A dog groomer makes $1.3m-a-year transforming pampered pooches into foxes, giraffes and cheetahs.<br /><br />Gabriel Feitosa, 31, started his dog grooming venture on the streets of Sae Paulo, Brazil, when he was 12 years old - washing and trimming. <br /><br />He found the job "amazing" and started volunteering at a dog groomer's after school.<br /><br />From there Gabriel said he "fell into" his career and started working at dog shows before moving to the US and opening up his own store - Gabriel Feitosa Pet Boutique - in San Diego, California, US, in 2018.<br /><br />Gabriel became known for his extreme designs - which have seen him transform dogs into pandas, lions and zebras.<br /><br />He now charges a flat rate of $800 for small dogs and $1,200 for big dogs - transforming 6000 pooches a year, while raking in $1.3m.<br /><br />After appearing on ABC's 'Pooch Perfect' - a dog grooming reality competition - in 2021, his business has boomed and he has customers flying in from all over the US for his creative designs.<br /><br />Gabriel, a dog groomer, from San Diego, California, US, said: "I get inspiration from anywhere - it can be a game, a tattoo or a sign on the street.<br /><br />"It can come from anywhere - it brings out my geeky side.<br /><br />"Even when a client comes in with a request to turn their dog into a unicorn, I get inspiration for that from video games I like.<br /><br />"I turned my dog into a Pokemon, I turned a pitbull into a leopard and a poodle into a giraffe - there are no limits to what we can do.<br /><br />"On the back of my success, I have earned $1.3 million a year. This is beyond what I ever thought I could make being a dog groomer. <br /><br />"This shows that no matter what you do, if you do it with your heart you can go anywhere."<br /><br />Gabriel moved to the US in 2017 to follow his dream as a dog groomer.<br /><br />After a year in San Diego, Gabriel opened his store - Gabriel Feitosa Grooming Salon - and has clients flying from all over the US.<br /><br />Gabriel said: "I started grooming dogs when I was 12 in the outskirts of Sao Paulo.<br /><br />"From there I kinda fell into it, I used to take my sister's dog to the grooming shop and I found what they did amazing.<br /><br />"I got obsessed with all the shapes and sizes - they looked like sculptures.<br /><br />"I asked the groomer if I could bath and dry my own dog and she would teach me.<br /><br />"It became an after-school gig that took over my life."<br /><br />Gabriel's designs have brought him internet fame after he appeared in ABC's 'Pooch Perfect' in 2021.<br /><br />He said: "When I first opened my shop, my speciality was the standard haircut and I focused on making each pet their best.<br /><br />"I trusted if I did a job with the dogs then customers would come.<br /><br />"I then started to dabble with colours on my dog and wanted to push the cuts as far as I could.<br /><br />"After I appeared on the show I started posting my designs on social media and more and more clients followed."<br /><br />Gabriel typically spends around three to four hours on each dog no matter their size.<br /><br />He said that the designs can last up to eight months depending on when the dog last shed its fur.<br /><br />Gabriel said: "A Frenchie will shed their fur twice a year so it depends on when you apply the dye.<br /><br />"If you apply the dye when the dog is about to shed then it might last two to three months.<br /><br />"If you apply the dye when they have just shed it can last seven to eight months.<br /><br />"It really does depend on the dog's shedding cycle and hair growth."<br /><br />Since opening his store, Gabriel says he's made $1.3 m-a-year and has launched his own clipper tool for other dog groomers to use.<br /><br />Gabriel said: "When my accountant told me I couldn't believe it, I felt over the moon.<br /><br />"I am incredibly grateful for everyone who has helped me get here.<br /><br />"I have recently launched my signature clipper collection and it is with the same company I had my first ever clipper with when I was 12 years old.<br /><br />"I learned my skills with it and I am now launching my collection."<br /><br />List of Gabriel's best designs<br />- Giraffe<br />- Spiral designs <br />- Cactus flower<br />- Pokemon
