A mobile pet groomer is someone who comes to the client’s home and grooms their pet. In a specially outfitted van, truck, or other vehicle parked at the client’s home, place of business, or elsewhere, the mobile pet groomer brushes, bathes, and clips animals. The groomer may groom both dogs and cats or specialize in one of the two animals. Depending on the client, he or she may groom a family pet or a show dog or cat. Other animal species may be groomed by some mobile groomers.
Mobile pet groomers may begin their careers in traditional grooming salons or pursue careers as mobile pet groomers from the beginning. Mobile pet groomers, like traditional pet groomers, usually receive formal training and may pursue certification. To learn the ropes, they can enroll in professional grooming schools or work as assistants to experienced groomers. Many mobile pet groomers work for themselves, having either started their own businesses or purchased mobile pet grooming franchises. Groomers who purchase franchises may receive training from the franchising companies.
The mobile pet groomer can expect to get wet and dirty during the course of the day. It’s also possible to be bitten or scratched by the animal being groomed. Fleas, ticks, and other pests are also a concern for the mobile pet groomer. A big part of the job is getting along with animals and feeling at ease around them. Basic pet first aid and an understanding of when a pet may require veterinary care are also required.
In order to handle frightened, untrained, or other uncooperative animals, mobile groomers, like anyone working with animals, should have patient personalities. Lifting heavy dogs into vans or baths requires strength and physical fitness. Clipping fur, trimming nails, expressing anal glands, and other aspects of grooming will benefit from manual dexterity. It’s crucial to know about different dog and cat breeds and their characteristics.
Mobile pet groomers are frequently self-employed. Some mobile pet groomers work alone, while others have assistants accompany them to client locations. It is critical to have business and marketing skills. It will be easier for mobile pet groomers to find and retain clients if they have good public relations and communication skills.
Because of their clients’ schedules, mobile pet groomers frequently work outside of normal business hours. Unlike traditional grooming facilities, where clients can drop off their pets during the day, mobile pet groomers usually come to clients’ homes. This can include evenings and weekends, though depending on the groomer-client relationship, some mobile pet groomers may be able to care for animals while clients are away from home.