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SHAVE AND A HAIRCUT, MY PET?

When people want a career as a hairstylist, they go to beauty school. When the goal is to learn how to trim a terrier or hand-bathe a long-haired Himalayan, people may turn to the Academy of Dog Grooming Arts in Arlington Heights.

Pet groomers require training, said Sharron Panther, an Inverness resident who founded the school seven years ago. Owners like to cuddle clean-smelling, well-coifed pets. These animals also are less likely to face health problems, such as fleas or skin afflictions, Panther added.

Q. What do you teach?

A. We teach professional dog and cat grooming. It’s a 494-hour course and takes 14 weeks. We teach all breed grooming and certify you in animal CPR.

Q. Why did you decide to start the academy?

A. I owned two grooming shops, but I could never find enough groomers who knew how to hand-scissor (an animal’s coat). So I closed my shops and started the academy. About 75 percent of dogs require hand-scissoring.

Q. What makes a good dog or cat groomer?

A. You better love animals. It’s the first criteria. You should be gentle and understanding. We can teach you the rest, but not every dog is going to come in and give you a big kiss.

Q. What does grooming of long-haired dogs entail?

A. They get a bath, their nails clipped, ears cleaned and glands emptied. We hand-comb and hand-scissor and dry them with a towel and blow dryer.

Q. Why do people want to learn dog and cat grooming?

A. It’s a growing field, and the pay is good. A groomer can earn $12 to $20 an hour — even more in downtown Chicago. I have 22 students (currently). The course costs $3,500. I have had students from Japan, Iceland, Italy, Peru and Poland.

Q. Why is the field growing?

A. People have more animals than they have children these days. There are 59 million cats in the United States and 57 million dogs.

Q. Do people still want to have their poodles’ toes painted?

A. People don’t ask for that anymore. They’re more interested in bandanas or bows. People are into bichon frises and Shih Tzus (rather than poodles); they’re not as hyper. They have a sweet disposition.

Q. Do you encourage students to start their own grooming businesses?

A. We tell them to go out and learn first. To start a business, you need to know how to handle customers and how to order (supplies). And you have to get your speed up to do enough animals a day to support a business.