Career seekers find it difficult to believe that a large majority of U.S. pet groomers are not members of even one pet grooming association. Estimates of national membership are as low as 5%. Without formal organization and standardization associated with a recognized profession, the pet grooming industry suffers. Channels of communication between pet groomers, pet owners and career seekers never improved until the Internet arrived. We formed Find A Groomer Inc. and PetGroomer.com to establish new communication channels. It was our answer to thousands of career seekers contacting our offices for career information.

Internet communications has done more to mobilize new developments in pet grooming than any other factor in the past 50 years. Every year the number of grooming websites grows and the body of industry information expands. Many of the brightest groomers continue to publish new educational resources with schools, home study and reference materials such as grooming books and DVDs.

There is still room for improvement. Your exploration of the industry will uncover thousands of grooming business owners not communicating constructively with their peers and associates. They rely on the barriers of labeling other members of the industry as “their competition.” Doors close. Progress idles. You may find yourself working in such businesses. We are not like them, and neither are thousands loyal to PetGroomer.com and its GroomerTALK Community℠. In fact, we’re shooting cannonballs at the limited attitudes holding our profession in the past. We hope that you will join us.

Every day thousands of groomers and career seekers use the Internet to share grooming information. Our PetGroomer.com GroomerTALK Community℠ is a popular destination. These participants are an important sign of progress. They exemplify the desire for change at an industry level. We can come together and secure more professional recognition.

One way is the traditional process of vocational licensing. Hopefully, the measures will be written by and for groomers with governmental acceptance. Even better, groomers can establish an alternate system such as mandatory certification governed by the industry. We as a body of professionals could better control requirements for minimum standards of education and performance. In addition, we could maintain a database of approved groomers. Thereby we can uplift pet grooming to the status of a formal profession recognized by every household.

Our fascinating and valuable industry remains fragmented. The absence of adopted standards for grooming operations, required education and even how we deliver services to pet owners leaves every aspect of the industry open to personal interpretation. For example, career seekers believe they will get the same grooming education regardless of which school they attend, or through alternatives like home study or apprenticeships. Nothing could be further from the truth. We even confuse pet owners. Most of them expect “Puppy Cuts” to be the same in any grooming business, and that is seriously wrong. There are styles that share the same name, but not results. It’s even confusing for groomers working in different regions. Don't expect the work environment to be similar in all grooming businesses. It isn't so. Remember, fragmentation is characteristic where adopted standards of open don't exist. Be ready for change and differences as you move through the industry. Notice the diversity. Take few absolutes as truly absolute. Be ready to hear, "We do things this way." Expect others to do things differently. Never a dull moment awaits you.

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