Groomer

About Petco

Petco is where pets and pet people go to live their best lives. For more than 60 years, we’ve provided everything pets need—from meals and toys to trusted supplies and expert support—because we live it. We believe in the universal truths of pet parenthood: boundless boops, missing slippers, late-night zoomies, and everything in between. Together with 29,000+ team members across 1,500+ stores in the U.S., Mexico, and Puerto Rico, 250+ Vetco Total Care hospitals, hundreds of preventive care clinics, and eight distribution centers, we nurture the pet-human bond every day. In 1999, we founded Petco Love to support local animal welfare groups and have helped find homes for approximately 7 million animals through in-store adoption events.

About the role

As a Pet Stylist at Petco, you will provide professional grooming services to valued customers’ pets, ensuring each pet receives exceptional care and leaves looking and feeling their best.

Responsibilities

• Perform professional grooming services including bathing, drying, brushing, haircuts and styling, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and gland cleaning according to pet parent instructions and breed standards
• Operate and maintain grooming instruments such as clippers, blades, shears, brushes, and dryers
• Prioritize the well-being and safety of every animal, monitoring for signs of discomfort, illness, or injury and promptly reporting concerns
• Evaluate each pet’s needs based on coat type, skin conditions, and temperament
• Interact professionally with pet parents, provide optimal customer service, address inquiries, offer grooming recommendations, and resolve questions or concerns
• Educate pet parents on grooming maintenance and at-home care practices and products
• Maintain a clean and safe grooming area, disinfect and sanitize tools and equipment, and perform daily and weekly cleaning duties in adherence to Petco hygiene and sanitation policies
• Utilize knowledge of Petco’s grooming policies, standards, and guidelines to ensure safety, quality, and consistency
• Train, support, and supervise entry-level trainees in the absence of a Grooming Salon Leader

Skills

• Competitive base pay
• Medical, dental, vision and more
• 401k and more
• Paid Time Off
• Petco Discounts
• All the supplies and equipment needed, including brushes, nail trimmers, clippers, blades, shampoo, sprays, tools, etc.
• State-of-the-art equipment, including bathing system, kennels, tables, and dryers
• Career development and growth opportunities, such as Grooming Salon Leader, Grooming Mentor, and Grooming Instructor

Requirements

• Successful completion of the Pet Stylist Apprentice program with Petco, or previous experience as a professional groomer and/or completion of a technical grooming training program
• High-school diploma or GED preferred, though not required
• Latitude for independent judgment and problem solving using grooming skills and knowledge in routine to moderately complex situations
• Results-driven with commitment to productivity, performance, and ownership of role in the grooming salon
• Strong attention to detail ensuring grooming services are executed accurately and to the highest standards
• Genuine passion for animals with a desire to continue a career in pet grooming
• Expert knowledge of various dog breeds, grooming requirements, common health issues, and behaviors
• High level of proficiency in breed-specific cuts, styling techniques, and grooming standards
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for interactions with pet parents and grooming team members
• Capable of handling pets of all sizes and temperaments with care and empathy
• Available to work weekends, evenings, and holidays as required by the grooming schedule

Work Environment

The majority of job duties are conducted indoors in the grooming salon. The position requires bending, kneeling, lifting (up to 30 pounds as necessary), and standing for long periods. May require exposure to heights using a two-step ladder or other support tools, such as vacuums, to perform cleaning and maintenance duties. A large amount of time will be spent in direct contact with pet parents and their dogs, with the remainder interacting with salon partners. The work environment can be noisy and wet.