ATD GROOMING ACADEMY

About the Dog

Believe quality and standards begin with education. Whether you're looking to learn how to correctly groom and care for your own pet, or you want to embark on a new career within the canine industry, with ATD you can gain the knowledge and experience you need.

Wage

£12,896 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
[Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)](Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab))
Training course: Dog groomer (level 2)
Hours: Working 3 days a week 9am to 5.30pm with a half hour break for lunch and every Saturday 9am to 4.30pm.
31 hours a week
Start date: Thursday 1 October 2026
Duration: 1 year
Positions available: 1

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working.

You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

As the apprentice at About The Dog, you will be responsible for:

• Assisting with grooming, cleaning, and providing basic medical care
• Assisting customers with their inquiries and providing excellent customer service
• Maintaining a clean and organised shop environment
• Receiving and stock inventory
• Assisting with pricing and tagging merchandise
• Operating a digital booking system and handling transactions accurately
• Performing heavy lifting as needed

Where you'll work

83 Henleaze Road
Bristol
BS9 4JP

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

HADDON TRAINING LIMITED

Training course

Dog groomer (level 2)
[Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)](Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab))

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Develop a dog grooming plan to meet the individual requirements of the dog and owner
• Carry out a dog grooming plan to meet the individual requirements of the dog and modify as required throughout the groom
• Identify normal signs of good and bad health including poor skin condition and external parasites
• Identify when to report abnormal signs of health and advise the customer when abnormal health may require veterinary attention
• Recognise and adapt to behavioural change indicators and signs of relaxation, fear, aggression and stress in dogs
• Handle and move dogs, adapting own behaviour to meet the needs of the dog
• Identify and use relevant dog restraint equipment to move and handle the dog according to temperament, age, breed, and size, and in line with manual handling and lifting procedures
• Bathe a dog using procedures which account for breed, coat type and anatomical features, including selecting, preparing and using products according to coat type
• Store grooming and bathing products, including medicated shampoo, in accordance with COSHH regulations
• Dry a dog selecting and using equipment, methods and products which account for coat type, breed, and anatomical features
• Handle the dog and use nail clippers and/or scissors to trim dog’s nails.
• Select, handle, and use coat trimming equipment
• Identify factors that require the groom to be terminated early, such as illness, zoonotic infections, behaviour, stress
• Identify and escalate health and safety, and animal welfare concerns
• Maintain dog records
• Communicate with colleagues, customers, and stakeholders and use terminology suitable to audience
• Clean, maintain, store and sterilise products and equipment
• Clean and disinfect the work area and dispose of waste in accordance with COSHH regulations
• Develop a dog grooming plan to meet the individual requirements of the dog and owner
• Carry out a dog grooming plan to meet the individual requirements of the dog and modify as required throughout the groom
• Identify normal signs of good and bad health including poor skin condition and external parasites
• Identify when to report abnormal signs of health and advise the customer when abnormal health may require veterinary attention
• Recognise and adapt to behavioural change indicators and signs of relaxation, fear, aggression and stress in dogs
• Handle and move dogs, adapting own behaviour to meet the needs of the dog
• Identify and use relevant dog restraint equipment to move and handle the dog according to temperament, age, breed, and size, and in line with manual handling and lifting procedures
• Bathe a dog using procedures which account for breed, coat type and anatomical features, including selecting, preparing and using products according to coat type
• Store grooming and bathing products, including medicated shampoo, in accordance with COSHH regulations
• Dry a dog selecting and using equipment, methods and products which account for coat type, breed, and anatomical features
• Handle the dog and use nail clippers and/or scissors to trim dog’s nails.
• Select, handle, and use coat trimming equipment
• Identify factors that require the groom to be terminated early, such as illness, zoonotic infections, behaviour, stress
• Identify and escalate health and safety, and animal welfare concerns
• Maintain dog records
• Communicate with colleagues, customers, and stakeholders and use terminology suitable to audience
• Clean, maintain, store and sterilise products and equipment
• Clean and disinfect the work area and dispose of waste in accordance with COSHH regulations