A woman has revealed her enviable job of spending her days making dogs look adorable as a professional groomer. Dog lovers stuck in office jobs or enduring long commutes are bound to feel a pang of envy knowing someone gets paid to spend all day with cute canines.
Contrary to what you might think, grooming dogs – whether it is trimming their hair or washing their fur – can be quite a profitable profession if you establish a solid client base and gain experience.
Christina, a dog groomer who shares insights into her work online, has given us a glimpse into her daily routine and earnings.
The canine enthusiast, who prides herself on “grooming with care and kindness”, spent over 12 years working in an office before deciding she needed a change. She set up her own salon in her Hampshire home’s garage, dedicating her days to dog grooming – a decision she hasn’t regretted.
Recently, she posted a video on TikTok showcasing a typical day in her life. She said: “Day in the life and how much I earn as a really busy dog groomer.” Last week, at around 8:20am, Christina headed to her dog grooming salon to prepare for the day – including setting out bowls of water for her furry clients.
The local dog groomer set the scene of her bustling day, revealing: “Once everything was ready, I just went through my diary to remind myself who we have got coming in today, then I had a little look at their record cards.”
Not neglecting her own well-being, she performed some stretches to prepare for the demanding day ahead and admitted, “today is going to be hell for my back”.
Kicking off with a cockapoo requiring a detailed groom, she meticulously provided dual washes, followed by a blow dry, utilised a standing dryer for tricky spots, trimmed the nails, shaped the hair, spruced up the paws, and finished with a head groom. Tackling the cockapoo’s thick fur extended the session beyond two hours with a fair £60 charge.
The groomer subsequently tackled Toffee and Coco, each benefiting from a thorough wash, drying, fresh cut, and paw care at a price of £55 apiece, raking in £110 collectively.
Halfway through, Christina claimed a brief respite, relishing a chicken salad and catching up on television during a well-deserved 30-minute break. The afternoon agenda listed Dexter for a full grooming treatment priced at £58, whilst Billy, due to fussiness leading to an incomplete teeth cleaning procedure, was discounted to £20 from the standard £40 fee.
Her skillful services amounted to a rewarding sum of £258 from the satisfied clientele.
Christina previously remarked: “Remember prices vary depending on the area you live in. I’m not the most expensive in my area and I’m not the cheapest. People don’t come to me if they want a cheap groom; they come to me if they want their dog groomed in a positive, caring environment, treated with love and respect throughout.”
Clients voiced their astonishment at Christina’s affordable rates in her comment section, as one person penned: “60 pounds for a cockapoo…I could take a flight to you for a full groom and would be cheaper than going to the one down the street here.
“Omg you should be charging way more,” exclaimed another commenter. Echoing this sentiment, another added, “It’s minimum £100 an hour on a small dog in Sweden. You could probably charge more.”
Another customer enthused: “I would definitely pay you more. The attention alone you give these beautiful dogs is worth more.” Meanwhile, a fellow dog-owner revealed:”I pay £40 for a full groom on my Pomeranian and she’s there for two hours!”.
Yet another client chipped in’ “Nice grooming. Here in Spain on the Costa Blanca, I pay 28 euros which is a full groom for my English Cocker Spaniel.”
Pedigree reports that on average, dog groomers charge around £43, however this can range from £20-£100+, depending on your area, choice of treatment and the products used. Plus the size of dog and coat length can also result in price variations.
Do you use a dog groomer? Comment below.