WANTED! The World’s Most Passionate Dog Grooming Apprentice

When you apply, please make sure to read thoroughly and apply accordingly: the subject line is: “I actually read the instructions.”

Who We Are

We’re a team of kind-hearted, dog-obsessed, detail-loving professionals who believe grooming isn’t just a job—it’s an art form, a career path, and (for the right people) a total life-changer. For over 35 years, we’ve delivered jaw-dropping quality and top-tier care to every pup that walks through our doors. That’s what makes us different.

Some of our groomers have shown dogs, won competitions, and even landed a spot on the USA Groom Team (yes, that’s a thing). But plenty of our team just wants to master their craft, get a little better every day, and be the kind of groomer clients rave about. Whether your dreams are loud or low-key, if you're hungry to grow, you're our kind of human.

We don’t rush dogs through. We don’t cut corners. We don’t do “meh.” We do craftsmanship, kindness, and consistency—every single day. And we invest in the kind of people who want to build something real, with their skills, their future, and their heart.

You can take a look at our website here to get a better idea of who we are - whatthefloof.com (we're in the process of a name change, so this is why you'll see some things as What The Floof, and others as Planet Poodle)

Who We’re Looking For

We’re hiring our next Dog Bather & Grooming Apprentice—someone ready to start in the tub room and grow into a skilled, confident stylist, with the full support of a team that’s truly invested in your success. We are hiring for both of our locations Red Bank and Wall

This role is hands-on, fast-paced, and yes, you’ll get a little wet and occasionally clean up something you didn’t plan to. But it’s also incredibly rewarding, full of momentum, and the first real step toward building a meaningful career in grooming.

You’ll begin by mastering the fundamentals: bathing, drying, brushing, nails, and safe handling. As you build each skill, you’ll move up through our clear career ladder—eventually becoming a world-class stylist.

And the mentorship? It’s unmatched. You’ll be guided by some of the top stylists in the country, receiving hands-on training and real feedback that would cost $15,000–$20,000 in traditional grooming school. Here, it’s part of the job.

If you’re serious about your growth, take pride in your work, and want to be part of a team that’s all in on your potential, we’d love to meet you!

Key Responsibilities

• Bathe, dry, brush, and prep dogs for grooming to our standard of excellence
• Handle dogs of all sizes and temperaments with confidence, patience, and kindness
• Assist groomers with prep work, cleanup, and salon flow
• Maintain a clean, calm, and professional work environment
• Progress through each skill level of our apprentice ladder and receive ongoing feedback and mentorship

Qualifications, Skills & Mindset

• You love dogs. No, seriously—you LOVE dogs
• You’re not afraid of hard work, water, or dog hair (you’ll be covered in all three)
• You’re reliable, coachable, and eager to grow
• You’re kind, humble, and bring a great attitude to every shift
• Experience in pet care is a plus, but not required—we’re looking for the right person, not the perfect resume

Salary & Career Growth Opportunities

Starting Pay: $15.49/hour (minimum wage)

• After 30 days, you’ll be eligible to join our tip pool, which typically brings your wage to $16–$18/hour

• From 8 weeks to 6 months in, most team members earn between $18–$22/hour

• Continued growth into grooming and leadership roles is not only possible—it’s the plan

Compensation Package:

• Bonus opportunities
• Commission pay
• Tips

Long-Term Opportunity: Our apprentice path is designed to take you from bather to full stylist with full mentorship, hands-on training, and career development along the way. Our top stylist earned just under $100K last year, and that’s not a fluke—it’s a roadmap you can follow, too.

We don’t just offer jobs. We build careers. And we want people who are in it for the long haul.

Successful Apprentice Personality Profile

The best apprentices we’ve ever hired weren’t perfect. They just cared—a lot. About dogs. About doing things right. About becoming someone people could count on.

They weren’t afraid to work hard, ask questions, take feedback, or stay late to help a teammate. They kept showing up—even on the hard days. And that consistency is what made them great.

What energizes top performers in this role:

• Turning their love for dogs into a real profession

• Learning new skills every week—and getting recognized for it

• Working alongside award-winning groomers and learning from the best

• Knowing there’s always a next level to reach

• Being part of an incredible team

Make Sure You’re Comfortable With…

• This role is physical. You’ll be lifting dogs, bending, and moving fast.

• Getting covered in fur, water, shampoo, and the occasional mystery goo

• Some pups are anxious, reactive, or just plain weird. You’ll need to stay calm, patient, and confident

• Working in a high-energy, team-first environment where everyone pulls their weight

• Cleaning, organizing, and helping out wherever needed

Our Core Values

Unreasonable Hospitality: We go above and beyond—always. Not just for our clients, but for our team. That might mean staying late to help finish a dog, bringing someone coffee when they’re slammed, or taking the extra 3 minutes to make sure a dog leaves perfectly fluffed. That extra effort? It’s the heart of everything we do.

Kindness is a Superpower: We lead with kindness, especially when it’s hard. With nervous dogs. With tough clients. With teammates who are learning. We believe kindness builds trust, trust builds confidence, and confidence builds careers.

Team First, Always: Grooming can be isolating—but not here. We show up for each other. We jump in when someone needs help. We celebrate wins together and lift each other when things get tough. We know we go farther, faster, together.

Growth is the Goal: This isn’t just a job, it’s a launchpad. Whether your dream is six-figure grooming, leadership, or just becoming someone you’re proud of, we’re here to help you grow. We don’t expect perfection. We expect progress.

To Apply

If you're interested, please submit the following:

• A link to your resume in PDF format with the following naming convention: [Lastname.Firstname.ROLE-NAME.pdf].
• Details of your [job title/description] experience and why you think you’d be a good fit
• Your answer to this question: If you were an animal, what animal would you be and why?
• Your answer to this question: What does this quote mean to you personally? Work is love made visible." –Khalil Gibran
• Submissions should go to: careers@whatthefloof.com.

As you can tell, we’re eager to find the best candidate for the role. If there’s something about the position or even the instructions that don’t make sense, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m happy to answer any questions—just include them in your application.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $15.45 - $20.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $100,000