Bark & Purr · Team Reference

Groomer

The Heart of the Bark and Purr Experience
DepartmentGrooming Operations
Reports ToShop Manager / Managing Partner
Updated2026-08-23
About Bark & Purr

Bark and Purr Pet Grooming & Boarding is Allen, Texas's premier pet wellness destination. Located at 803 W. Main Street, we are a certified Fear-Free grooming salon. Our proprietary Tranquil Tail Grooming® method creates individualized, stress-free experiences for every pet and every PAWrent. We do not just groom pets — we care for them holistically and become trusted members of their extended family. Our team is our brand. We hire only individuals who combine technical excellence with genuine, natural empathy for animals. If you are reading this document, you have already demonstrated qualities that set you apart.

Role At A Glance
DepartmentGrooming Operations
Level / TierProficient | Commission-Based
Reports ToShop Manager / Managing Partner
Location803 W. Main Street, Allen, TX 75013
Position Summary

The Groomer is a fully independent, proficient grooming professional who delivers the Bark and Purr standard across a wide range of breeds and coat types. You hold a personal client book, serve as a trusted wellness advisor to your clients, and contribute to the culture and reputation of the shop through your expertise and your relationships. This is not just a technical role — it is a client relationship role built on trust, transparency, and consistent excellence.

Core Responsibilities

Full-Range Grooming

  • Perform complete, independent grooms across a wide and growing breed range to Bark and Purr's quality standard.
  • Demonstrate command of scissor work, clipper technique, hand-finishing, and creative styling.
  • Execute breed-standard cuts and owner-preference styles with confidence and precision.
  • Maintain speed and quality simultaneously — complete grooms within schedule without sacrificing standard.

Wellness Assessment & Reporting

  • Perform and fully document the three-point physical assessment on every pet, every visit.
  • Identify and proactively communicate health observations to PAWrents — never wait to be asked.
  • Build longitudinal pet profiles: note coat trends, behavioral changes, and health progression visit over visit.
  • Flag any health concerns that warrant veterinary attention — clearly and compassionately.

Client Relationship Management

  • Know every regular client and pet by name, preference, and personal history.
  • Deliver a structured, warm pre-groom consultation and post-groom update at every appointment.
  • Build a personal client book with a ≥ 80% rebooking rate.
  • Proactively request Google reviews from satisfied clients at checkout — personally and sincerely.

Mentorship & Team Contribution

  • Serve as an informal mentor to Junior Groomers and Apprentices on the floor.
  • Share technique tips, breed knowledge, and client communication strategies with developing team members.
  • Participate in team training sessions and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement.

Quality Control — Return-to-Bather Workflow

Per the Operations Manual: if you determine a dog that came from the bathing room smells, is still dirty, or is not brushed out, you have the right to return the dog to the bather. If the bather has already used the allotted bathing time, the dog may need to be rebathed on the bather's own time. Repeated failure to meet bathing standards may result in disciplinary action — this is a real-time quality gate, not a courtesy.

Qualifications & Requirements
ExperienceMinimum 1 year professional grooming experience; Bark and Purr Junior Groomer track preferred
Breed RangeProficient across full standard breed range (assessed at promotion)
CertificationsActive Fear-Free certification required; NDGAA or equivalent pursued
CommissionCommission on completed grooms per rate schedule; upsell bonus eligible
Client BookExpected to build and maintain a personal client book
Non-NegotiablesConsistent quality; client-first mindset; active wellness advocate; positive team presence
What You're Measured On
Key Performance IndicatorTarget / Standard
Client rebooking rate≥ 80% within 6 weeks
Google review generation≥ 2 new reviews per month
Add-on / upsell attachment rate≥ 25% of services
Quality complaints / redos< 2% of monthly grooms
Three-point assessment docs100% of all grooms, every visit
FAS-related service stopsHandled correctly, documented 100% of incidents
Client retention (personal book)Year-over-year growth tracked quarterly
Career Pathway

Groomer → Stylist → Senior Stylist → Management Track. Groomers who demonstrate exceptional client relationships, technical breadth, and cultural leadership are considered first for Stylist advancement and any leadership opportunities that emerge. (Full team ladder: Bather → Lead Bather → Grooming Apprentice Program → Junior Groomer → Groomer → Stylist.)

Training Agenda — External Hire (60 Days)

Groomer onboarding is a 60-day integration program for external hires. Mentor: assigned Senior Groomer or Stylist. Format: supervised integration plus quality reviews plus client communication coaching. Assessment: Day 30 quality review; Day 60 full performance review.

