Dog Care, Grooming, and Nutrition

32 Hours / Access Length: 180 Days / Delivery: Online, Self-Paced

Course Overview:

On completion of this course, you will have the knowledge of the vast variety of dog breeds around the world and learn the correct method to groom common breeds by brushing, bathing, clipping, scissoring and maintaining the coat. You will be able to identify common health problems with pre-grooming inspections and learn how to handle nervous and aggressive dogs while grooming. Demonstration videos will be included in most of the lessons to give you confidence when grooming and the skillset to start your own grooming business. This course is paws down the best online dog grooming course.

Students will:

• Dog grooming overview
• Equipment use and dog handling
• Health assessments, common health issues and dog nutrition.
• Basic grooming and style grooming according to specific breeds
• Set-up and running of their own Doggy Parlor

Course Outline:

Module 1:

Lesson 1: So you like dogs?         

During your first lesson, you will learn the benefits of professional dog grooming and why regular grooming is important. You will be introduced to the variety of dog breeds from around the world and some interesting facts about them. You will learn about common health issues that are present in some breeds and I will teach you the basics of a dog's anatomy with some very interesting facts.

Lesson 2: Let's dig into it              

All dog breeds are divided into 7 groups which we will discuss during this lesson and which type of dog breed will suit you the best. Next, we will delve into common illnesses and diseases that may arise and we will touch on the subject of dog nutrition and how to ensure that your dog gets the nutrition it needs.

Lesson 3: Equip yourself

In this lesson, we will discuss how to create a safe working environment and because you are working with a live animal it is important to take measures to protect yourself as a groomer and you will also be introduced to the variety of equipment needed to groom and the maintenance thereof. We will also discuss the important factors about caring for a dog.

Lesson 4: Doggy body language 

Being a dog groomer you will be handling different types of dogs from nervous dogs, aggressive dog, disable dog etc. In this lesson, you will learn how to read a dog's body language and to approach different dogs in a relevant manner and shown how to handle them while grooming.

Lesson 5: Let me take a look at that         

In lesson 5 “Let me take a look at that” you will learn how to conduct a full pre-grooming inspection by checking your dog’s appearance, body language, coat condition and overall health. I will teach you various techniques such as removing certain matters from a dog's coat. We shall discuss wide-ranging factors that affect the coat condition and the grooming process.

Lesson 6: Hair, Hair, EVERYWHERE           

During lesson 6 called "Hair, hair, everywhere” you will study the 7 different types of dog coats and how to maintain it by using certain equipment and techniques. The nutritional information in this section includes all aspects of how to improve the condition of their coats.

Lesson 7: Rub-a-dub-dub in the tub         

Lesson 7 educates you on the correct methods and techniques on how to brush and bath your dog to achieve maximum results. Demonstration videos will be used in this lesson to guide and inform you on what exactly to do. You will be taught how to brush the teeth, which takes place during the bathing process.

Lesson 8: Blowing you away       

In lesson 7 you studied the correct bathing technique, but now you are sitting with a wet dog, what now? You will now be educated in various drying methods and techniques to turn your fur baby into a little fluff ball. Accidents do happen and that is why you should always be prepared for any situation. During this lesson, we will also discuss how to react in emergency situations and what steps to follow.

Module 2:

Lesson 1: Goodbye hair    

Most industries have a go-to option and so does dog grooming. This lesson is designed to educate you on a basic cut which could be applied to most breeds. This is called the Kennel cut. You will also be shown the different lengths in which this cut can be done. We refer to the summer cut and winter cut. Accidents can occur at any time and you should always be prepared and know what to do if a dog has a medical emergency. Having a fully equipped emergency kit at hand is crucial. You will be guided on what your kit should contain and how to use it.

Lesson 2: Call me Scissorhands     

Scissors can sometimes be daunting and dangerous when not used correctly that is why it is important to be aware of scissor safety and the maintenance thereof. I will illustrate the correct method of using various types of scissors and their function by trimming a poodle’s head and a Schnauzer’s legs. All dogs have those "Bad dog" moments and this will be discussed during the lesson as well as how to resolve them.

Lesson 3: Shaving time     

The lesson objectives for this lesson is to recap on clipper use and maintenance and I will demonstrate how to shave a dog, big or small. We will touch base on the subject of dog care and converse if it is beneficial to have more than 1 dog?

Lesson 4: Healthy Helpings             

We will focus on the nutritional aspect of this course and discuss the value and benefits of dry, wet and raw and home-cooked food diets. CBD oils are beneficial to humans, but can it also benefit dogs? Each breed is different and has different nutritional needs we will discuss this topic. Some dog owners’ battle to get their dogs to eat. We will discover the reason for this.

Lesson 5: Perfect Paws     

During this lesson, we will discuss dog paws and everything it entails from paw anatomy, paw injuries, styling and how to cut those dreaded dog’s nails. All this may sound daunting but remain paws-itive. After this lesson, you will be equipped with the knowledge and understanding everything there is to know about paws.

Lesson 6: Heads-up           

Today I will teach you how to execute the basics for grooming a dog’s ears, eyes and head. We will also have a look at how to conduct special features of certain breeds’ heads. I will awaken your inner fashionista by demonstrating how to create a stylish topknot.

Lesson 7: Bums and tums

This lesson discusses all there is to know about “be-hind the fluff”. You will be educated on the basic grooming of a dog's tummy, bum and sanitary area. While we are discussing the rear end of a canine it is important to know what healthy and unhealthy dog stool should look like in order to identify if your pet might have underlying health problems.

