SquirrellyMama Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 Hi All! My oldest dd 14 had wanted to be a vet (what little girl hasn't). Last year we talked and she said that she doesn't want to have to take care of sick animals, so I told her that going through and paying for Vet School probably wasn't what she wanted to do. She said that what she wants is to own her own animal spa/grooming/daycare. I'm curious what kind of schooling she should go through? Vet Tech or a 4 year Animal Science/Ecology? All this talk about paying for college has me looking at the dual HS/College credits she can take for free her Junior/Senior years in HS. Also, what credits transfer from our local cc to a 4 year college. I know her ideas about her future might and probably will change, but we are trying to be proactive. Trying to figure out what this course of study might look like. There is another area of study that she is interested in which has a pretty straight forward course. Kelly 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjffkj Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 Honestly, she doesn't need to go to school to do that. What she needs is to find a veterinary hospital that will train her to be a vet tech., that is what I did. I was paid to be as skilled and actually more wanted than someone who went to school to be a vet tech. I also got my bs in Animal Science but that wouldn't prepare her for what she wants to do. Pet sitting,working for a groomer, and training at a veterinary hospital will get her the skills she needs to own her own petcare business. Taking business classes would be valuable for that as well. I'm not saying she shouldn't go to college just saying they aren't absolutely necessary for that career path. Experience is more important IMHO as a professional pet sitter and former vet tech. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wintermom Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 My dd is also really interested in caring for dogs and cats, though not dealing with surgery and needles, so I've been doing some research into potential programs of study. Our local college has a 2-year Vet Tech program and a 1-year Vet Assistant program which also includes grooming. Seems like a neat and tidy program, which could easily be teamed up with other certifications (e.g., dog training, business administration) or a 4-year Bachelor's degree in Animal Sciences, Zoology or Biology depending on the student's desires. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SquirrellyMama Posted November 25, 2015 Author Share Posted November 25, 2015 My dd is also really interested in caring for dogs and cats, though not dealing with surgery and needles, so I've been doing some research into potential programs of study. Our local college has a 2-year Vet Tech program and a 1-year Vet Assistant program which also includes grooming. Seems like a neat and tidy program, which could easily be teamed up with other certifications (e.g., dog training, business administration) or a 4-year Bachelor's degree in Animal Sciences, Zoology or Biology depending on the student's desires. Our daughters are very similar :) We have a cc about 20 minutes away that has a Vet Tech program, but the cc with the grooming courses is about 3 hours away. If we go this route maybe she can do Vet Tech first, and then find a job near the other school to finish up. Kelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SquirrellyMama Posted November 25, 2015 Author Share Posted November 25, 2015 Honestly, she doesn't need to go to school to do that. What she needs is to find a veterinary hospital that will train her to be a vet tech., that is what I did. I was paid to be as skilled and actually more wanted than someone who went to school to be a vet tech. I also got my bs in Animal Science but that wouldn't prepare her for what she wants to do. Pet sitting,working for a groomer, and training at a veterinary hospital will get her the skills she needs to own her own petcare business. Taking business classes would be valuable for that as well. I'm not saying she shouldn't go to college just saying they aren't absolutely necessary for that career path. Experience is more important IMHO as a professional pet sitter and former vet tech. This sounds like excellent advice. I was going to have her start volunteering at shelters as soon as she is old enough. We have a friend that wants to start a pet business, and she said she'd let my daughter work for her in high school. I'll look into opportunities with the vet hospitals around here for when she's older. Thanks! Kelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjffkj Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 This sounds like excellent advice. I was going to have her start volunteering at shelters as soon as she is old enough. We have a friend that wants to start a pet business, and she said she'd let my daughter work for her in high school. I'll look into opportunities with the vet hospitals around here for when she's older. Thanks! Kelly Volunteering at a shelter is a great start too. As far as hospitals, from my experience the ones that are willing to train people are the independently owned ones that are not chains, like vca. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 Some community colleges offer classes in dog grooming. Our local CC does, although the classes that I've seen offered are all in the evening. There are also private dog grooming schools. The one nearest me is $6300 for a three month course, plus the estimated cost of required equipment is in the range of $1800. I believe it's an eight hour a day, five day a week program. They have a very good reputation, and from what I know from lurking on a board for professional groomers there are several private grooming schools throughout the country (not a ton, but some) and most seem to be well regarded. Other groomers start as bathers and work their way up, learning from the person who owns the shop or an employee groomer. I don't know for sure, but I kind of doubt that the grooming covered in a vet tech course would be suitable for someone who wants to make their living at grooming. I'm guessing the grooming taught in those programs is more of an overview, and aimed more at doing surgical shaves or shaving a severely matted animal rather than doing specific breed grooms. A groomer needs to know all the different cuts that are typically given to different breeds. Trimming a Shih Tzu isn't the same as trimming a poodle or a terrier. I'd also encourage her to consider some classes in business, accounting, computer skills, etc. -- all necessary knowledge for someone who wants to own her own business. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 Honestly, she doesn't need to go to school to do that. What she needs is to find a veterinary hospital that will train her to be a vet tech., that is what I did. I was paid to be as skilled and actually more wanted than someone who went to school to be a vet tech. Was this recently? It used to be easy to do that around here, but not anymore. The vets now want to hire trained vet techs. I worked for a vet for a few years after I quit teaching and before I went back to it.. The vet who hired me eventually told me the only thing that got me the job was that I had a college degree. It didn't matter that it was unrelated to animals. He had several applicants and none of us had experience but I was the only one with a college degree. He said hired me because he figured if I could earn a college degree I had the ability to learn what he needed me to know. That's unfair I think, but it's how he saw it. My situation wouldn't happen today. At least not around here. Now that the local CC's offer vet tech programs, the vets only want to hire those who have either graduated from the program or are currently taking classes in it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 I had another post that went poof! My 27 yo niece wants to be a vet tech, and the program offered at our community college turned state college is highly competitive. She's trying to make sure she gets all A's, is taking courses that will be helpful for admittance to the program, and is required to have a certain number of volunteer hours with an animal service group before she even applies. And she has 7 yo twins! I agree with those who say your dd should look into a specific dog grooming course, either private or with the CC. If she's not really interested in being a vet tech, and if the program is anything like our local one, it will be more work than is necessary for what she wants to do. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plink Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 (edited) Does your local 4-H have a dog program? (I know, I know, 4-H is a nightmare to navigate, but if you can figure out the system, it is worth the effort) Ours offers regular training classes, visits to animal hospitals, lessons from professional handlers, groomers & breeders, programs with the AKC, etc. The kids learn a lot, their pets do too, and there are many contacts that they make with professionals who are more than excited to help guide them into a future career. I know this isn't exactly what you are looking for, but if your DD is willing to start getting involved now, she can make an informed decision about her career choice, and maybe even discover options that she didn't know existed. ETA: My favorite part of the program is that the professionals aren't shy about telling the kids what they hate about their job. Groomers spend far more time shaving neglected dogs than they do sculpting for the show ring, and vet. assistants/vet. techs. (not the same) share horror stories of cleaning up projectile vomiting induced to help greedy pups. This is valuable knowledge to have before you invest time and money in the field, and at 14, your daughter is at the perfect age to start that research. Edited November 25, 2015 by Plink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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