If so, a career in professional dog grooming may be for you. Classes begin the 1st Tuesday of each month. Job opportunities for dog groomer's include: working in a grooming salon, pet shops, kennel and veterinary offices. A career in dog grooming is beneficial to those of you who desire to work their own hours or plan to open a business in the future - to be in control of your future.
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These testimonials are just some of the unsolicited "Thank you" notes that we've received. I am so grateful that I was able to study under Teri at the Academy of Animal Arts. She is a master at grooming, and so amazingly good with animals of all temperaments and sizes. Her standards are high, the school is kept immaculately clean, and even today, years later, I hear her words in my head while working on a dog. the little details that take a groom from good to excellent.Learning show grooming, anatomy and general best practices will always be beneficial.
At the Academy of Animal Arts & Sciences we believe our relationship and co-existence with our pets is the foundation for the nurturing we bestow upon them. We learn from them to lend and extend ourselves, and in many cases they make our lives more meaningful. We bond with and admire them, we care for them and we decorate them.
No prior experience or training is required. Must have high school diploma or GED or the student is required to take a 15 question, ability to benefit test with a passing score of 80%. Must not have any handicaps, physical or otherwise, that would preclude the performance of the work required. Student should be prepared to work and have a genuine love of animals.
Reviews (10)
Mar 22, 2022
Great school, professional teachers and they are all very kind people. However, almost right after I graduated from the school.actually, when I still in the school. I recognized grooming is very stressful job and I could not possibly do it. After my first grooming job I quit the grooming field completely and now I am real regret with the money I spend on learning grooming.
This is only my personal problem, do not have anything to do with the instructor and school. I highly suggest you don't enroll the school until you exactly sure you could handle it. I did grooming after graduate from here for 1-2 month part time like few hours each week and completed give up.
This is only my personal problem, do not have anything to do with the instructor and school. I highly suggest you don't enroll the school until you exactly sure you could handle it. I did grooming after graduate from here for 1-2 month part time like few hours each week and completed give up.
Natalie Dubs
Oct 31, 2021
Cindy Muro
Oct 27, 2021
This school change my life. Attending this academy is the beast decision I could have made for my career. I'm a student here for the 4 months professional pet grooming course, I learned skills and techniques every single day. Teri, the instructor of the school is full of knowledge and she has a special connection with dogs.she has been working with dogs since she was a child. Teri and Rick always make sure to meet my needs and always give me the confidence I need to keep pushing trough to the end.
Sue is an amazing an knowledgeable women, she is there to help with anything you need. If you are looking the persue a career in animal Grooming I would like to encourage you to reach out the academy of animal arts. I highly recommended this school for anyone that enjoy and love animals.
Sue is an amazing an knowledgeable women, she is there to help with anything you need. If you are looking the persue a career in animal Grooming I would like to encourage you to reach out the academy of animal arts. I highly recommended this school for anyone that enjoy and love animals.
Susan Rock
Aug 17, 2021
I recently graduated the first week of July and I would highly recommend the Academy of Animal Arts school to anyone you has a love for animals. You will learn so much from health issues to breed specific grooming. Teri the owner is so knowledgeable and gives everyone that one on one time and will explain in detail the specific cut for the breed, and will demonstrate which in itself is such a great learning lesson.
I also want to mention Rick who is wonderful and very knowledgeable with such a great personality, and Sue who is always there to give you a hand. I want to thank you all for everything and for such a wonderful experience. PS. Teri You are so correct that a great blowdry helps create a great groom.
I also want to mention Rick who is wonderful and very knowledgeable with such a great personality, and Sue who is always there to give you a hand. I want to thank you all for everything and for such a wonderful experience. PS. Teri You are so correct that a great blowdry helps create a great groom.
Xiara Castillo
Jul 21, 2021
This program was truly a great experience, I took the basic groomer program and it gave me a great foundation. Despite only being there for 2 months I received great quality teaching. Teri, the Director, is an absolute PRO at what she does, she has so many tips and tricks that you can only gain with years and years of experience, and she sees the best in all of her students.
Not only does she see the best, she actually shows genuine interest in them. Sue, the Vet Technician/Prep Instructor, also was an asset to the program and gave us so much knowledge on what to look for when it came to zoonotic diseases, skin conditions, abnormal behavior with the animals, etc. Rick, the Admissions Director, also was always there If you had any questions about the program and was always willing to help with whatever you needed.
The staff all worked as a team and that is something that was very appreciated and made everything work smoothly. After graduation I started working as a groomer only a week later, I realized that even though I had much to learn I was still ready and equipped to work in a grooming salon with groomers that have 7+ years of experience. I loved this program and I would go back! Anyone who is wanting to get into grooming should definitely take the opportunity to learn with Teri.
Not only does she see the best, she actually shows genuine interest in them. Sue, the Vet Technician/Prep Instructor, also was an asset to the program and gave us so much knowledge on what to look for when it came to zoonotic diseases, skin conditions, abnormal behavior with the animals, etc. Rick, the Admissions Director, also was always there If you had any questions about the program and was always willing to help with whatever you needed.
