Dog Grooming Training Days in Dorset — What to Expect at Doggie-Styles

By Alison Clark, Doggie-Styles | Award-Winning Dog Grooming Salon & Training Academy in Poole, Dorset

I left a 25-year career in software engineering to become a dog groomer. When I tell people that, I usually get one of two reactions: a raised eyebrow, or an "I've always wanted to do something like that."

If you're in the second camp — this post is for you.

Whether you're a dog owner who wants to learn how to groom your own pet at home, someone who's been quietly dreaming of a career change, or a groomer who wants to sharpen specific skills, we offer training days here at Doggie-Styles in Poole to suit all of those people. And I want to give you a really honest picture of what each one looks like, so you can decide if it's right for you.

First, a Bit About Who's Teaching You

I'm Alison, and I've been grooming professionally since 2018. I hold the City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Dog Grooming, iPet Level 3 Scissoring Skills qualification, and I'm a PIGA trained Asian Fusion stylist — including training I completed in Kuala Lumpur in 2025 with one of the world's leading Asian Fusion grooming academies.

I've trained with some of the UK's top groomers, won multiple Best Dog Grooming Salon — Dorset awards, and I've built Doggie-Styles from a shed in my back garden to a large professional salon and training academy in Poole.

But here's what I think matters most: I genuinely love teaching. Watching someone's confidence grow throughout a training day — from "I'm not sure I can do this" to "I actually just did that!" — never gets old.

My brilliant employee Heidi joined us as an apprentice in 2023 and went on to achieve her Level 3 Diploma. She's proof of what's possible when you find the right environment to learn in.

The Training Options at Doggie-Styles

We offer four different training options, each designed for a different purpose and level of experience. Here's a breakdown of each one.

1. Taster Day — "Is dog grooming right for me?"

Perfect for: Anyone thinking about a career in dog grooming who wants to find out what it's really like before committing.

If you're at the "I'm curious but not sure" stage, this is exactly where to start. You'll spend a full day in our busy, professional salon and get a genuine feel for the industry — not a sanitised, rose-tinted version of it.

During a Taster Day you'll:

• See a real working salon day from start to finish
• Watch our groomers work with different breeds, coat types and grooming styles
• Chat with me and Heidi — ask us anything, seriously, no question is too basic
• Tour our training facilities and find out about the courses we offer
• Get an honest picture of what a career in dog grooming actually involves day-to-day

This isn't a sales pitch. If you come away from the Taster Day and decide grooming isn't for you, that's a brilliant outcome too — you'll have saved yourself time, money and the wrong career move. But if you come away excited and ready to take the next step, we'll be right here.

👉 Find out more about our Taster Day

2. Groom Your Own Dog Day — "I just want to learn how to groom my own dog at home"

Perfect for: Dog owners who want to save money on grooming bills, bond with their pet, and feel confident maintaining their dog's coat between professional appointments.

This one is brilliant for dog owners who aren't looking for a career change — they just want to learn how to properly care for their own dog. And honestly? More dog owners should do this. The difference between a dog that's regularly brushed and maintained at home versus one that arrives at the salon in a complete state (no judgement — we've all been there) is enormous, both for the dog's comfort and for the cost of their appointments.

On a Groom Your Own Dog Day, you'll learn:

• How to wash and dry your dog properly and thoroughly
• How to brush out your dog and safely remove tangles and knots
• How to clip nails and trim pad hair
• How to clip your dog in a simple, easy-to-maintain style

You'll leave with the skills and the confidence to keep your dog looking and feeling great between their professional grooms. Think of it as the grooming equivalent of a cooking class — practical, hands-on, and genuinely useful for the rest of your dog's life.

👉 Find out more about Groom Your Own Dog Day

3. Groomer Training Days — "I'm already grooming but want to improve specific skills"

Perfect for: Qualified or working groomers who want to develop particular techniques, learn new styles, or build confidence with certain breeds or coat types.

These bespoke days are tailored entirely to you. Before your training day we'll have a conversation about what you want to get out of it — whether that's working on scissoring skills, mastering a particular breed trim, getting more confident with hand stripping, or learning about coat and skin health.

You'll work in a real, busy salon environment with real dogs, which I think is invaluable. It's very different to practising on a model dog in a classroom. You'll face real coats, real temperaments, and real challenges — and I'll be right there with you throughout.

Training days for groomers are priced at £250 per day, and I promise you'll go home with knowledge you can apply immediately.

4. Level 3 Diploma in Dog Grooming — "I want to get fully qualified and start my career"

Perfect for: Anyone who wants to become a professional dog groomer, whether that's working for someone else or starting their own business.

This is our most comprehensive training programme — a full Level 3 Diploma in Dog Grooming, accredited by AIM, iPET and Skills & Education Group.

Here's what the course looks like:

• 35 practical training days in our professional salon, plus supported home study
• Attend 1–4 days per week depending on your availability (weekdays only)
• Work with a huge variety of breeds, coat types and grooming styles throughout the course
• Learn handling techniques that keep dogs calm and stress-free
• Gain business knowledge — from setting up as self-employed to running your own salon
• Receive one-to-one guidance from me throughout, with ongoing support even after you qualify

Course fee: £6,500 (payment plans are available — just ask)

This isn't a quick online course that hands you a certificate at the end of a weekend. It's a serious, hands-on qualification that will give you the skills, the confidence and the credentials to build a real career. Heidi is the proof — she came to us as an apprentice with no grooming experience and is now a fully qualified Level 3 groomer who the dogs absolutely adore. 🐾

👉 Find out more about our Level 3 Diploma

What Makes Training at Doggie-Styles Different?

There are plenty of grooming courses out there, and I think it's worth being honest about what makes ours different — so you can decide if we're the right fit.

You'll learn in a real, working salon. Not a training facility that only operates on course days. Our salon is busy, professional and full of real clients' dogs. That means you'll encounter real challenges, real temperaments and real coat conditions from day one.

You'll learn from someone who's done it themselves. I didn't come from a grooming background. I retrained in my forties, built a business from scratch, and have lived every stage of the journey you're considering. I know what the challenges are, because I've faced them myself.

You'll get personal, one-to-one attention. We don't run large group courses. Training at Doggie-Styles is intentionally small and personal, because I genuinely believe that's how people learn best.

You'll get support after you finish. Once you qualify, that's not the end of our relationship. I offer continued support to help you navigate your grooming career — whether that's advice on setting up your business, help with a tricky coat type, or just a chat when you need it.

Where Are We Based?

We're located at Unit 7, 35 Willis Way, Poole, Dorset, BH15 3SZ — easily accessible from across Poole, Bournemouth, Broadstone, Wimborne and the surrounding areas of Dorset.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Whether you want to book a Taster Day, enquire about our Level 3 Diploma, or just have a chat about whether any of our training options are right for you, I'd love to hear from you.

📞 Call: 07791 386314 🌐 Enquire online: www.doggie-styles.co.uk/pages/contact 📸 Follow our journey: @doggiestylesgroom on Instagram

I started with a shed, a City & Guilds course, and a whole lot of determination. If you've got the passion for dogs and the drive to learn, I genuinely believe this could be one of the best decisions you ever make. 🐾

Doggie-Styles is an award-winning dog and cat grooming salon and training academy based in Poole, Dorset. Multiple Best Dog Grooming Salon — Dorset award winner, 2021, 2022 and 2023.