Pet Grooming · NICS-25
Pet Grooming (Foundation)
15-day foundation professional dog grooming course from NICS. Learn bathing, brushing, basic clipping, nail and ear care, and safe handling for a grooming career.
- Foundation
- 15 days
- ₹14,999
- Onsite · Indore
About this course
Pet Grooming (Foundation) is a 15-day professional training programme covering the grooming industry and coat-type theory, bathing and drying technique, brushing and de-shedding technique, basic clipping and trimming, nail, ear and hygiene care, handling and restraint for grooming safety, recognising skin and coat health issues, equipment care and salon hygiene, client communication and breed-style consultation, and professional conduct and record-keeping.
Learners build hands-on technical competence across the coat types most commonly encountered in professional practice — smooth, double, curly and wire coats — while developing the restraint and welfare judgement that keeps every session safe. Every topic is taught using the same professional sequence used throughout the NICS pathway: theory, demonstration, guided practice, and application to a range of real dogs and coat conditions.
A defining feature of this course is its safety and welfare focus: correct restraint technique, careful use of clippers, scissors and dryers, and continuous monitoring of a dog's stress and comfort signals are treated as inseparable from technical grooming skill, not a separate topic.
This course is the entry point of the NICS Pet Grooming pathway and prepares the learner for Advanced Pet Grooming, where these skills extend to breed-specific styling and more complex coat and skin conditions.
Who this is for
- People entering the pet industry as professional groomers
- Boarding, daycare and veterinary-adjacent facility staff responsible for grooming services
- Pet owners seeking structured, professional-level grooming competence
- Anyone planning to offer a professional or mobile grooming service
What you will learn
Theory
- Coat-type classification and the grooming implications of each major type
- Equipment safety principles for clippers, scissors, dryers and bathing equipment
- Handling and restraint theory specific to grooming, including stress-minimising technique
- Recognising common skin and coat conditions relevant to grooming practice
Practical
- Correct bathing and drying technique across coat types
- Brushing and de-shedding technique appropriate to different coat types
- Basic clipping and trimming technique
- Nail trimming and basic ear-cleaning technique
Professional Application
- Consulting with a client on a dog's grooming needs and desired outcome
- Structuring an efficient, safe grooming session sequence
- Maintaining accurate service and care records
Safety & Welfare
- Safe handling and restraint technique that minimises stress
- Equipment safety, including clipper and scissor handling around sensitive areas
- Recognising early signs of skin irritation, matting-related pain, or a developing health concern
Problem Solving
- Adapting technique safely for a nervous, reactive or unfamiliar dog
- Identifying when a skin or coat condition requires referral to a veterinarian rather than continued grooming
- Managing a severely matted coat safely and humanely
Curriculum highlights
- 1 Grooming Industry Overview & Coat Types
- 2 Bathing & Drying Technique
- 3 Brushing & De-shedding Technique
- 4 Basic Clipping & Trimming Technique
- 5 Nail, Ear & Hygiene Care
- 6 Handling & Restraint for Grooming Safety
- 7 Recognising Skin & Coat Health Issues
- 8 Grooming Equipment Care & Salon Hygiene
- 9 Client Communication & Breed-Style Consultation
- 10 Professional Conduct & Records
Day-by-day structure
| Day | Focus | Content |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orientation & Coat Types | Grooming industry overview; coat-type classification and identification |
| 2 | Handling & Restraint | Safe restraint technique across varied dogs |
| 3 | Bathing Technique | Bathing technique across coat types |
| 4 | Drying Technique | Safe, effective drying technique |
| 5 | Brushing Fundamentals | Coat-type-appropriate brushing technique |
| 6 | De-shedding & De-matting | De-shedding technique; safe de-matting practice |
| 7 | Basic Clipping (Part 1) | Clipper handling and safety around sensitive areas |
| 8 | Basic Clipping (Part 2) | Full basic clip practice across coat types |
| 9 | Trimming & Finishing | Scissor trimming and finishing technique |
| 10 | Nail Trimming | Safe nail-trimming technique |
| 11 | Ear Cleaning & Hygiene Trimming | Ear cleaning and sanitary-area trimming |
| 12 | Skin & Coat Health Recognition | Identifying common skin and coat conditions |
| 13 | Equipment Care & Salon Hygiene | Equipment maintenance and sanitation practice |
| 14 | Client Consultation | Structured client consultation and expectation-setting practice |
| 15 | Final Assessment | Theory assessment; full practical grooming assessment across bathing, brushing, clipping, nail and ear care |
Outcomes
- Identify coat type and outline appropriate grooming considerations for a range of dogs
- Perform safe, effective bathing and drying technique across coat types
- Perform coat-type-appropriate brushing and de-shedding technique
- Perform a safe, even basic clip and trim
- Safely trim nails and perform basic ear cleaning and hygiene trimming
- Apply safe, humane restraint technique appropriate to an individual dog
- Recognise common skin and coat conditions and respond appropriately
- Maintain equipment and salon hygiene to a professional standard
- Conduct a professional client consultation and maintain accurate service records
Frequently asked questions
Who can join this course?
