Frequently Asked Questions

A typical dog grooming course, for example the combined City and Guilds Levels 2 and 3 course, is run over 55 training days at Abbfabb Academy of Dog Grooming Training. There are compulsory guided learning hours and our course allows these required hours to be fulfilled. Although it’s worth remembering that you never stop learning and the art of dog grooming gives opportunities for learning way beyond a training course.
Yes absolutely. Here at Abbfabb Academy we recommend training part-time so that you can still carry on with your life commitments. We close for the school holidays which helps a lot of our students because they don’t have to worry about child care.

Legally none, but if you’re going to be a successful commercial dog groomer you will need a good depth of knowledge and practical ability. We recommend that you consider taking a recognised industry qualification course with an accredited school. Being untrained can be very difficult and sometimes dangerous to both your own and the dog’s safety. The minimum qualification we would recommend is the City and Guilds Level 2 Certificate for Dog Grooming Assistants.

Becoming a dog groomer provides endless benefits, including working with animals, creating your own work schedule, and building a career in dog grooming. You will also contribute in an important way to animal welfare.
Here at Abbfabb Academy of Dog Grooming Training, we run all our dog grooming courses and qualifications from our dedicated training centre in Callington, Cornwall. We also hold regular specialised grooming workshops which will be advertised on this website.
During the Level 2 dog grooming course, you will learn a variety of dog grooming skills, including preparation, bathing, clipping and basic scissor skills. Developing more advanced scissoring, shaping and finishing skills and hand stripping are taught at Level 3.
No. Dog grooming is a practical art and there is no substitute for attending a course and learning in a salon setting. Trying to learn from online demonstrations can be useful but you should also consider attending a practical dog groomer course or workshop. However a lot of the theory associated with dog grooming CAN be learned using the internet and research.

The best dog grooming course depends on your needs, experience and goals. A very popular option is the Level 2 Dog Grooming Course for Beginners or the Level 3 Diploma in Dog Grooming. Both the Level 2 and Level 3 City and Guilds qualifications are available at The AbbFabb Academy of Dog Grooming as a Training Provider of long time experience.

A Diploma is a regulated qualification that has covered a range of subjects and has been delivered to learners by qualified and experienced tutors. A Level 3 diploma in dog grooming is an advanced qualification that provides comprehensive practical training for those looking to become professional dog groomers. It covers many aspects of dog grooming, from basic techniques, such as scissoring and clipping, to more advanced procedures, such as hand stripping. The City and Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Dog Grooming will prepare you for working in the dog grooming industry.
Becoming a professional dog groomer requires completing an approved course or grooming diploma with an accredited dog grooming training provider such as Abbfabb Academy of Dog Grooming Training.
Yes, you can. Here at Abbfabb Academy, we offer short, individualised courses for pet dog owners. Please contact us for further information.
Using scissors to trim a dog without having any training can potentially cause injury to both yourself and your dog. We would recommend that you either take one of our short courses for pet owners, or take your dog to a professional salon. There are many, many types of dog grooming scissors so using the right tool for the right job is extremely important. All our students receive a grooming kit at the beginning of their groomer training courses. We exclusively recommend and use Abbfabb Dog Grooming Scissors.
Yes, there are. Canine anatomy is unchanging in that a dog’s skeletal structure doesn’t alter, and it is essential to know your a dog’s body parts if you are to groom safely. There are many online resources, including some that are veterinary-based, which are useful for learning canine anatomy and it’s terminology. Websites which cover basic dog body language and associated behaviour can also be very useful, although it’s very important that you have access to actual observation and handling of dogs for this to be of value.
Yes, there are. Aspiring professionals looking for a dog grooming career opportunities related to the industry can consider positions ranging from entry-level assistant roles at local salons although most graduate students start their own dog grooming business. Many pet supply companies hire experienced professionals as product demonstrators or trainers.

High quality training is the biggest investment you will make towards your future career. Very few dog grooming courses are free. A reputable dog grooming school will have tutors that have years of experience and are highly qualified. Also that school will have a track record of successful students. When you pay for a dog grooming courses you will be benefitting from the knowledge, experience and teaching skill that has been hard won so it isn’t realistic to expect that knowledge and experience to be given away for nothing. Ideally you will graduate with the skills and knowledge to help you set up a business and fingers crossed you will earn back your training fees in a relatively short period of time.

Accredited schools will belong to professional bodies such as The Pet Industry Federation and Trading Standards. The tutors will be qualified to at least City and Guilds Level 3 or equivalent, for example the International Certificate in Master Grooming. Ideally the school proprietor will hold qualifications beyond the Level 3. Eve Somers, the owner of Abbfabb Academy Dog Grooming Training, holds the Higher Diploma and is a senior examiner for that qualification. You should also read any available testimonials for the school you are looking to join.

And if it’s possible, you may think about paying a visit to the school to look at the venue and chat to some of the students. By doing this you will get a more realistic view of the training school.

Most definitely if it’s a course that leads to a recognised grooming qualification. Covering anatomy, behaviour, clipping and styling will help give you the confidence to work in the grooming industry, and will help to give your clients confidence that you have been professionally trained.

Dog grooming schools charge different prices because of varying cost factors. Location is an important element….if you study in a big city you will almost invariably pay more because the running costs of a business will be higher. The combined City and Guilds Levels 2 and 3 qualifications can cost anywhere between £4000 and £7000. An approved groomer training school will always be your best option, and when considering the cost of a recognised course, you should always understand that the level of expertise and qualification of the tutors justifies the cost. Average fees at the majority of universities in the U.K are somewhere between £10,000 and £20,000 per year. This puts the cost of a recognised dog grooming course to prepare you for a new career into perspective.

It is always best policy to contact your local council to ask whether or not you need planning permission, or change of use, if it’s already an existing business property. If you plan to set up a salon from home then you will need to gain permission so liaising with your local authority is a must. Also it’s a great policy to check with your neighbours to explain your plans and have them support you in your new venture. Making sure that you have adequate insurance, for example Public Liability, is strongly recommended.

No not at all. The City and Guilds Level 2 Certificate for Assistants is a dog grooming course for beginners and you don’t need any previous experience. What you do need is a desire to learn, a love and respect for dogs and to be prepared to work and study to achieve your goal.

Hand stripping is a specialised skill where the loose, or blown coat, is removed by hand, rather than using clipping and scissoring. It’s generally done on wire-coated terriers and silk coated gun dogs. The result is a richly coloured, and protective waterproof coat.  At Abbfabb Academy it is covered during the City and Guilds Level 3 course.

Here at Abbfabb Academy of Dog Grooming Training we believe that one of the best ways to ensure your financial investment is to train at a pace that allows you to practice and properly learn the skills, and for you to feel confident in what you have learned. Intensive training relies on a student mimicking rather than absorbing and although you may have all the boxes ticked, the chances are you won’t remember much when your course ends. At Abbfabb Academy of Dog Grooming Training we have had a lot of students who have come from a long distance both in the U.K and abroad. Naturally they have to carry out their training course in one go, but ideally we prefer our students to train at a steady pace.

An accredited dog grooming school is a training establishment that has been approved to deliver dog groomer courses by a qualification provider such as City and Guilds. Accredited dog grooming schools are generally inspected annually. This looks at teaching methods, health and safety compliance, facilities and hygiene. How the school looks after the  health and well-being of the dogs is a large part of the inspection.

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