The staff all worked as a team and that is something that was very appreciated and made everything work smoothly. After graduation I started working as a groomer only a week later, I realized that even though I had much to learn I was still ready and equipped to work in a grooming salon with groomers that have 7+ years of experience. I loved this program and I would go back! Anyone who is wanting to get into grooming should definitely take the opportunity to learn with Teri.
Anastasia Pastuszak
Jul 20, 2021
Words cannot explain my complete frustration with this grooming school. I had already spent a year and a half trying to become a groomer via bather & Apprentice. My next instinct told me that going to a grooming academy would be much better. I decided to enroll in the 300 hour Professional Pet Groomer course. When my family and I did the tour for the facility, we were guaranteed that every student was able to have a dog during the class days.
And that if there were none for that day, they would call a local animal shelter or friends and family to bring in their pets for the students to practice on. That was a complete lie, there were MULTIPLE days in a class week where I was left to do "book work" or take random tests that I had already taken before. Unfortunately, at the beginning of the course, the director/ primary groomer, Teri, ended up not coming to our class anymore.
We had zero information and were promised to be taught by a master groomer who had over 20+ years of experience. The students who were ahead of us (our class started August 20) had gotten to be taught by her. Another unfortunate scenario that happened was the other "head" groomer. She was not equipped to teach us and would pick favorites. When I would ask for help or instructions she would say "go check your book" instead of teaching the proper way.
The school apparently has this 'rule' that if your instructor has to touch your dog or fix anything you lose points off of it. But the whole point of the program was so we were taught correctly to groom, therefore NEEDING an instructor to come check our dogs and help us improve. The breeds that we were promised to learn how to groom, some never got to learn or even touch.
Other "favored" students were given breed specific pets such as a schnauzer, poodle, bichon, cocker spaniel etc. The students who were not favored, got bath dogs & standard trims that weren't even explained to us. I had learned the very very slim basics of dog grooming that you could get from a YouTube video. But nothing that actually would hold up in a quality salon setting. 7 months out of this school, I've learned that I was taught incorrectly and was set up for failure coming out.
It was a very disappointing experience. If Teri had been teaching our class, I would have had a very different experience. But unfortunately, we were taught by a different groomer who did not care for her responsibilities as an instructor.
And that if there were none for that day, they would call a local animal shelter or friends and family to bring in their pets for the students to practice on. That was a complete lie, there were MULTIPLE days in a class week where I was left to do "book work" or take random tests that I had already taken before. Unfortunately, at the beginning of the course, the director/ primary groomer, Teri, ended up not coming to our class anymore.
We had zero information and were promised to be taught by a master groomer who had over 20+ years of experience. The students who were ahead of us (our class started August 20) had gotten to be taught by her. Another unfortunate scenario that happened was the other "head" groomer. She was not equipped to teach us and would pick favorites. When I would ask for help or instructions she would say "go check your book" instead of teaching the proper way.
The school apparently has this 'rule' that if your instructor has to touch your dog or fix anything you lose points off of it. But the whole point of the program was so we were taught correctly to groom, therefore NEEDING an instructor to come check our dogs and help us improve. The breeds that we were promised to learn how to groom, some never got to learn or even touch.
Other "favored" students were given breed specific pets such as a schnauzer, poodle, bichon, cocker spaniel etc. The students who were not favored, got bath dogs & standard trims that weren't even explained to us. I had learned the very very slim basics of dog grooming that you could get from a YouTube video. But nothing that actually would hold up in a quality salon setting. 7 months out of this school, I've learned that I was taught incorrectly and was set up for failure coming out.
It was a very disappointing experience. If Teri had been teaching our class, I would have had a very different experience. But unfortunately, we were taught by a different groomer who did not care for her responsibilities as an instructor.
Rachel Groover
Jun 24, 2021
Getting to attend the Academy of Animal Arts was definitely a dream come true, and felt like the perfect fit for the type of curriculum I was looking for to move forward into grooming. Teri and Rick always made sure to meet my needs and always gave me the confidence I needed to keep pushing through to the end. The amount of grooming knowledge I learned here was so much more than I could have imagined to learn anywhere else, from breed standard cuts, animal first aid, and even how to PROPERLY hold my shears!
Every one is always so kind and the atmosphere is so comforting; you always feel at home (and so do the dogs!). I will always cherish everything Teri has taught me as I move forward in my grooming career!
Every one is always so kind and the atmosphere is so comforting; you always feel at home (and so do the dogs!). I will always cherish everything Teri has taught me as I move forward in my grooming career!
Emily McCraw
Jan 07, 2021
This school changed my life! Attending this academy was the best decision I could have made for my career. In the 4 months I was there for the Professional Pet Groomer course, I learned skills that could take someone years to learn anywhere else. Teri, the director and head instructor of the school, and Rick, the admissions director, were welcoming and kind from the start, before I even committed to attending the school. Rick answered all my questions honestly, trying to make sure I made the best decision for me rather than just trying to get a new student for the school.
