Pet stylists maintain the appearance of pets, including cutting and styling hair, trimming nails, and cleaning ears. They can work in salons or independently, and typically learn through hands-on experience rather than formal education.
A pet stylist, also known as a hairdresser, is a person responsible for maintaining the appearance of pets. Dog owners tend to use the services of stylists more than other pet owners, but cats can also require the services. Pet stylists often work on an animal’s fur, nails, or ears to keep the animal as nice and clean as possible.
One of the most common responsibilities for a pet stylist is to cut and style pet hair or fur. Long-haired pets may require frequent trimming to keep the coat manageable and prevent excessive shedding. Electric clippers are generally used to cut pets’ hair, so a stylist must be properly trained on how to safely handle clippers to avoid injuring a pet during the process. A pet owner may also choose to visit a professional to have their pet’s coat innovatively styled or even temporarily dyed.
Pet stylists are also usually trained to safely cut pets’ nails. Overgrown nails can put a pet at risk of not only scratching people, but the nails becoming caught and broken, which could lead to a possible wound or infection. Pet owners may not feel comfortable cutting their pet’s nails at home if they don’t have the proper equipment or knowledge of correct technique. A pet stylist can be hired to trim your pet’s nails safely, and they are usually experienced enough to trim nails even if your pet won’t sit still.
Another typical job duty for a pet stylist is cleaning an animal’s ears. It will remove any dirt or debris from inside the pet’s ears that the pet owner may not have the necessary skills or patience for. Stylists can also be trained to look for basic signs of injury or infection inside the animals’ ears and can recommend that the pet owner see a veterinarian if any symptoms are present.
A pet stylist can work in many places. Most stylists tend to work in salons, either corporate or locally owned. Some may choose to work independently and provide house calls for clients in order to schedule the appointment as convenient for the pet owner or to keep the pet calm and in a familiar environment.
Generally, there is no necessary educational path for aspiring pet stylists. They typically start their careers with hands-on experience learning from other stylists as apprentices. Some associations offer classes so that a person can obtain a preparation certification, but this is not normally a requirement.
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