The Role:
We are seeking a passionate and highly skilled Dog Groomer who shares our dog-first philosophy. As a key member of our team, you will be responsible for delivering a first-class grooming service from start to finish, building wonderful relationships with our clients, and upholding our salon's high standards of animal welfare and care.
You are someone who finds joy in the art of grooming, who can handle dogs of all temperaments with a calm and confident energy, and who understands that a wagging tail is the ultimate sign of a job well done.
Key Responsibilities:
- Perform full grooms from start to finish on a variety of breeds and coat types to a high standard, including bathing, drying, clipping, advanced scissoring, and de-shedding treatments.
- Conduct thorough consultations with owners to understand their needs and their dog's history, health, and temperament.
- Provide expert advice to clients on coat maintenance, grooming schedules, and general skin/coat health.
- Demonstrate confident and compassionate handling of all dogs, including nervous, elderly, or large-breed dogs, adapting techniques to ensure their comfort and safety.
- Maintain a pristine, safe, and hygienic work environment at all times, including the cleaning and sterilisation of all tools and equipment.
- Contribute to our positive and supportive team atmosphere, working collaboratively with colleagues to manage the daily schedule effectively.
- Build lasting, positive relationships with our clients (both human and canine!).
Essential Skills & Qualifications (The "Must-Haves"):
- City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Dog Grooming (or an equivalent, recognised qualification) is essential.
- A minimum of 3 years of professional grooming experience in a commercial salon environment.
- Proven proficiency in all aspects of scissoring, clipping, and finishing techniques across a wide variety of breeds.
- Exceptional, patient, and humane dog handling skills are non-negotiable.
- A deep understanding of canine behaviour, anatomy, and health, with the ability to spot potential issues (e.g., skin conditions, parasites, ear infections).
- Current Canine First Aid certification.
- Excellent communication skills and a genuinely friendly and professional demeanour.
Desirable Skills & Attributes (The "Nice-to-Haves"):
- Experience and confidence in hand-stripping wire-coated breeds.
- A portfolio showcasing your grooming work (e.g., Instagram, Facebook, or photo gallery).
- A desire to continue learning and stay current with industry trends and techniques (CPD).
About Us
At Tail Waggers, we’ve built our reputation on three core principles: the unwavering wellbeing of the dogs in our care, the exceptional quality of our grooms, and the genuine friendliness of our team. We are not a high-volume, production-line salon. We are a calm, clean, and compassionate space where dogs are treated with the respect and patience they deserve.
Our clients trust us because they know we prioritise their dog's comfort and happiness above all else. We take pride in our beautiful, breed-standard and bespoke pet trims, and we foster a supportive, drama-free, and joyful atmosphere for both our team and our four-legged clients. We're now looking for a like-minded, time-served professional to become an integral part of our close-knit team.
What We Offer:
- A competitive salary that truly reflects your skill and experience.
- A positive, supportive, and drama-free work environment where your wellbeing matters.
- A clean, modern, and well-equipped salon with top-of-the-range tools.
- A realistic workload that prioritises quality over quantity.
- We are open Tuesday to Saturday 8:30am to 5:30pm
- Three Day Weekend every other week.
- Generous staff discount on retail products and grooming services for your own dog(s).
- Work Place pension scheme.
- 30 days paid holiday (inclusive of bank holidays).
- The opportunity to work with wonderful dogs and their dedicated owners every single day.
How to Apply:
If you are a talented groomer who is passionate about animal welfare and wants to be part of a team that values quality and kindness, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Please send your CV and a cover letter explaining why you feel you would be a great fit for our salon's ethos.
A portfolio of your recent work (e.g., a link to an Instagram profile or attached photos) is highly encouraged.
Application Deadline: 1st October 2025
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £24,000.00-£29,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Company events
- Employee mentoring programme
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Education:
- Certificate of Higher Education (required)
Experience:
- pet grooming: 3 years (required)
Work Location: In person
