“I fell in love with grooming when I realised how my creative side came out into my work.” – Phoebe Rigg
We recently caught up with former dog grooming student Phoebe Rigg to hear about her journey into the profession. From discovering her passion for grooming through work experience to building her confidence as a qualified groomer, Phoebe shared her experiences studying the Level 2 Dog Groomer Apprenticeship and her aspirations for the future...
Hello everyone! My name is Phoebe I am 22 years old and live in the West Midlands, which is where I am located for my profession as a dog groomer!
I didn’t become a qualified dog groomer until 2026. My journey began when I was very young with the insane love for animals that many of us have. Originally I was pursuing a life long dream of becoming a vet nurse but this changed when I did work experience in a grooming salon.
I attended Hartpury college and received a level 3 extended diploma in animal management in 2022. Although grooming was never a subject for me I did complete work experience in a salon – the whole process fascinated me so over the years I looked more and more into it. I loved the videos online of people grooming and watching the competitions of different styles such as Asian fusion.
I fell in love with grooming when I realised how my creative side came out into my work. I absolutely adore being able to create polished looks – and classic pet trims. Every day is a new day and every dog has their own loveable personality.
I started my dog grooming through The College of Animal Welfare’s apprenticeship route, this was the best option for me as I had already been out of full-time education for a few years by this point. Realising my learning style is definitely learning physically and being more hands on!
This course was so educational, not only teaching you the aspects if grooming but all theories behind the business, welfare and management of the job. The workload can be challenging especially after a full day of work – some days can be very hard. Time management and passion for your work will really be your motivation.
The teachers at this college are one in a million! They will believe in you more than you will yourself, be your biggest supporter and be there if you need any help – they want you to succeed.
Since leaving college I have worked myself up to be a groomer that I am proud of! My confidence is always growing and I am gaining knowledge every day – which will never stop! Currently I am managing the salon while my boss is on maternity leave – this has been a massive learning curve but has definitely shaped me as the person and the groomer I am today.
My future plans are ever changing but I would love to compete in competitions and gain a whole new level of knowledge into this side of grooming. Owning your own business is every groomers dream but my main focus right now is improving my skills, techniques and handling to be the best groomer I can be.
If you are looking to become a dog groomer I would whole heartedly say DO IT! It can be the most rewarding job. Be prepared for hard days and lots of hair splinters! Its not all cuddling puppies and gorgeous looking pooches, your body will hurt and patience will be tested but I believe it is all worth it. My main advice would be to research as much as you can and never stop learning, speak to as many people as you can and find your own style but mainly just enjoy every moment of the process.