Dog Groomer Apprentice Jobs (NOW HIRING)

DOG GROOMER NEEDED

WAGS 2 WHISKERS (WEST LOS ANGELES)

This is not a factory.

Most grooming salons run dogs through like a car wash. Kennel to tub to table to kennel. Four dogs at once. Stressed dogs. Stressed groomers. Razor-thin margins on volume.

We do not work that way.

Wags 2 Whiskers is a full-service pet care company in West LA — boarding, daycare, training, and grooming. We are building a grooming program where quality matters more than speed, and where the groomer is treated like the professional they are.

WHAT MAKES THIS DIFFERENT

Typical Salon: Wags 2 Whiskers:
6-10 dogs per day 4-5 dogs per day, scheduled with buffer time
Kennels between steps Cage-free handoff — dogs rest in open play
Multiple staff per dog One groomer, one dog, start to finish
Rushed to hit quota Time to do the job right
Cheap products Premium products and tools supplied
Groomer is a cost center Groomer is a revenue driver with commission upside

THE POSITION

Dog Groomer — West Los Angeles

• Full-time preferred. Part-time considered for the right candidate.
• Schedule: Tuesday-Saturday (Sunday-Monday off) or flexible
• Location: West LA / Sawtelle area (exact address provided upon interview)
• Start date: Immediate

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Complete full-service grooms (bath, dry, brush-out, haircut, nails, ears, teeth) on dogs of all breeds and sizes
• Maintain a clean, safe, organized grooming station
• Communicate with pet parents on coat condition, skin issues, and styling preferences
• Keep detailed notes on each regular client
• Support the daycare/boarding team when grooming schedule is light
• Help us build the grooming reputation of Wags 2 Whiskers from the ground up

WHAT WE REQUIRE

Experience:
• 1+ years professional grooming OR completion of a certified grooming academy
• Apprentices considered if you bring references and a portfolio

Skills:
• Proficient with breed-standard cuts and mixed-breed styling
• Scissor work must be clean
• Able to handle large dogs safely

Temperament:
• Calm under pressure. Dogs read your energy. If you are anxious, they are anxious. If you are steady, they are steady.

Professionalism:
• On time. Prepared. Organized. Communicative with pet parents.

Preferred but not required:
• Fear Free certification or willingness to obtain
• Experience with cats
• Bilingual English/Spanish
• Social media presence or willingness to showcase your work

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Pay: Competitive base + commission on upsells and add-on services. Top groomers in our network earn $60K-$85K/year in LA.
• Hours: 35-40 hours/week. No splitting shifts across a 12-hour day.
• Products & Tools: Premium shampoos, conditioners, and styling products provided. Shear sharpening covered.
• Environment: Wellness First Grooming, Ionic air dryers and purified bathing water, Natural light in yards.
• Growth: First groomer hired becomes lead groomer, you train the next groomer.
• Perks: Free daycare for your own dog. Discounted boarding. Health stipend after 90 days.

HOW TO APPLY

Send the following to info@w2wdotpet:

1. Your resume
2. 3-5 photos of grooms you have done (before/after preferred)
3. A short note answering this question:
   "What is the worst thing about how most salons treat their groomers, and how would you fix it?"

We read every application.

ABOUT WAGS 2 WHISKERS

We are a pet care company founded on the belief that dogs deserve better than the minimum. Our boarding and daycare operations run on small group sizes, enrichment activities, and staff who actually like dogs. Our grooming program will be built the same way — by people who take pride in the work and refuse to cut corners.

We are currently securing a new location in West LA with dedicated grooming space designed for low-stress, one-on-one service. You would be helping us build this from day one.

Apply now. We are interviewing immediately and want someone who fits our culture, not just our schedule.

About us
Wags 2 Whiskers is a holistic pet wellness facility in Culver City. We've been dialing in the wellness-first model since 2009 — the way we bathe, the way we handle, the products we use, the water we bathe with, the air the dogs breathe. Everything is intentional.
Pet parents come to us because we do it differently. We're built around the science of skin, coat, and calm — not the volume of dogs through the door.
We're growing. This summer we launch our first grooming van — a mobile W2W experience that brings the same protocols to pet parents at their homes. Next year, more vans. Beyond that, we're building the framework other salons will use to operate this way.
What we believe

Pet parents deserve wellness for their animals, the same way they seek it for themselves
Grooming is a wellness service, not a production line
The groomer, the wash, the environment, the water, the products — all of it matters
A groomer should be paid honestly for their work, and stand behind it with pride
Every dog leaves better than they arrived — never rushed, never released with debris, never handed off with an unmet request.