They do not care about you. You are replaceable. - Bather PetSmart Employee Review

2.0
Nov 8, 2011
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

-You get to meet new dogs everyday (good and bad) -Ok benefits

Cons

-You make about minimum wage as a bather. The same as a cashier. Except you have to clean up after groomers and dogs, clean windows and mirrors, get bitten, get scratched, get pottyed on, answer phones, help out in the store when it's not busy, and get yelled at for not doing it fast enough. -They don't care about your life. You work wen they want you to and you leave when they want you to, regardless if you have a ride home or not. -If it isn't busy, they make bathers leave, even though they are paid by the hour. And they make groomers stay, even though they're not getting paid for it. -Because of new rules, bathers have to do all walk in nail trims and baths, leaving groomers with no dogs and bathers getting overbooked. -Bathers have to share a table and "cannot get overbooked" On the weekends they have to finish 10-20 dogs per day all within 3 hours of their arrival -There are RIDICULOUS "safety" rules, thought up by someone who has obviously never groomed a dog in their life. -They will dangle "grooming school" over your head like a carrot, making you work harder, and then snatching it away whenever they feel like it. Oh and their grooming academy is A JOKE. -They make you sign a No-compete contract, keeping you from working at any other pet store within about 10 miles of petsmart, 6 months after you leave. -If a customer complains because that customer is misinformed, stupid, or just a jerk, managers will side with that customer and you will loose money you worked extremely hard for. -They consider not overcharging loyal customers "stealing from the company" But will kindly give free services to mean customers who will complain when they don't get their way. -You have to work in a cramped tiny little room with not enough space for everyone to groom their dogs safely

Explore other reviews about PetSmart

5.0
May 4, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Fun, welcoming, easy, flexible, growth

Cons

Weekends, slow, customers, busy, fast pace

1.0
Jun 2, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The company pushes for more and more from the bottom level employees without better pay. I worked there before the restructuring and; not much can make me cry, but working here sure did, even back then. I can’t imagine how anxiety inducing it must be to work there now. Animal welfare is a complete non-concern. The only thing that’s pushed is sell, sell, sell. It’s borderline dystopian. Bad management seems to be a common issue, not only from my experience, but many others’ as well. I worked until I was an exhausted sweaty mess to make sure everything in pet care or, when I groomed, the salon, was cleaned to perfection as expected of me (and I reiterate: “me,” because these standards were not expected of my co-workers, just me) and overall felt very unseen. The only times I did feel “seen,” was when mistakes were made. Work was treated like boot camp. A co-worker that was subtley targeting/bullying me, and even started rumors accusing me of racist remarks(!!!), was promoted and anything I reported was downplayed because they were friends with the assistant manager. Working here was an overall traumatizing experience.

Cons

Employees are expected to be work-robots

avatar
PetSmart Response
2w
We’re disappointed to hear that your experience didn’t reflect what we aim to create for our associates, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback. We invite you to contact the CareSmart line at 1-800-738-4693 so we can learn more and see how we can support you. Thank you.
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All