Five months. Roughly 400 hours. Real dogs.
Not a course you watch. A trade you learn inside a salon the owners have run since March 2018, on dogs that belong to paying clients, with Charles or Vicki correcting your hands. You're on a real dog in week one.
- 20 to 24 hours a week, Tue–Sat, inside salon hours (9am–5pm), so you keep your job while you train.
- One make-up week built in at the end. Miss a few days, pick up where you left off.
- Built for career changers in their 30s, 40s and 50s, hobbyists, retirees, and parents.
Free call. No pressure. We'll tell you straight if it's not for you.
Early-enrollment bonuses end January 1
What you learn, in the order you learn it.
Six stages on real dogs, measured against the standard paying clients expect every six weeks. You move forward as your hands are ready.
Bathing, drying & prep
Coat assessment, shampoo, bathing, drying, brush-out. The part online courses skip.
Clipper & scissor work
Blade selection, clipper handling, scissoring, thinning, blending, feet and face. Your angle fixed in the moment.
De-matting & coat management
Working a matted coat safely, and the hard conversation with the owner.
Nails, ears & sanitary
Trimming, grinding, ear cleaning, sanitary trims, anal glands, hygiene. Done cleanly, every time.
Handling, behaviour & safety
Reading stress before it becomes a bite. Safe restraint for you and the dog.
Breed profiles & finishing
Curly, double, wire and silky coats: poodles to huskies, terriers to Yorkies, and the mixes that actually walk in.
Month 1
Safe restraint, bathing, drying.
Month 2
Brush-out, de-matting, nails, ears, sanitary.
Month 3
Clipper work and body work.
Month 4
Scissoring, blending, breed profiles.
Month 5
Solo grooms, appointment windows, client communication.
Same training. Different finish line.
Every route includes the full hands-on programme, the toolkit, and a certification for the hours completed. Pick the one that matches where you're headed.
Professional Groomer
The skill, start to finish.
- Roughly 400 hours in the working salon
- Full curriculum, bathing through finishing
- Toolkit worth about $2,100, included
- Certification for the hours completed
For hobbyists, retirees, stay-at-home parents, anyone who wants to groom with real confidence.
Career Launch
Everything in Route One, plus what gets you in the door.
- Career roadmap, resume & professional profile
- Portfolio of real dogs you groomed, interview prep
- Employer introductions where opportunities are available
- A defined period of post-graduation support
Built for career changers. Not a placement guarantee. We don't promise a job; we make sure you walk in prepared.
Independent Groomer
Everything in Route Two, plus working for yourself.
- Pricing & service strategy
- Client acquisition, local marketing, personal branding
- Reviews, referrals, rebooking & retention
- Scheduling, capacity & business economics
Not a salon-opening programme. Opening a location realistically requires substantial additional capital.
You train on the kit you keep. No guessing what to buy when you leave.
- Professional clippers
- Blades & guard combs
- Straight shears
- Thinning shears
- Slicker brush
- Steel comb
- High-velocity dryer
- Nail grinder
On completion you receive a certification for the hours you completed at Sunnyside Grooming Academy. It is not an accredited, licensed or state-approved credential, and it is not a professional licence. It is issued by Sunnyside Grooming Salon LLC. Requirements vary by state. Many salons hire on skill and hands-on hours; the certification is proof you put those hours in.
Tuition varies by route and is covered on the call, not on this page. Payment plans are available; terms on the call. Moving up a route partway through may be possible, on terms agreed in writing. Not for you if you want a certificate without the hours, a guaranteed job, or to open a salon next month.
READY TO PUT YOUR HANDS ON A REAL DOG?
Two questions on the form. Then a free 30 to 45 minute call where the team walks you through the hours, the routes, the schedule, and tuition, and tells you honestly whether you're a fit.
Next intake March 1 · Enrolling through January 1 · Seats are capped
Early-enrollment bonuses end January 1
No cost. No obligation. We'll tell you straight.