For Dog Lovers - Dog Groomer

Sara Gildersleeve hard at work.

Dog Groomer

2/11/25

Sara Gildersleeve has been a professional dog groomer for nearly 20 years, turning a lifelong love of animals into a thriving career. She got her start working for others before launching her own grooming business, where she now serves a loyal clientele. In this episode, Sara shares the challenges, trends, and rewards of the grooming world—from the physical demands to the emotional connections with both pets and their owners. Curious if dog grooming could be the right path for you? Tune in and find out!

Topics
00:38 Introduction
01:02 Getting into grooming
01:36 Do you need a license?
02:02 Starting out in the business
02:20 A typical day
04:40 Working with show dogs
07:13 The nitty gritty: how much can you make?
08:50 Are there opportunities for growth?
09:15 Handling challenging clients and situations
12:05 Physical demands
12:31 Rewarding parts of the work

Resources
How to become a pet groomer
National Dog Groomers Association of America

Music credit: Kate Pierson & Monica Nation