re wondering about most. How do they work? As previously mentioned, practice is a vital part of learning and becoming a successful dog groomer. Learning at an online school is no exception. For the practicum units, you’ll complete several start-to-finish breed standard grooms. Take step-by-step pictures or videos of your work as you go, and upload them for marking.
For a real-life example, watch as QC student, Dixie Sunday, completes her unit 4 assignment. In this article, you will find her video submission in which she uses a balloon to demonstrate the technique.
Feedback
After you complete your assignments, you then wait for your feedback and marks. Personal tutors will give you quality feedback directly relevant to your work. When attending a brick-and-mortar dog grooming school, you are likely expecting to work closely with a professional dog groomer. However, you’ll probably be in a class with lots of other students. The feedback you receive will be more limited than you’d expect!
Since online tutors are not required to attend to multiple students simultaneously, they can devote all their attention to one person at a time. As a result, you are likely to receive more detailed and personalized feedback. Often, online schools offer a unique one-on-one experience that you can’t get at a brick-and-mortar location.
Still have questions? Leave a comment and we’ll answer it!
Want more information about learning at an online dog grooming school? Check out a full course overview now!
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