Posted on 09/01/24 in Case Studies
Read about Margaret's journey as a dog groomer apprentice
Margaret Foot has been passionate about dogs for as long as she remembers. Finally, for her 11th birthday, she was surprised by two rescue dogs. It took a lot of care and grooming to upkeep them, which inspired her to start learning and applying all the knowledge. Over time, she got better and fell in love with the process.
Margaret pursued her passion, leading her to an exciting role – Trainee Dog Groomer at Diesel and Blue Doggie Daycare in Orange, NSW.
Diesel and Blue Doggie Daycare owner and Margaret’s employer Danielle Hasse has been working hard to connect young people to dog grooming apprenticeships.
“It’s a perfect storm in that during Covid, many groomers quit because of the restrictions, while at that time, there was about a 400% increase in dog ownership. So, our situation is uneven in terms of available groomers and dogs that need to be groomed.”
Noticing a gap in the market and an underutilised training pathway through TAFE, Danielle has been working hard to promote opportunities for young people.
“We’re currently in a situation where the Australian Government is happy to pay for the registered training organisation for TAFE registered trainees. That is something worth promoting, so I started reaching out and speaking to students at Career Expos and Councillors to raise awareness about the options after leaving high school.”
Her hard work and efforts have paid off, as now apprentices Margaret, Courtney and Tavia are helping drive the business forward and keep up with the high demand.
Margaret is passionate about her job: “I love seeing each dog’s transformations when they come to the salon. They never quite look like the same dog that came in when they left and don’t smell the same.”
Margaret shares that days are dynamic and that she is always learning. Her typical day at work starts at 8 am, where she sets up for the day and ensures all the equipment is out, clean and charged. The next step is greeting clients and discussing what they wish to achieve. The grooming starts with bathing, drying, brushing, and shaving and repeats with the next pup. Finally, when all the dogs are done, Margaret cleans up and sets everything up for the next day.
She advises other talent considering breaking into the industry:
“If you love dogs and you’re patient and calm, I say go for it. It’s the best thing I ever did. You get to help many people and, more importantly, help many pups look, feel, and smell their best.”
Apprenticeship Support Australia is proud to have been a part of Danielle’s and Margaret’s journey in helping them succeed. We continue to support employers and apprentices alike, offering free downloadable resources, telephone support, mentoring and one-on-one coaching.
If you would like to learn more about an apprenticeship or traineeship, please reach out to our friendly team here, or call us on 1300 363 831.