Overview
The Junior Groomer at East Coast Dog Shop & Grooming Co. is a compassionate, motivated professional who is passionate about animal care and eager to develop their grooming skills in a supportive, Fear Free environment. Working under the guidance of senior team members, the Junior Groomer is responsible for providing high-quality bathing and maintenance grooming services while assisting with the day-to-day operations of the salon.
This role is ideal for someone with professional animal handling experience and foundational grooming skills who is looking to build a long-term career in professional dog grooming. Above all, they treat every dog with patience, kindness, and respect.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Maintain a high level of professionalism and exceptional customer service.
- Safely and humanely handle dogs of various sizes, breeds, ages, and temperaments using Fear Free handling techniques.
- Perform bathing and blow drying, brushing and preparing coats for grooming appointments.
- Trim nails and clean ears.
- Assist Senior Groomers with grooming preparation.
- Learn and perform basic maintenance trims (feet, face, sanitary areas, etc.) as training and experience allow.
- Ensure all pets remain safe and comfortable throughout their visit.
- Routinely clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, kennels, tubs, and grooming tools.
- Assist with salon organization, and maintaining a clean, professional workspace.
- Check out grooming appointments and assist with rebooking future visits when required.
- Participate in ongoing training and actively work toward developing advanced grooming skills.
Skills & Role Requirements
- Required: Previous experience bathing, blow drying, brushing, nail trimming, and ear cleaning in a professional setting. Applicants must demonstrate confident, safe, and compassionate handling skills with dogs of various sizes, breeds, and temperaments.
- Grooming/Vet tech Certification, preferred but not required
- A strong interest in pursuing a long-term career in professional dog grooming.
- Sound understanding of canine behaviour and body language.
- A commitment to treating all animals with compassion, patience, and respect.
- Excellent communication and customer service skills.
- Ability to stand for extended periods of time.
- Ability to safely lift dogs and grooming equipment.
- Willingness to learn, accept feedback, and continually improve technical grooming skills.
Growth Opportunity: The Junior Groomer position is designed as a developmental role for individuals working toward becoming fully independent, experienced groomers. Successful team members will progress to the Senior Groomer role as they consistently demonstrate advanced technical grooming skills, excellent time management, strong client communication, and a commitment to Fear Free handling practices. Throughout this role, Junior Groomers will receive ongoing mentorship, expand their breed-specific styling knowledge, refine advanced grooming techniques, and continue developing the confidence and expertise required to independently manage a full-service grooming schedule while delivering the exceptional standard of care East Coast Dog is known for.
Pay: From $19.50 per hour
Benefits:
Experience:
- Assistant/Apprentice Grooming: 1 year (required)
Work Location: In person