This course is open to anyone entering the pet industry as a professional groomer, and to facility staff or pet owners seeking structured, professional-level grooming competence.
Is previous experience required?
No prior formal training experience is required, though comfort handling dogs of varied temperament is recommended.
How much practical training is included?
The course is heavily hands-on, with each of the 15 days combining short theory blocks with supervised practical grooming across a range of dogs and coat types.
What theory is taught?
Learners study coat-type classification, equipment safety principles, handling and restraint theory, and recognition of common skin and coat conditions.
What equipment is required?
Learners work with professional bathing, drying, clipping and nail-care equipment appropriate to a range of coat types; equipment specifications are confirmed at enrolment.
How is the course assessed?
Assessment is competency-based, covering theory, practical bathing, brushing, clipping and nail/ear care, and professional client consultation and record-keeping.
Where can these skills be used professionally?
Graduates apply these skills in professional grooming salons, mobile grooming services, and boarding, daycare and veterinary-adjacent facilities.
What is the next course in this pathway?
Graduates progress to Advanced Pet Grooming, which extends technique to breed-specific styling and more complex coat and skin conditions.
What professional pathway does this course support?
This course is the entry point of the NICS Pet Grooming pathway, leading to Advanced Pet Grooming and Pet Grooming Specialist.
Does completing this course guarantee employment or a grooming business?
No. This course provides structured professional training in foundation grooming skills. It does not guarantee employment, income or business outcomes, which depend on the individual's further study, experience and effort.
How much does Pet Grooming (Foundation) cost?
The course fee for Pet Grooming (Foundation) is ₹14,999.
How long does Pet Grooming (Foundation) take to complete?
Pet Grooming (Foundation) runs for 15 Days.
What level is Pet Grooming (Foundation)?
Pet Grooming (Foundation) is a Foundation-level course, teaching the topic from first principles with no prior NICS coursework required.
Which NICS pathway does Pet Grooming (Foundation) belong to?
Pet Grooming (Foundation) sits within the Pet Grooming pathway at the National Institute of Canine Studies.
Is Pet Grooming (Foundation) conducted online or in person?
Pet Grooming (Foundation) is delivered onsite through hands-on, in-person training at NICS.
What topics are covered in Pet Grooming (Foundation)?
Pet Grooming (Foundation) covers: Grooming Industry Overview & Coat Types, Bathing & Drying Technique, Brushing & De-shedding Technique, Basic Clipping & Trimming Technique, Nail, Ear & Hygiene Care, Handling & Restraint for Grooming Safety, Recognising Skin & Coat Health Issues, Grooming Equipment Care & Salon Hygiene, and 2 more topics.
What will I be able to do after completing Pet Grooming (Foundation)?
By the end of this course, students will be able to: Identify coat type and outline appropriate grooming considerations for a range of dogs Perform safe, effective bathing and drying technique across coat types Perform coat-type-appropriate brushing and de-shedding technique Perform a safe, even basic clip and trim Safely trim nails and perform basic ear cleaning and hygiene trimming Apply safe, humane restraint technique appropriate to an individual dog Recognise common skin and coat conditions and respond appropriately Maintain equipment and salon hygiene to a professional standard Conduct a professional client consultation and maintain accurate service records
Who is Pet Grooming (Foundation) designed for?
People entering the pet industry as professional groomers Boarding, daycare and veterinary-adjacent facility staff responsible for grooming services Pet owners seeking structured, professional-level grooming competence Anyone planning to offer a professional or mobile grooming service No prior formal training experience is required, though comfort handling dogs of varied temperament is recommended.
Do I need to complete another course before Pet Grooming (Foundation)?
No formal prerequisite is required — Pet Grooming (Foundation) is an entry point into the Pet Grooming pathway.
What can I study after completing Pet Grooming (Foundation)?
Graduates of Pet Grooming (Foundation) can progress to Advanced Pet Grooming to continue building their skills in the Pet Grooming pathway.
What is the NICS course code for Pet Grooming (Foundation)?
Pet Grooming (Foundation) is listed under NICS course code NICS-25.
How do I enrol in Pet Grooming (Foundation)?
You can enrol in Pet Grooming (Foundation) by selecting it in the NICS course catalogue and sending your enquiry via WhatsApp, or by using the enquiry button on this page.
Ready to enrol in Pet Grooming (Foundation)?
Enquire now, or add this course to a learning package. Package discounts of 5–20% are calculated automatically in the catalogue.