If your end goal isn’t to be a dog groomer forever, don’t do it, - Dog Groomer Apprentice PetSmart Employee Review

2.0
Aug 24, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You’re able to work with dogs. Your academy training is “free.” They normally have contracts for 2 years you have to sign. Due to lawsuits, I didn’t have to.

Cons

Hours are cut fairly often with no notice. Company continually adds new policies that make the job much more difficult. You’re told you’re allowed to “fire” clients. Then required to get them back unless the dog basically attacks someone. The salon makes the most money out of any department, but you wouldn’t be able to tell. The budget is incredibly small for necessary job fixes.

Explore other reviews about PetSmart

5.0
Jul 13, 2026
Anonymous contractor
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

everyone communicates and willing to pass on knowledge

Cons

no cons that i can think of

1.0
Jul 9, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The staff care a lot and try their hardest but it leads to burn out and being taken advantage of by a company the does not care about YOU.

Cons

Poor management. No work life balance. Bad scheduling. Bad pay. No communication. Leads expected to work more than 10 hours a day during high volume periods, Be responsible for too many things. You run around like a chicken with it's head chopped off the whole time you're at work. Staff are snippy, and rude. A few are okay. Company has you working bare bones, and does not care. Pet parent's are weird, and I don't think have realistic expectations that the boarding facility is more like dropping your dog off at a dog shelter for a week while you go on vacation than a "fun time" for your dog. Dogs get fed, watered, pottied. If that is all you care about, then use the PetHotel. If you want your dog to have fun, and be out of a stressful environment (few dogs do well with constant barking and noise all day, plus being stuck in a cement run, thrown in with a bunch of other dogs who have never been properly socialized) just do in home boarding. I would never board my dog at a place like this.

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