Dog grooming takes skill, patience, love

Sharon Malachi is finishing up with Willie, an English cocker spaniel, clipping his nails and shaving his whiskers. Next up is Belle, a springer spaniel, who needs a haircut. Then Nox, a Portuguese water dog — the breed made popular since President Barack Obama got one for his family.

Malachi moves easily from one breed to the next. "You learn from doing, from watching dog shows and reading about how they're supposed to look," she said.

Willie, a regular at the shop, doesn't seem fazed as Malachi clips and snips.

"Sometimes they're not as comfortable or used to the grooming process," she said. Part of her job is "getting them used to being on the table, being used to being touched and brushed. Eventually they do get used to it."

Malachi decided to become a dog groomer about five years ago after an "aha moment" while working in an office. She realized what she wanted to do was work hands-on with dogs.

"I always grew up with a dog," she said. "I just remember the dog leaving for a while scruffy and coming back looking cute and smelling good, and I thought that was so amazing and transforming. I just thought it was like magic when I was a kid."

She apprenticed with a master groomer to learn the craft. Some would-be groomers attend specialized schools.

"The majority learn through another groomer," said Jeffrey Reynolds, executive director of the National Dog Groomers Association. "Every day is a learning experience."

The association conducts seminars and certifies groomers who pass a written exam and test of their practical skills. But groomers are not required to have certifications to work in the field. "Pretty much anyone can call themselves a dog groomer," Malachi says.