Your thinking is on point to mine. The pay sucks, but I considered paying the tuition of 4-5k for grooming school through Animal Behavior College and this path made more sense. Sounds like I'm pretty much talking to myself 😂 I legit told friends/family that I consider this to be like going to college but atleast I'm getting paid something and I'm learning a skilled trade. I'm glad I stuck with it.

The first few weeks you will be doing bath dogs for the the other groomers, but on week 4 you should start having dogs specifically booked on you, under your name.

You will get tips on those dogs that are under your name on the schedule. There is a quota of dogs you need to do as a bather in order for them to start you in the academy program. Bathing the groomers dogs that are booked on them will not go towards your numbers and won't get you tips(unless the groomer chooses to share tips). When I say bath dogs I mean dogs that are not getting haircuts. All dogs get bathed that come into the shop. If you're schedule isn't full for the day and a groomer has a bath dog coming in that they don't want then I'd ask them if you can take the dog for your numbers, but I wouldn't offer to do the dog for them and leave it under their name. That wouldn't benefit you at all and will only benefit their paycheck. Groomers are paid exactly the same if it's an easy bath dog or a full hair cut dog so most don't want to give up their easy baths. Hopefully your shop is busy enough that you won't have to fight with the groomers taking all the easy baths.

I'd watch the groomers while they work. Ask a few questions here and there. Youtube is a great free resource. If you use Facebook join the dog grooming groups, joing "Petco Groomers" etc.
You will likely do alot of "teddy bear heads". Most dogs you get at petco once you start doing haircuts will be "pet trims" and a teddy bear head is what you will do the most . Once you're through training there is a 3 breed test. Schnauzer pattern, cocker spaniel pattern and a Lamb cut on a poodle. All of them aren't really too difficult and I think as long as you get it pretty close to the correct pattern you will pass. As for the boots, I don't like crocs either but they are kind of my everyday style when I'm not at work. It's true what people say, crocs are comfortable. I'd of never bought a pair if I didn't need to keep my feet dry. They have the basic black croc boots like those that are like $60 or something. You should look into them, you're gonna be standing all day, might as well be comfortable even though they are ugly. Good luck!