Becoming a professional dog groomer is a rewarding and creative career path, but like any new skill, it comes with a learning curve. At Pet Stylist Academy, Australia’s leading dog grooming school and Registered Training Organisation (RTO), we see firsthand where new groomers often go wrong—and how they can quickly improve with the right education and practice. Whether you’re just starting your dog grooming course or already grooming friends’ pets at home, this guide will help you avoid the 5 common dog grooming mistakes and set yourself up for success.
Mistake 1: Skipping the Prep Work
One of the most common mistakes we see from new groomers is skipping or rushing the preparation stage. Grooming is more than just clipping and styling—it starts with a clean, tangle-free coat. Without thorough preparation, everything that follows becomes more difficult.
Proper preparation includes bathing, drying, brushing, and de-matting. When these steps are skipped or rushed, clippers snag on knots, scissoring becomes uneven, and the final groom looks unfinished. A coat that hasn’t been properly dried and brushed out won’t lie flat, making it almost impossible to achieve a smooth, professional finish.
At Pet Stylist Academy, we dedicate time to teaching students how to prepare each coat type correctly. Investing in this stage will make the clipping and styling much easier, more comfortable for the dog, and will result in a far better outcome.
Mistake 2: Using the Wrong Tools for the Coat Type
New groomers are often tempted to use one set of tools for every breed. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to grooming tools. Each coat type requires specific brushes, combs, clippers, and blades to achieve the best results.
For instance, a slicker brush is ideal for wool and curly coats like Poodles and Bichons, while double-coated breeds like Huskies need undercoat rakes to remove dead hair. Using the wrong tool can cause unnecessary discomfort to the dog, damage the coat, or simply fail to achieve the desired look.
Understanding coat types and tool selection is a critical part of professional grooming education. In our grooming courses, students learn how to identify coat types and choose the appropriate tools to ensure both effective grooming and dog comfort.
Mistake 3: Poor Scissoring and Clipper Techniques
Learning to handle scissors and clippers correctly takes time, practice, and expert instruction. Many beginners struggle with creating even lines, blending coat lengths, or knowing how to safely trim around delicate areas like the face, paws, and sanitary zones.
Without proper technique, grooms can look choppy or unbalanced. Uneven scissoring and visible clipper tracks are clear signs of inexperience. Worse, poor handling of sharp tools can risk injury to the dog.
Our grooming programs at Pet Stylist Academy provide hands-on practice under professional supervision. Students are taught how to use different types of scissors, how to angle them correctly, and how to blend transitions seamlessly. With guided repetition, new groomers build confidence and precision in their styling.
Mistake 4: Rushing the Grooming Process
New groomers often feel pressure to complete a groom quickly, especially when working in a busy salon environment or trying to impress clients. This pressure can lead to skipping steps, working too fast, or not checking the quality of the groom before finishing.
Rushing compromises the result and creates a stressful experience for both the groomer and the dog. Dogs may become anxious when handled too quickly, and groomers are more likely to make mistakes, miss details, or cause discomfort.
Taking time to work carefully and methodically is essential, especially during training. We encourage our students to focus on quality and accuracy first. Speed will naturally increase with experience. In fact, slower, calm handling often results in faster progress long-term because fewer mistakes need fixing.
Mistake 5: Ignoring Behavioural Signs from the Dog
Dog grooming is as much about understanding animals as it is about styling. New groomers sometimes become so focused on completing the task that they overlook signs of discomfort, anxiety, or stress in the dog.
Ignoring a dog’s body language can escalate a situation quickly. Stressed dogs may become reactive, making the groom unsafe. Signs such as panting, lip licking, pinned ears, or a tense body indicate that the dog is not coping well.
At Pet Stylist Academy, we place a strong emphasis on reading and responding to animal behaviour. Our courses teach students how to recognise signs of stress and how to adjust their approach to make grooming a safe and low-stress experience for every dog.
Take the First Step Toward a Career in Dog Grooming
Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to formalise your skills, the Pet Stylist Academy offers nationally recognised grooming qualifications and expert-led training.
- Study with Australia’s leading dog grooming school
- Get hands-on training with real dogs
- Learn from award-winning groomers and trainers
📍 Enrol Now or contact us to learn which course is right for you.
Avoiding these five common grooming mistakes can drastically improve your confidence, technique, and results as a dog groomer. The right education, practice, and mindset make all the difference. At Pet Stylist Academy, we’re here to guide you every step of the way on your dog grooming journey.
Check out more tips in our blog section or explore our Certificate III in Pet Grooming to take your first step toward a rewarding, creative career.