4-WEEK PILOT · HARLEM · OCT / NOV 2026
Learn to bathe dogs.Start as a groomer tech.
The T.I.M.E.R. Program is a tuition-free, 4-week dog bathing course from Harlem Doggie Day Spa, Fur Heroes and Pup Relief Tour. Finish job-ready as a groomer tech / groomer assistant — the first paid step on the path to becoming a professional dog groomer.
- Cost to you
- $0 tuition
- Length
- 4 weeks
- Where
- 734 St. Nicholas Ave, Harlem
- Schedule
- Mon–Fri, 5 hrs/day
What T.I.M.E.R. stands for
Training, Internships, Mentorship, Employment & Reentry — five commitments we make to every student who walks through the door.
Training
4 weeks of hands-on bathing instruction at our Harlem grooming lab — safe handling, bathing, drying, brushing, nail and ear care, and salon sanitation.
Internships
Real dogs, real clients. Practice inside a working salon and aboard the Fur Heroes mobile grooming van across the city. Learn more at furheroes.com.
Mentorship
A master groomer as your instructor, plus wraparound support from Pup Relief Tour through the entire cohort.
Employment
Graduates finish job-ready as a groomer tech / groomer assistant, with mock interviews, resume help and introductions to NYC salons hiring bathers now.
Reentry
Justice involvement, gaps in work history or caregiving duties will not disqualify you. This program was built for people the industry usually overlooks.
Your 4 weeks
Classes run Monday through Friday, 5 hours a day. The curriculum is built on Paragon School of Pet Grooming Groom Tech standards — the bathing and prep skill set NYC salons hire for, and the foundation you build on to become a full groomer.
Week 1
Safe handling, dog behavior, salon sanitation and shop-floor basics.
Week 2
The bath: coat types, shampoos, de-shedding, proper rinsing and skin care.
Week 3
Drying, brush-outs, nail trims, ear cleaning and prep work for the groomer.
Week 4
Speed and quality on a real salon floor, mobile van rotations, mock interviews and employer introductions.
Who should apply
You love animals and want a trade you can build a career on — no grooming experience required, and no $5,000–$10,000 tuition bill.
You are 18 or older, live in or near New York City, and can commit to 4 weeks of training at our Harlem site — Monday through Friday, 5 hours a day.
You have faced barriers — reentry, unstable work history, caregiving duties — and want a program that plans around them instead of screening you out.
Groomer techs (bathers) are the entry point into the grooming trade, and NYC salons consistently report they cannot find trained staff. Graduates of this 4-week pilot are introduced to hiring partners for groomer assistant roles. Limited seats.
Apply now
Takes about three minutes. Our program team reviews every application and follows up with a short intake conversation.