At Kayla’s Dog Grooming, we believe every dog deserves the best possible experience at the groomer — not just a fast one. We’re not a traditional grooming salon: our priority is the dog’s emotional and physical well-being, built through patience, trust, and gentle handling rather than force or restraint. We don’t use cages or kennel dryers, and our groomers genuinely connect with every dog they work with.

Based in Ottawa, our small, hands-on team is led by owner Kayla, who has over 18years experience specializing in working with nervous and fear-reactive dogs.

As a Groomer at Kayla’s Dog Grooming, you’ll provide safe, gentle, and loving grooming services to one dog at a time, following our standard time guidelines by size while never sacrificing quality or the dog’s comfort for the sake of speed. You’ll ask clients detailed questions about what they want done and do your very best to match their vision, while keeping the dog’s comfort and safety as the priority throughout. If a dog needs extra time, patience, or a different approach — especially nervous, fearful, or reactive dogs — you’ll adjust with care rather than rushing them through.

You’ll keep clients informed and reassured if a groom is running behind, communicate openly with your teammates and ask for help when you need it, and take pride in delivering excellent, compassionate care. This role reports to Kayla and Amy, and directly shapes whether a dog — and their owner — leaves our salon feeling secure, cared for, and eager to come back.

Key Responsibilities

- Grooming Services: Performing full and partial grooms with skill and care, tailoring your technique to each dog’s breed, coat, temperament, and individual needs while following our gentle grooming philosophy.
- Client Communication:



Asking clients detailed questions before each groom to understand exactly what they want, and keeping them informed throughout — especially if a groom is taking longer than expected.
- Dog Handling & Safety: Reading each dog’s body language and adjusting your approach with patience, extra love, and gentle handling, particularly for nervous, fearful, elderly, or reactive dogs. Avoiding unnecessary restraint and never rushing a dog through their groom.
- Schedule Management: Managing your own daily grooming schedule, staying on top of appointment timing and pacing throughout the day, and communicating proactively with the team if adjustments are needed.
- Salon Cleanliness: Keeping your grooming station and shared salon spaces clean, organized, and safe for dogs and coworkers.
- Documentation: Completing grooming notes and any required records accurately and on time.
- Teamwork: Communicating openly with coworkers, asking for help when needed, and helping create a positive environment for both dogs and staff.

Qualifications and Skills
- Grooming Experience: A minimum of 2+ years of full grooming experience, with hands-on skill performing complete grooms from bath through finish.
- Breed Knowledge: Solid working knowledge of different breed cuts and coat types, with the ability to groom according to breed standards and client requests.
- Equipment: Willingness to use only equipment approved by Kayla, and comfort learning and adapting to our salon’s specific tools and techniques.




- Gentleness: A naturally soft, careful touch and calm energy when handling every dog, never using force or rough handling regardless of how a groom is going.
- Patience: The ability to slow down, adjust pace, and stay composed with dogs who are nervous, fearful, elderly, or reactive — without rushing them or losing your cool.
- Compassion: Genuine care for each dog’s emotional and physical comfort, treating grooming as an act of care rather than just a task to complete.
- Trust-Building: A natural ability to bond with each dog in your care, using reassurance and consistency to build a trusting relationship rather than forcing cooperation.
- Friendliness with Clients: A warm, approachable manner with clients — someone who makes pet parents feel their dog is genuinely cared for, not just serviced.
- Willingness to Ask for Help: Comfortable recognizing when a groom or a dog’s behavior is beyond what you can safely handle alone, and asking a teammate for support rather than pushing through.
- Dog-Obsessed: A true, deep love of dogs that comes through in your work — this isn’t just a job, it’s a passion.
- Calm Under Pressure: The ability to stay steady, grounded, and gentle even when the salon gets busy, chaotic, or behind schedule.

Compensation
- Pay Structure: Commission-based pay starting at 40–50%, depending on experience. We do not go above 50%.
- Tips: Groomers keep their tips, paid out every Friday.
- Health Benefits: Not currently included with this role.
- Bonus: Potential holiday bonus around Christmas.
- Perks: Salon-provided shampoo supplied for all groomers.

Pay: $400.00-$1,000.00 per week

Benefits

- Flexible schedule

Experience:
- Pet grooming: 2 years (preferred)

Work Location: In person

📌 Dog Groomer (Ottawa)
🏢 Kayla’s Dog Grooming
📍 Ottawa