What would you call the minimum equipment you would need to set up at the home Cindy?

Your initial equipment would be you biggest expense, of course. Some of it could be found used, though.
Here's my opinion:
New clippers, new blades, used clippers and blades for back up, stand dryer, table and arm, 2 pairs of straight scissors, thinning shears, slicker brush, metL comb, raised tub (I installed a free bathtub from a recycling depot), hemostats for ear plucking, shampoo, ear powder, towels (thrift store) Hmmm, I'll try to think of more, but thats the basics.
I have had all the bells and whistle tools and over the years have found that 99% of the time I would simply use the slicker, comb and scissors for brushing and dematting on every dog. So yeah, you can try lots of stuff (and spend lots of money) but seriously, you can get by with just these things.
Since I scheduled dogs by appt. one dog at a time, I didn't even have cages, just a blanket on the floor, with a leash attached to a eyebolt for dogs waiting for pickup, if dogs overlapped, the new dog would go right up on the table anyway.
Make sure your space has good lighting, ventilation and is east to clean. I had a separate 8'x12' room within my garage with it's own heat, hot water tank raised tub, shelves and storage cabinet and it was a good size for one person to work in.

Thanks Cindy, you've really given me something to think about.

Your welcome. BTW, back when I started, oh, 18 years ago, I took a course at a grooming school. Two months, one with book study and mail in testing, and one month in the shop, hands on. It was well worth it, IMO. Cost back then was $2500, nowadays the same school is charging $6000 or so...
still, there is alot to learn and you have to go somewhere to get experience.

I tried to teach a replacement groomer when I retired and, well, let's just say I'm a really good groomer and a really lousy teacher!

I actually looked for a school, and there is nothing that I can find in my area, I did come across a few on line schools.

I'm going to make the round I think of the locals and see if I can get in as a trainee and go from there.

I'm not in this field but from talking with those around me, groomers do not stay grooming at the vet office for very long. It's been expressed that income is greater at a home or shop, the hours are longer at the vet d/t requirement of you being there for all intakes and discharges, the critters are typically the nastier (ie sedation), expectation to schedule your own appointments and if they do the scheduling a lot of in appropriately scheduled appts r/t time, confirming your own appts, dealing with vaccination requirements, a lot of buzz work vs beauty cuts, tight working quarters, provide majority of your own equipment. I don't know if this tends to be the first place of employement and culture shock or if there is truth to the hate to groom at the vet.

Maybe others can shed some light that have actually experienced this.

(ok that sounds like downer suzy -sorry-- not how I meant it, environment may make something fun and creative and turn it into an assembly line. Also some new groomers will volunteer at shelter to get some hands on..just a thought)

You forgot curve scissors in that list of 'must haves'! Can't do the fluffy dogs w/o a good pair of curves. Clipper Cool spray is on my list of must haves.

By stand dryer, did you mean force dryer? (Thats what we call it, at least) Can't get those Cockers straight and smooth w/o it! I don't like drying them either, but I sure do feel proud when I'm done, and they go swishing away.




Hand Stripping: Done to terrier or wire coated dogs, you literally 'strip' away the unwanted hair. (Or pluck, would be another way to think of it) It's very very time consuming, as it's done piece by piece, but in the long run, it can make or break the groom job on a dog. Many groom shops won't do it, simply because of the time and experience it required. It's not easy. It's not something you can just learn on your own (I don't think, at least) You pluck/strip/remove the 'dead' layer of outer guard hairs. Done properly, it looks amazing. Done wrong, you are left with a naked looking dog.

Many dogs that are considered to be hand strip breeds are simply shaved down. Owners don't want to invest the money, and groomers don't have the know-how to do it right. By shaving the dog multiple times, you may be taking away the option of ever hand stripping the coat, as eventually the coat will be softer, and a lighter color then it was originally. Too hard to strip a nice soft coat! It's the show dogs, going into the conformation ring that are generally hand stripped.



Cool Betty!!! Sounds like fun!

 Quote: Kelly Byrd

You forgot curve scissors in that list of 'must haves'! Can't do the fluffy dogs w/o a good pair of curves. Clipper Cool spray is on my list of must haves.

By stand dryer, did you mean force dryer? (Thats what we call it, at least) Can't get those Cockers straight and smooth w/o it! I don't like drying them either, but I sure do feel proud when I'm done, and they go swishing away.

I mean a free standing powerful blow dryer on wheels, and yeah, clpper spray and blade wash, as well. Blow drying while brushing is really the secret to a nice finish on any dog, even those that are just having a shedding coat brushed out.
I learned to do sculpting with straight shears, I have curved but never bother with them.
I did not do hand stripping at my shop, I'm one of those who believe it should be done gradually on a dog over time, and not forced all at once. Plus nobody ever asked me to, every client I had wanted an easy to care for pet cut. Made life simple

I did a little grooming prior to vet school, while I was in college. Nothing fancy. I made pretty good money (I thought) on my schedule.
Tons of people just want their dog bathed and blown out and to come home smelling sweet.
The elevated tub is a must.

At our vet clinic we had a garbage disposal in the elevated tub. It was a good deal for the hair.

 Quote: Betty Waldron

I actually looked for a school, and there is nothing that I can find in my area, I did come across a few on line schools.

I'm going to make the round I think of the locals and see if I can get in as a trainee and go from there.

Good idea.

Some vocational schools or community colleges offer different programs for grooming.