Weeks 1–2 · Integration & Standards Calibration
  • Complete Bark and Purr onboarding, handbook review, and policy acknowledgments.
  • Fear-Free certification: confirmed current; if lapsed, enroll immediately.
  • Shadow assigned mentor groomer for 2 full days — observe consultation, groom, and checkout.
  • Complete 5 supervised grooms — mentor evaluates quality against Bark and Purr standard.
  • Learn and practice the three-point assessment documentation format.
  • Study client profile system: how to read, update, and leverage existing client notes.
Weeks 3–4 · Quality Alignment & Client Communication
  • Perform independent grooms with daily mentor quality reviews.
  • Practice the Bark and Purr checkout script: wellness update, health find, rebooking ask, review request.
  • Identify breed-specific gaps vs. current clientele — create a personal development list.
  • Submit 5 client profiles for mentor completeness review.
  • Participate in team communication training: difficult conversation role-play.
  • Begin building personal client relationships: use names, personal details at every interaction.
Weeks 5–8 · Full Independence & Book Building
  • Operate fully independently — mentor reviews weekly rather than daily.
  • Focus on rebooking: track rate weekly, identify and address gaps.
  • Generate minimum 2 Google reviews through personal checkout requests.
  • Complete a peer learning session: observe the Stylist on a breed outside your current range.
  • Submit 3 breeds for advancement to Stylist-level complexity (mentor approval required).
  • Day 60 formal review: KPI assessment, quality score, client feedback, and 90-day growth plan.
Training Agenda — Internal Promotion (from Junior Groomer, 30 Days)

Focus: breed range expansion, speed optimization, mentorship skills, client book growth. Assessment: Day 30 formal review with Shop Manager.

Weeks 1–2 · Breed Range Expansion
  • Identify the 5 most common breeds in the shop's clientele outside the Junior Groomer list.
  • Complete 2 supervised grooms on each new breed with mentor observation.
  • Study advanced coat types: stripped, carded, full scissored, and heavily textured coats.
  • Participate in one advanced technique workshop or video study session with the Stylist.
Weeks 3–4 · Client Book Growth & Mentorship Role
  • Develop a personal rebooking improvement plan if rate is below 80%.
  • Begin informal mentoring of 1 Junior Groomer: provide post-groom feedback twice weekly.
  • Lead one team learning moment: share a technique tip or breed insight at a team briefing.
  • Day 30 formal review: full KPI assessment and Groomer Competency Checklist sign-off.
Watch & Learn

External professional references until Bark & Purr films its own — techniques shown may differ in small ways from our Tranquil Tail method; your mentor's instruction always wins.

Shih Tzu Pet Trim — Go Groomer. Why it fits: a full independent pet-trim groom from start to finish on one of the shop's common breeds — the pacing and sequencing map directly onto a Groomer's own solo workflow.
Doodle Teddy Face — Groom Haüs. Why it fits: creative, owner-preference-style finishing work on a heavily textured doodle coat — exactly the hand-scissor and shaping skill the Competency Checklist rates you on.
Deep-Dive Reading — B&P Learning Guide
Groomer Learning Guide Groomer Training Manual
Competency Checklist — Sign-Off Required
Trainee: Date:

Supervisor: Date:
Accountability Checklist — Every Shift

You are a client relationship professional who happens to also be a technically exceptional groomer. Use this checklist to ensure both sides of that identity show up every single day.

Opening / Start of Shift

During the Shift

Closing / End of Shift

Weekly

Monthly

Your client book is your business within the business. The habits in this checklist are what build the loyal, rebooked, review-generating client relationships that make your commission grow.
Compass Taps — Your Taps ARE the Record
Tap it, and it's the record. If it's not tapped, it didn't happen — as far as the board can see.

Opening (Start of Shift)

[CONFIRM: any table/tool setup duties — not covered in the role card or Wednesday agenda]

Per Dog (The Taps, In Order)

Missing an earlier tap but the dog is ready? Proceed — the dog never waits. The exception goes to whoever was assigned that step, never to you. Forgot your own tap? Backfill it with a quick "why late" note — timestamps stay locked.

Closing (End of Shift)

[CONFIRM: any tool cleaning / station close-down duties — not covered in the role card or Wednesday agenda]
← All Positions Employee Handbook 30/60/90 Onboarding
Bark & Purr Pet Grooming & Boarding · Allen, TX · Internal team document · Pay and commission details live in your offer letter