They really make sure students who are admitted are a good fit for the pet industry. Teri is full of knowledge, and is truly a master at her craft. She has been working with dogs since she was a child and it truly shows. She has so much to teach her students, and her teachings are priceless. She will teach you techniques and tricks that you cannot learn anywhere else.
I have never seen someone so connected with dogs, that the dogs' behavior changes completely around them (in the best way). Melody, the instructor at the school, also has years and years of experience grooming dogs, is a great teacher and all around good person. She is kind to students while also making sure they are doing everything correctly and efficiently.
She is great with the dogs and the students. If you are interested in the pet industry, or even just looking to learn how to groom your own dog, this school is the place to go. You won't regret it!
They really make sure students who are admitted are a good fit for the pet industry. Teri is full of knowledge, and is truly a master at her craft. She has been working with dogs since she was a child and it truly shows. She has so much to teach her students, and her teachings are priceless. She will teach you techniques and tricks that you cannot learn anywhere else.
I have never seen someone so connected with dogs, that the dogs' behavior changes completely around them (in the best way). Melody, the instructor at the school, also has years and years of experience grooming dogs, is a great teacher and all around good person. She is kind to students while also making sure they are doing everything correctly and efficiently.
She is great with the dogs and the students. If you are interested in the pet industry, or even just looking to learn how to groom your own dog, this school is the place to go. You won't regret it!
Robin
Dec 22, 2020
I attended a Sat workshop class in Dec 2020 and I'm registered to take another workshop class in Jan 2021. My entire experience at Academy of Animal Arts and Science in Largo, FL exceeded my expectations. Everyone is very professional, friendly and the facility is immaculate and impressive. I highly recommend this dog grooming school for DIY home groomers and anyone interested in becoming a certified professional dog groomer. Teri and her husband have been owners and directors of this school for over 30 yrs.
They always returned my calls promptly, answered all my questions and extended a warm welcome upon my arrival for my first Sat workshop in Dec. Melody is an amazing instructor and shares her grooming expertise with patience and hands on demonstration. My 8 yr old fur baby, Panda, was at ease and looked fabulous when we were finished. I'm looking forward to working with Melody again in Jan 2021 to improve my skills and grooming confidence with my 6 month old puppy, Pody. Get ready, Melody, he's an active bouncing baby boy
They always returned my calls promptly, answered all my questions and extended a warm welcome upon my arrival for my first Sat workshop in Dec. Melody is an amazing instructor and shares her grooming expertise with patience and hands on demonstration. My 8 yr old fur baby, Panda, was at ease and looked fabulous when we were finished. I'm looking forward to working with Melody again in Jan 2021 to improve my skills and grooming confidence with my 6 month old puppy, Pody. Get ready, Melody, he's an active bouncing baby boy
Angi Valloreo
Mar 10, 2019
There is not enough good I can say about this school and the staff! You learn the breeds and the standards of how the dogs should look in the ring. You learn about health concerns, skin issues, signs of heat stroke, and even learn CPR. Sue is an amazing and knowledgeable woman, and is the vet tech on staff there. You learn a lot from her and she's there to help with anything you need! Rick and Dennis are the men behind the scenes, taking care of all the technical stuff and making sure you have what you need to graduate, right down to helping you find a job, and booking the dogs you'll be learning with. Terri is the main attraction though.
She not only teaches you proper scissoring and blading technique, but also teaches you why it's so important to do things properly. The safety of you and your dog is top priority! She teaches you little tricks of the trade, that not only makes it easier for you as a groomer, as little stress on the dog as possible, but also things that help you stand out over other groomers!
You are taught to do a high quality job that your clients will love! Even tips of the trade on salon operation as well. And I will tell you, you will never meet more friendly and giving people as Rick and Terri. They are truly what makes that school special. Also if grooming isn't your thing, I believe they are starting a vet tech program soon! If you have high standards, have a strong love for animals, and are willing to put effort into learning, Terri will bring you to greatness as a groomer. And that this is the school for you. I truly value my time spent with all of them, and miss them dearly.
She not only teaches you proper scissoring and blading technique, but also teaches you why it's so important to do things properly. The safety of you and your dog is top priority! She teaches you little tricks of the trade, that not only makes it easier for you as a groomer, as little stress on the dog as possible, but also things that help you stand out over other groomers!
You are taught to do a high quality job that your clients will love! Even tips of the trade on salon operation as well. And I will tell you, you will never meet more friendly and giving people as Rick and Terri. They are truly what makes that school special. Also if grooming isn't your thing, I believe they are starting a vet tech program soon! If you have high standards, have a strong love for animals, and are willing to put effort into learning, Terri will bring you to greatness as a groomer. And that this is the school for you. I truly value my time spent with all of them, and miss them dearly.
