How to Become a Dog Groomer: Aoife's Journey

“I always knew I wanted to work with animals.”

Some careers begin with a plan. Others begin with something quieter: an interest, an instinct, or a direction that keeps calling your attention. For Aoife, Head Groomer and Senior Teacher at Love My Human, that direction was always towards animals.

She had always loved animals, but had not yet worked out how that could become a meaningful career. Growing up in a very rural part of Ireland, dog grooming was not an obvious path. Dogs were often working dogs and not always treated as family pets in the way we see today.

During secondary school, Aoife volunteered at Mayo SPCA and assumed she might work in animal welfare. Grooming was something she mainly knew from rescue programmes, where severely matted dogs needed urgent coat care.

“I always assumed I would work in animal welfare,” she says. “Grooming wasn’t something I really knew about.”

At the time, most dogs around her were collies, Jack Russells or mixed breeds that people did not think required much grooming. Today, many owners are far more aware of how regular grooming can support comfort, health and confidence.

A First Glimpse of Grooming

In 2018, Aoife went travelling and spent time living with her aunt in Australia. She knew she wanted to return to the UK and start something new, but she was not sure what career would be the right fit.

Then her aunt made a simple suggestion. She had a friend who was a dog groomer, and she thought Aoife should spend a day with her.

After that day, she was completely hooked.

It was not a grand plan, but one practical glimpse of a profession that suddenly felt possible. For anyone exploring how to become a dog groomer, the first step often begins with curiosity.

When she came back to the UK, she found a grooming school just 15 minutes from her nan’s house in Somerset. She applied, started training and quickly fell in love with grooming.

The school later offered her a job, and Aoife steadily progressed into teaching and assistant management. As her confidence grew, she became more involved in the wider grooming world, attending Crufts, entering competitions and winning Best in Show at Supergroom with Arlo, her Scottish Terrier, before joining Love My Human.

Along the way, she met incredible groomers who inspired her to explore different directions within the industry. For someone wanting to experience grooming before committing to a longer course, a Taster Course can offer a valuable first look at what the profession involves.

Where Craft Meets Creativity

For Aoife, grooming is not only practical. It is creative, detailed and deeply hands-on.

“Creativity is another wonderful trait. Most groomers enjoy working with their hands and getting lost in the process. There’s a real artistic element to grooming.”

That artistic element sits alongside patience, kindness, sensitivity and a constant willingness to learn. Dog grooming is a career where you never truly know everything. There is always another breed-specific technique, behaviour insight or grooming style to explore.

Patience is important when learning and when building connections with dogs. Kindness matters too, because groomers work with animals of all sizes, beloved pets who may be elderly or unwell, and owners who may need guidance with coat care.

For anyone wondering whether they have the skills and personality traits to become a groomer, Aoife’s advice is simple: be patient, be curious, be compassionate and stay open to learning.

Sensitivity is also vital. Dogs cannot tell us how they feel with words, so a groomer needs to be tuned into their body language and behaviour. Above all, Aoife believes a dog’s welfare must always come first. Every dog should be treated with care and respect.

More Than Playing With Puppies

Of course, grooming is often misunderstood.

“People often think it’s just playing with puppies all day.”

The reality is far more skilled, physical and emotionally intelligent. A groomer needs to understand coat preparation, safe handling, body language, client communication and the details that help a dog feel secure.

A natural ability to handle animals can put someone on a strong path. Being able to instinctively help a dog feel at ease is an incredible skill. Attention to detail is also essential, especially when preparing the coat correctly before grooming.

The right tools and products matter, whether that means choosing suitable dog grooming products, using the LMH Rounded Wood Pin Brush, or working with the LMH Universal Slicker Brush between appointments.

But products are only part of the picture. Strong communication skills are just as important. Sometimes an owner does not quite know how to describe what they want, so a groomer has to explain, reassure and help everyone leave feeling confident.

Checking in with owners, sending photos and explaining decisions all help build trust. It is this combination of care, clarity and skill that gives a professional groom its value.

Finding Her Way to Love My Human

At the time, she and her boyfriend were planning to move back to Ireland. He was living in London, Aoife was living in Somerset, and she did not think she was much of a city girl. Then her boyfriend met Jenny, Aoife came in for a trial shift, and something clicked.

“I fell in love with the atmosphere,” she says. “Everything was centred around creating a positive experience for staff, owners and most importantly the dogs.”

By then, Aoife was qualified in City & Guilds Level 2 and 3 and had been grooming and teaching for six years in Somerset. When she joined Love My Human, Jenny put her through ICMG Master Groomer training so she could deliver the academy’s training courses.

You might become a salon groomer, a teacher, a competition groomer, a specialist in certain breeds, or someone who works more independently.

As Aoife puts it:

“You could run a small grooming pod in your garden or work in a busy city salon like Love My Human.”

That makes her journey a fitting conclusion to this first grooming career series, showing how the steps, qualities and day in the life of a dog groomer can come together.

A grooming career does not always begin with a fixed plan. Sometimes it starts with an interest in animals, a willingness to explore and one practical experience that makes the next step clearer.

Nova and Arlo - A Perfect Pair

Away from the salon, dogs remain at the centre of Aoife’s life too. Nova, her Shiba Inu, was her first dog. Aoife describes her as a loving diva who likes to boss everyone around. Arlo, her Scottish Terrier, was rehomed by Aoife when he was one year old and has also been part of her grooming journey and competition experience.

Together, they bring a warm personal thread to her story. Nova hates fireworks, so when they go off, Arlo barks at them, then sits beside her and gives her a little lick on the face. Arlo does not love having his teeth brushed, and Nova waits under the table so she can celebrate with him when his paws hit the floor.

“They really look after each other.”

That detail says a great deal about Aoife’s relationship with dogs. Grooming may be a skilled profession, but it is also built on understanding each dog’s confidence, sensitivities, quirks and communication.

For Aoife, the path began with one clear truth: she wanted to work with animals. For anyone recognising that same spark, her journey is a reminder that the first step does not have to be perfect. It simply has to be real enough to begin.

About the Expert

This article includes insights from Aoife, Head Groomer and Senior Teacher at Love My Human in Chelsea, London. Aoife is an ICMG Master Groomer with 8 years of experience.

Aoife leads the grooming team and teaches students within the Grooming Academy, sharing her knowledge with aspiring groomers and supporting the next generation of skilled groomers. The team brings over 36 years of collective expertise, combining hands-on grooming with the practical skills and attention needed to work safely and confidently with dogs.

Feeling inspired to take the first step? Explore our Grooming Academy courses in London.