Lesson 8: Fabulous darling              

During this lesson, we will go through the process of time management while grooming and thereafter it is time to get creative. I will introduce you to some tips on how to take the best picture of a dog, especially your own and we will also cover how to create beautiful accessories for dogs. Moving is an overall adjustment, especially for dogs. I will give you some tips on how to make moving with your fur baby a joyful experience.

Module 3:

Lesson 1: Terrific terriers             

It is time to advance your basic cutting techniques that you obtained in module 2 to enable you to style according to specific breeds. Module 3 is all about grooming specific breeds and it will be a very practical module. In each lesson, we will discuss a specific dog group and their grooming techniques to enable you to groom multiple breeds. In this lesson, we will learn how to professionally groom a Scottish Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer and we will classify hand stipping. These are the three main grooming techniques that you need to be comfortable with to be able to groom other Terrier breeds.

Lesson 2: Teeny-tiny toys            

During lesson, you will learn all there is to know about the toy group ranging from history, traits to even nutritional aspects. We will examine how to professionally groom a Pomeranian and a Yorkshire Terrier, as well as demonstrate various styles which will complement many different breeds.

Lesson 3: Honorable Hounds      

In this lesson, we will focus on the hounds' group that dogs are classified into. I will show you the grooming process from brushing, bathing, drying and grooming of a Basset Hound, Dachshund and an Afghan Hound which all falls into the hound dog group. These grooming techniques will enable you to groom multiple breeds and we will also discuss the nutritional aspect that these breeds require.

Lesson 4: Wonderful Workers   

In today's lesson, we will discover the Working Group by having a look at their history, traits, common health issues and nutritional needs. I will show you the grooming process from bathing, drying to the grooming of the Giant Schnauzer, Great Pyrenees and the Komondor.

Lesson 5: Helping with Herding 

During this lesson, you will discover all there is to know about the Herding Group. I will demonstrate how to professionally groom a Border Collie and a German Shepherd. We will discuss how to groom a Bouvier des Flandres and learn more about this specific breed.

Lesson 6: Sport Rules     

The Sporting Group comprises some of the most popular breeds, including pointers, setters, retrievers and spaniels. In lesson 6 we will discover the Sporting Group’s history, traits and common health issues. We will discuss the grooming method of various spaniel breeds, the Golden Retriever and the Labrador.

Lesson 7: Comforting Companions          

During this lesson, you will explore the Non-sporting Group and be educated on several styles that can be applied to a Poodle. We will also have a look at the grooming methods and techniques of a Chow Chow and Bulldog.

Lesson 8: Fashionably Stylish      

During this lesson, we will look at interesting new looks in the grooming industry and demonstrate how to create a funky mohawk on your cool canine buddies. I will discuss how to add some fun colors and stenciling to a dog’s coat and we will explore the world of creative grooming. Training a dog forms part of caring for your pet, which is why we will focus on some quick and easy training techniques that could be implemented to result in a happy pup.

Module 4:

Lesson 1: Getting down to Business            

Being an entrepreneur can be overwhelming at first, but this lesson will really help you to grasp the very fundamental information that you need to consider when you think about starting your business. Understanding your business type and exactly what your market will be are the two key principles that is covered in this lesson.

Lesson 2: More than just the basics             

Moving beyond the basics means that you will obtain new skills related to planning and organizing, selecting a location, and know what steps to take to make your company legal.

Lesson 3: Create your business plan            

Time to create a business plan for your new startup business. In this lesson, we will discuss how to create a business plan step-by-step. We will also have a look at calculating your startup costs and tools that are available to keep you on track.

Lesson 4: Corporate identity          

This lesson is all about teaching you amazing tips and tools to make use of, so your business can have that edge. All tools being illustrated in this lesson are free online-based software, so you can access this from almost anywhere. You will be taught how to create a company logo, an HTML based email signature as well as other corporate identity elements like a poster design.

Lesson 5: There is no "I" in the word team

When it comes to grooming it takes a very specific type of person that will be able to handle the job. You will learn how to identify the perfect personnel for your business and what questions to ask during the interview process. We will discuss the legal paperwork that needs to be in order to protect your staff and your business against legal actions.

Lesson 6: Do we need that?           

If your dream is to own your own grooming parlor then this lesson is for you. I will show you exactly what you will need to start your own grooming business from equipment, products, licensing and the cost that goes with that. We will discuss the perfect grooming salon layout to create an effective workflow process.

Lesson 7: Get noticed (Part 1)        

No business would succeed without some form of marketing - nobody will know about you if you don't tell them. Once you have your objectives and you know your target market, it's time to create your marketing plan. We will discuss how to create a basic website for your business.

Lesson 8: Get noticed (Part 2)        

In your final lesson, we will define what is social media marketing and we will set up some social media platforms together. You will learn how to develop a social media marketing strategy for your start-up business that enables you to post like a pro while focusing your efforts where it matters most - on expanding your business.

All necessary course materials are included.

• Cable and DSL internet connections are recommended for the best experience.

• CPU: 1 GHz or higher
• RAM: 2 GB or higher
• Resolution: 1280 x 720 or higher
• Speakers / Headphones
• Microphone (Webinar / Live Online sessions)

• Microsoft Windows 7 or 10 (Home, Pro)
• Mac OSX 10 or higher.
• Latest Chrome OS
• Latest Linux Distributions

NOTE: While we understand that our courses can be viewed on Android and iPhone devices, we do not recommend the use of these devices for our courses. The size of these devices do not provide a good learning environment for students taking online or live online based courses.

• Latest Google Chrome is recommended for the best experience.
• Latest Mozilla FireFox
• Latest Microsoft Edge
• Latest Apple Safari

• Office suite software (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice)
• PDF reader program (Adobe Reader, FoxIt)
• Courses may require other software that is denoted in the above course outline.