A new qualification for dog groomers has been launched by Pets at Home to help ensure The Groom Room teams in its stores across the country continue to provide the very best grooming available for puppies and dogs.
The qualification takes the current programme to the next level, and will include an extensive enhanced training programme, spanning health and safety, emergency first aid for dogs, styling, and dog behaviour and handling for groomers. *
The new Pets at Home qualification is industry-leading and has been developed in partnership with iPET Network, an independent regulated training provider which creates qualifications in the animal care and veterinary sector.
Karl Atkinson, Head of Grooming at Pets at Home, said: “Grooming is an essential part of our pets’ health and welfare, and that’s why providing our colleagues with the very best training is so important to us.
“We’re proud to be leading the way and empowering our grooming teams with the best knowledge in the industry, ensuring we can continue to deliver the best possible care to every pet we meet.”
Sarah Mackay, Director at iPET Network, said: “We always find that owners are surprised to learn that formal qualifications, including first aid training, aren’t a legal requirement for dog groomers.
“That’s why it’s great to see the UK’s largest pet care specialist taking action to raise awareness and drive real change across the industry to deliver the highest standard of practice and care for pets. The Groom Room already has excellent training in place and the launch of the new qualification really will make it best in class.”
The Groom Room colleagues currently benefit from a thorough six-month internal training programme, a minimum of 1,000 hours of learning, and are continually assessed throughout their career.
The first 400 colleagues will start training for the qualification in September, with hundreds more planned to take part over the next two years across all 355 Groom Room salons.
Find your local The Groom Room salon here.
Karl Atkinson, Head of Grooming at The Groom Room has shared five top tips on things to consider for your dog or puppy’s groom:
Remember that grooming is more than just a haircut
All dogs should be groomed regularly to prevent problems with their coat and for their general health and wellbeing. The Groom Room’s seven-point check includes checking your pet’s coat, eyes, ears, teeth, gums, nose, feet and hygiene areas for any potential issues such as fleas and ear infections to keep your pet happy, healthy and safe.
Make sure to choose a groomer you can trust, with suitable qualifications and experience
There are no formal qualifications needed to become a dog groomer in the UK, but we believe extensive training is vital to ensure your pet is kept safe during their groom. Groomers at The Groom Room are all highly trained and have completed an in-depth training programme, so your pet will always be in safe hands. All of our colleagues are also experienced in prepping and styling your dog correctly, practicing over 200 breed specific styles.
Ask about health and safety
To ensure that your pet receives the best possible level of care, it’s important that your groomer has a good understanding of health and safety and pet first aid. Dogs should be safely secured on the grooming table during their groom and should have safe housing while they are waiting. We’ll never leave your dog unattended while they’re having a groom, so you can rest assured that they’re safe and in the best possible care.
Find out what their facilities are like
It’s important to choose a salon which is well-ventilated and clean, with sturdy work-surfaces and pet-specific products. The Groom Room has state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, including air-conditioning and on-site vets. All our salons also have a glass front so you can see for yourself!
Build your pet’s grooming habits early
We’d recommend introducing your puppy to the grooming salon as soon as possible once they’ve had their final set of injections. Our puppy grooming service at The Groom Room is designed to be a little shorter than a regular groom to introduce your puppy to the sights, sounds and smells of the salon, helping to reduce their anxiety so they can learn to relax and enjoy the experience.
The Groom Room has more than 350 salons across the UK, open seven days a week. Find out more about The Groom Room or book a treatment here.
