Dog Grooming
230 total hours, 150 hours in person lab and 80 hours online
Offered: Fall; Spring
Cost: $4,450 (FREE training, books, and supplies to qualified applicants)
The non-degree Professional Dog Grooming Certificate is designed to launch a career in the grooming industry. This program combines hands-on training with flexible online coursework to cover essential skills such as safe animal handling, proper bathing and drying techniques, scissor and shear methods, grooming fundamentals, an understanding of breed groups, and industry-specific terminology.
Students refine their skills by grooming various breeds at the Bear Clips salon as they progress through the curriculum. In addition to technical skills, the program emphasizes customer service, appointment scheduling, and effective facility sanitation and maintenance.
Before enrollment, all students are required to participate in a mandatory classroom shadow experience. Following enrollment, a mandatory orientation session is scheduled. These dates will be coordinated through your Navigator.
Class Schedule for Fall 2025
Dog Grooming (enrollments based on first qualified, first enrolled)
| Class | CRN | Start Date | End Date | Days | Start Time | End Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dog Grooming Cohort 2 | 15808 | 8/25/25 | 11/17/25 | MW | 8:30 a.m. | 2:30 p.m. | Southridge 6 |
Prerequisites
Classroom shadow experience.
Possible Job Titles
- Dog Groomer
- Pet Groomer
- Bather/Groomer
- Pet Stylist
- Pet Grooming Salon Manager
Questions? Contact Us!
DMACC
Workforce Training Academy
wta@dmacc.edu
515-256-4951
Related Noncredit Programs
View upcoming courses
NEW Fall 2025 - Advanced Grooming Techniques and Breed-Specific Trims
This comprehensive course is designed to elevate your dog grooming skills through
a series of focused demonstration sessions on both foundational techniques and advanced
styling. Whether you're refining your everyday grooms or looking to master specialized
trims, this course offers in-depth instruction through professional demonstrations
and breed-specific insights to take your grooming to the next level. (Discounted rate
for previous DMACC Dog Grooming Students)
Topics include:
- Salon-style trim for the everyday groomer
- Outline styles on a double coat dog
- Mini Schnauzer in a pet trim
- Everyday Asian fusion face trim
Instructor: Blake Hernandez
Blake Hernandez is a featured groomer in Netflix's "DOGS" documentary and a contestant
on ABC's Pooch Perfect Season 1, as well as a NCMG and 3-time Barkleigh Honors recipient.
Blake has brought innovation and current outside trends to the grooming industry.
He has been nominated for 20 Barkleigh Honors in many categories, and is well-loved
and admired in many facets of our Groomerverse. Blake runs Foxy Roxy's Pet Salon in
San Diego, CA, in addition to competing in grooming contests and dog shows all over
the country. He is the co-creator and founder of GroomSource, and creates and produces
many products with Foxy Roxy's Supply Co. for the professional groomer (including
his own line of amazing shears!) and now for the everyday dog lover.
Degree Programs
Similar animal care programs that build on skills learned through this training at DMACC are: