Dog Bather - Dog Bather PetSmart Employee Review

4.0
Sep 1, 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

For me PetSmart offers career opportunities. I have been getting raises every 6 months. I love working with pets and the employees are more friendly at my location than at other retail stores I have worked. PetSmart offers good part time benefits including vacation time and time and a half pay for certain holidays.

Cons

Working as a bather is low on the totem pole. At my location I can get overloaded with walk-in nail appointments while I am busy working on my bathing appointment dogs. Most times I have no help when a dog is being difficult. I feel pressured to get a dogs nails done with whatever it takes, but some dogs just cant be done in a salon. Overall the lack of team work is the biggest con despite my rating. My 2nd con would be poor leadership, again at my location. As a bather I wasn't trained , I was more thrown into bathing and nails trimming/grinding. Bathers shouldn't be teaching other bathers, like I do, salon managers/leaders should be training new employees. I had a groomer express to me that she felt bad for 'us bathers' because of all the stress that gets thrown on us.

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PetSmart Response
7y
Thank you for your feedback. I can see how this would be frustrating. We always want to ensure a safe and positive environment for our team members and pets. Please feel free to share more about your experience via the CareSmart line at 1-800-738-4693. We appreciate you sharing how we can improve. Thank you, again.

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5.0
Jul 3, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

good pay benefits PTO always approved

Cons

sometimes pet health and care is overlooked

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

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PetSmart Response
3w
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.
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