Dog grooming schools in Colorado

Quick answer: we verified 2 dog grooming schools in Colorado on their own websites: Dogs' Own Grooming School, Colorado Pet Grooming Academy. You can also train in a paid pet store academy or take an online course with a local mentor. Here they are side by side.

Compare options How to choose Shops to ask FAQ

Ways to learn grooming in Colorado

Dogs' Own Grooming School

Loveland, CO

Cost: $5,000 (Level 1) or $8,000 (Level 2), plus $900 tool kit and $50 application fee
Length: 300 hours, 10 weeks (Level 1) or 600 hours, 20 weeks (Level 2)
Format: In person, Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Address: 224 E 29th St, Loveland, CO 80538

School page

Colorado Pet Grooming Academy

Broomfield, CO

Cost: not posted, ask the school
Length: About 3 to 4 months (Pet Stylist)
Format: Full-time or part-time, hands-on
Address: 2797 Industrial Lane, Broomfield, CO 80020

School page

PetSmart Grooming Academy

In Colorado: PetSmart salons

Cost: paid program
Length: 4 weeks, 160 hours, after you bathe 125+ dogs as a bather
Format: in the salon

Program page

Petco pet stylist training

In Colorado: Petco grooming salons

Cost: paid program
Length: 20-week certification program
Format: in the salon with a mentor

Program page

Animal Behavior College

Online, with a mentor groomer near you

Cost: $3,499 paid in full
Length: 6 to 12 months, 150+ hands-on hours
Format: online lessons, then an externship at a local salon

Program page

Penn Foster Pet Grooming Certificate

Online only

Cost: $799
Length: 2 months fast track, about 5 months average
Format: self-paced online. You still need hands-on practice.

Program page

Schools in nearby states: Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, Arizona.

Costs and lengths are from each program's own page, checked Oct 25 to Nov 4, 2026. Blank means the program does not publish it. Always confirm with the program before you sign up.

How to choose

• Want to earn while you learn? Look at PetSmart or Petco. Both describe their academy as paid training in the salon.
• Need to keep your job? An online course works, but plan for 150+ hours of hands-on practice with a real groomer.
• Want a full in-person course? Compare the Colorado schools above. Ask about total cost, tools and how many dogs you groom.
• Ask every program: how many dogs will I groom, is a tool kit included, and do you help with job placement?
• Try it first: ask a local shop below if you can work as a bather for a few weeks.

Colorado shops to ask about bather jobs or an apprenticeship

These shops were named a Top Grooming Business by The Daily Groomer. We have not confirmed which ones are hiring.

• Daisy's Bathtub, Colorado Springs
• Dog Dynasty, Grand Junction
• Doggy N Styles LLC, Colorado Springs
• Elizabeth's Grooming, Denver
• Pampered Paws Grooming, Palmer Lake
• The Dirty Dog Grooming, Broomfield

See all Colorado groomers

License and pay in Colorado, in short

• License: In Colorado, grooming facilities, mobile groomers and independent contractor groomers who groom for pay need a PACFA license from the Colorado Department of Agriculture. It includes a self-paced Qualifying Education course and a pre-license inspection. You may not operate or advertise before the license is issued.
• Pay: animal caretakers in Colorado, the federal group that includes groomers, had a median pay of $37,430 a year (BLS, May 2025). This does not count self-employed groomers.

FAQ

Are there dog grooming schools in Colorado?

Yes. We verified 2 on their own websites: Dogs' Own Grooming School, Colorado Pet Grooming Academy. You can also train in a pet store academy (PetSmart, Petco) or online with a local mentor.

How much does dog grooming school cost in Colorado?

Posted prices as of Oct 2026: Dogs' Own Grooming School: $5,000 (Level 1) or $8,000 (Level 2), plus $900 tool kit and $50 application fee. Online courses list $799 (Penn Foster) to $3,499 (Animal Behavior College). PetSmart and Petco describe their academies as paid training. Ask any school for the full cost.

How long does it take to become a dog groomer?

As of Oct 2026: Dogs' Own Grooming School: 300 hours, 10 weeks (Level 1) or 600 hours, 20 weeks (Level 2); Colorado Pet Grooming Academy: About 3 to 4 months (Pet Stylist). Online courses take about 2 months fast track up to 6 to 12 months with hands-on hours. PetSmart's academy is 4 weeks after time as a bather. Petco's program is 20 weeks.

What do groomers earn in Colorado?

Animal caretakers in Colorado, the federal group that includes groomers, had a median pay of $37,430 a year (BLS, May 2025). Self-employed groomers are not counted.