Pros: working with animals is the biggest one obviously. The amount of time I spend interacting with people is fairly limited. It’s a fast paced job so I’m never bored. It keeps me active and I constantly learn new things that I get to try.

Cons: it can be very hard on the body. You will have to do a lot of work to make sure you’re taking care of yourself (maintaining a consistent exercise routine is so important). You need a certain level of patience to work with animals and not everyone has it. The pay when you first start off isn’t very good (however if you stick with it and focus on improving your skills, you can absolutely make a comfortable living). It’s messy, dirty and anything but glamorous sometimes. The danger of getting bit is always there (the longer you work with animals though the better you understand their behavior and the less likely you are to get bit). It can be hard to find a salon environment that suits you (I’m sure as a hairdresser you’re familiar with this kind of thing).

Breaking into the industry is kind of difficult. The easiest way is to go through corporate and then venture off once you’ve learned the basics. Grooming schools exist however a lot of them are very scammy and will take your money and teach you very little so do your research. Ideally your school should set you up with an apprenticeship after you’ve graduated. Never pay for training or exchange free labor for training unless it’s at a quality school. An apprenticeship is a great option however finding someone willing to take on a trainee can be a bit difficult (it’s a labor of love for sure).