Groomer

About Petco

For over six decades, Petco has been dedicated to supporting pets and their owners by offering a broad range of products and expert services that promote pets living their best lives. With 1,500+ stores across the U.S., Mexico, and Puerto Rico, 250+ Vetco hospitals, and numerous clinics and distribution centers, Petco is committed to enhancing the bond between pets and people. The organization also supports animal welfare through adoption events and partnerships.

Role Overview

As a Pet Stylist at Petco, your role is to provide professional grooming services including bathing, drying, brushing, cutting, styling, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and gland expression for pets. Your focus will be pet comfort and safety while delivering excellent customer service to pet parents. You may assist with additional tasks as assigned by leadership and have opportunities to grow into leadership or instructional grooming roles.

Core Values

• Pet First – Prioritizing the needs of pets and their owners at all times.
• Foster the Fun – Celebrating the joy of pet parenthood and creating memorable experiences.
• Let’s Go! – Collaborating as one team while embracing authenticity and ownership.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform industry-standard grooming services according to client instructions and breed standards under moderate supervision.
• Use and maintain grooming tools such as clippers, shears, brushes, and dryers properly.
• Monitor pets carefully for signs of distress or health issues and communicate concerns to pet owners and management promptly.
• Assess each pet’s unique needs considering coat type, skin conditions, and temperament.
• Engage professionally with pet owners, answer grooming-related questions, provide recommendations, and ensure high satisfaction.
• Offer guidance on grooming maintenance and home care products to support pet wellness.
• Maintain cleanliness and safety standards in the grooming area including disinfecting tools and routine cleaning.
• Follow Petco grooming policies rigorously to ensure safety, quality, and consistency.
• Assist in training and mentoring junior groomers when leadership is absent.

Qualifications and Experience

• Completion of Petco's Pet Stylist Apprentice program or equivalent prior grooming experience or technical training.
• High school diploma or GED preferred but not mandatory.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment to address grooming challenges under some guidance.
• Strong dedication to productivity, accuracy, and responsibility within the grooming role.
• Attention to detail with commitment to high grooming standards.
• Passionate about animals with an eagerness to pursue a long-term grooming career.
• Expertise in dog breeds, grooming requirements, health concerns, and behavioral traits.
• Advanced skills in breed-specific cuts and styling techniques.
• Excellent verbal and written communication for customer and team interactions.
• Comfortable handling pets of various sizes and temperaments with care.
• Availability to work weekends, evenings, and holidays according to salon scheduling needs.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

The position is predominantly indoors in a grooming salon that can be noisy and wet. Duties include prolonged standing, bending, kneeling, lifting up to 30 pounds, and occasional use of ladders or cleaning equipment. Direct interaction with pets and pet parents is a constant aspect of the role.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive base pay
• Medical, dental, vision coverage
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Paid Time Off
• Employee discounts on Petco products
• Provision of professional grooming supplies and tools including brushes, clippers, blades, shampoos, and dryers
• Access to modern grooming equipment and career advancement opportunities such as Salon Leader, Mentor, or Instructor roles

Additional Information

Petco is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity and inclusion without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, identity, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, or other protected groups.