Dog Grooming Business Pathway Course Guide

This course will provide an introduction to basic dog care requirements, including but not limited to the daily needs of a dog, essential considerations when buying a dog, the nature of the dog care industry and key facts regarding basic training. 

This course will provide an introduction to the anatomy and physiology of a dog, including but not limited to the functions of the skeletal system, the workings of the digestive system of a dog and the importance of ‘Thermoregulation’. 

This course will provide an introduction to nutritional requirements and health issues that affect a dog’s health and well-being. It will include but not be limited to the physiological stages of a dog’s life and their evolving diet requirements, the various pros and cons of different dog food products and common health issues that affect a dog’s health, well-being and longevity. 

This course will provide a further look at dog health including but not limited to preventative treatments for dogs, common ailments and disorders affecting dogs and their treatment options. 

This course will provide an introduction to different dog breeds and their associated characteristics. It will include but not be limited to the seven main breeds of dogs as classified by the Kennel Club of Great Britain, the characteristics of various dogs from the seven main breeds and the history of various popular cross-breeds of dogs. 

This course will provide an introduction to factors relevant to the breeding of dogs, including but not limited to the structure of the male and female dog reproductive systems, the sexual behaviour of dogs and mating interaction, the different stages of dog pregnancy and birth, and puppy development. 

This course will provide an introduction to dog training techniques and the practicalities of setting up a dog training business. It will include but not be limited to the main considerations in the science of animal behaviour, methods of training dogs to obey basic commands and how to prepare a plan for setting up and operating a dog training or dog behavioural consultancy business. 

This course will provide an introduction to professional dog grooming and will include but not be limited to the three main types of dog hair, the tools and equipment used in a dog grooming business, grooming requirements for each of a dog’s body parts and the traits of a successful professional dog groomer. 

This course will provide an overview of the various opportunities for either working on a voluntary basis or in paid employment within the dog services industry. It will include but not be limited to the role of vets and vet nurses, the work of a dog trainer or behaviour consultant, the services provided by day care and long stay services for dogs and the role of assistance dog services in the community. 

This course will provide an introduction to the scope and nature of dog grooming, including but not limited to the situations in which they are groomed, equipment that is used and the tasks carried out by a groomer.

This course will provide an introduction to external anatomical structures and physiological processes of animals which are relevant to grooming. It will include but not be limited to the different types of skin and layers of skin tissue, the epidermis and dermis, animal claw, nail and spur structure and the different layers and structures of animal hair.

This course will provide an introduction to managing different types of coats and how nutrition can affect the coat and skin. It will include but not be limited to general animal nutrition and water requirements, common skin problems in cats and dogs and how to treat them, a look at various parasites that affect cats and dogs and how to bath and care for cat and dog coats.

This course will provide an introduction to grooming techniques used for different types of dogs. It will include but not be limited to how dogs communicate through their basic behaviours, the steps involved in brushing and bathing care for different coat types, and various clipping and styling techniques.

This course will provide an introduction to a range of techniques used to groom different types of animals other than dogs, including but not limited to how to groom and handle cats and rabbits, how to bathe a cat correctly and a look at rabbit moulting and various transportation methods.

This course will provide an introduction to the tasks involved in grooming animals that are supplementary to grooming the coat, including but not limited to the correct methods for trimming claws and nails of cats and dogs, the importance of animal ear, oral and dental care and how to recognise signs of poor animal health.

This course will provide an overview of techniques used to control animals during grooming and will include but not be limited to the risks of working with animals and how to choose an appropriate grooming location, the importance of understanding animal psychology and behaviour, and non-verbal communication and restraint techniques.

This course will provide an overview of the protocols for safety of both animals and groomers and will include but not be limited to workplace health and safety and first aid, protective equipment and signage for safety against workplace hazards, safe chemical management and the signs of cat and dog allergies.

This course will explore how to establish and improve a grooming business to be more successful. It will include but not be limited to the planning involved in creating a new grooming business, the importance of cash flow, budget forecasting and a marketing strategy, and the different types of groomers insurance to consider.

This course explains how to secure your business name, outlines the available business structures, and describes the purpose and importance of a mission statement. It also covers how to define your target market, key start-up costs, and how to calculate a charge-out rate that covers your wage, overheads, and allows for profit.

This course covers definitions of different business types and what a business is, explores the main functions of a business, and identifies the main business types.

This course guides you through the steps to develop a detailed plan for your business.

This course explains the four core elements of the marketing mix; product, price, place, and promotion, and how to apply them effectively to a product.

This course explains what accounting is and introduces the accounting equation and how it’s applied. It also looks at what an account is, how it’s used in business, and identifies a range of accounts and their classifications.

This course defines key terms used in transactions and explains what an invoice is. It also highlights the importance of keeping accurate records of business transactions.

This course identifies the expanded accounting equation and provides definitions for a range of accounts. It covers various account classifications, how accounts are categorised, and explains how to calculate the Owner’s Equity closing balance.

This course helps you identify which accounts are debit or credit accounts, and whether transactions increase or decrease them. It also covers which accounts make up a Balance Sheet and the minimum number of accounts affected in a transaction.

This course introduces what Financial Statements are and explains the order in which they are prepared. It covers what a Trial Balance is and its purpose, along with the use of a Balance Sheet and Income Statement, and which accounts are shown on each Financial Statement.

This course provides an overview of different pricing strategies and how they can be applied in various business situations.

This course explains what Value Added Tax (VAT) is, including Input and Output Tax. It covers registration, invoicing and record-keeping requirements, and circumstances where penalties may be imposed. It also explains the due dates for filing and paying VAT for ROS.