Professional Dog Grooming Diploma

These hands-on activities are designed to help you build confidence using real grooming techniques such as clipping, scissoring, bathing, and coat preparation. There is no requirement to complete practical tasks on a work placement, and you do not need to organise any salon training before enrolling. You can practise on your own dog or on friends’ and family dogs whenever it suits you.

The practical work is there to support your learning and help you gain real-world confidence, but you can progress through the course even if your access to dogs is limited.

Most students gain practical experience by grooming their own dogs, helping friends and family, or finding volunteer grooming opportunities in their local area.

Another popular option is advertising for free grooming models through local community groups and social media. This is often one of the best ways to gain experience while also starting to build a client base. Many of our students are surprised by how much interest they receive and quickly become inundated with model requests. In many cases, these model dogs go on to become regular paying clients once students have developed their confidence and skills.

Some students also choose to volunteer with animal shelters or rescue organisations, while others arrange to observe or shadow an experienced dog groomer in their area.

There is no requirement to organise a work placement before enrolling.

Read Sandi's story to see how she secured practical experience or Learn more about how the practical works >

Yes, our Professional Dog Grooming Diploma is accredited by the International Council for Online Educational Standards (ICOES).

Pet Courses successfully completed a comprehensive review process to achieve ICOES accreditation, giving students confidence that the course content, structure and learning outcomes meet recognised international standards for online education.

This accreditation helps ensure you receive a high-quality learning experience designed to build real-world dog grooming skills, knowledge and confidence for working in the industry.

Please note: this course is accredited by ICOES as a private professional training program and is not a nationally recognised AQF qualification. Pet Courses is not a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

Our course includes a range of dog grooming business templates and learning resources.

Our resources are designed to support you during your training and help you prepare for working in the industry. Resources include, blade size charts, equipment checklist and business planning tools.

Yes! Upon successful completion of your assessments, you will receive a Certificate of Completion for each course you finish.

Your certificates confirm that you have completed your online dog grooming training and demonstrate your knowledge and skills in dog grooming theory and practice.

There is no requirement to purchase any equipment before enrolling in this course.

The practical tasks are optional and can be completed at your own pace, typically using a basic grooming kit if you choose to practise on your own or friends’ dogs.

We recommend waiting before buying any tools, as the first module covers grooming equipment in detail and helps you understand exactly what is needed before making any investment. You’ll also gain insight from an experienced home-based groomer, who demonstrates the tools she uses in her salon and explains what she finds most useful. At the end of the module, you’ll be able to download a full equipment checklist to guide your setup.

Absolutely not! You’ll have access to your course mentor, our support team, and a community of fellow students, so you’re never far from help when you need it.

We understand that starting an online course for the first time can feel a little daunting, which is why you’ll have support available throughout your studies.

After enrolling you'll be invited to join our students only private Facebook group where you can connect with other learners, ask questions, share your progress, and stay motivated as you work through your dog grooming training.