Groomer

About Petco

Petco has been “where the pets go” for more than 60 years, offering meals, toys, supplies, and expert support in over 1,500 stores, 250+ Vetco Total Care hospitals, and numerous clinics across the U.S., Mexico, and Puerto Rico. The company supports animal welfare through Petco Love, which has helped find homes for approximately 7 million animals.

Purpose

The Pet Stylist’s primary purpose is to perform expert‑level professional grooming services—including bathing, drying, brushing, haircuts and styling, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and gland cleaning—while prioritizing the safety, comfort, and well‑being of each pet and delivering high customer satisfaction.

Responsibilities

• Perform professional grooming services according to pet‑parent instructions, breed standards, and company policies.
• Operate and maintain grooming instruments such as clippers, blades, shears, brushes, and dryers.
• Monitor pets for signs of discomfort, illness, or injury and promptly report concerns.
• Evaluate each pet’s individual needs, considering coat type, skin conditions, and temperament.
• Interact professionally with pet parents, provide customer service, answer grooming inquiries, and offer recommendations.
• Educate pet parents on grooming maintenance, at‑home care practices, and product usage.
• Maintain a clean and safe grooming area; disinfect tools, perform daily/weekly cleaning, and handle additional sanitation tasks (e.g., cleaning air filters, vents, drains).
• Apply Petco grooming policies and standards to ensure safety, quality, and consistency.
• Train, support, and supervise entry‑level trainees when a Grooming Salon Leader is absent.

Requirements

• Successful completion of the Pet Stylist Apprentice program with Petco, or prior professional grooming experience and/or completion of a technical grooming training program.
• High‑school diploma or GED preferred (not required).
• Ability to work weekends, evenings, and holidays as required by the grooming schedule.

Skills

• Strong attention to detail and ability to execute grooming services to high standards.
• Genuine passion for animals and desire to build a career in pet grooming.
• Expert knowledge of various dog breeds, grooming requirements, common health issues, and behaviors.
• High proficiency in breed‑specific cuts, styling techniques, and grooming standards.
• Effective verbal and written communication for interactions with pet parents and team members.
• Capability to handle pets of all sizes and temperaments with care and empathy.
• Independent judgment and problem‑solving skills for routine to moderately complex situations.
• Results‑driven mindset with commitment to productivity, performance, and ownership of the role.

Benefits

• Competitive base pay.
• Medical, dental, vision, and other health benefits.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Paid Time Off.
• Petco employee discounts.
• All necessary grooming supplies and equipment provided (brushes, nail trimmers, clippers, blades, shampoo, sprays, tools, etc.).
• State‑of‑the‑art grooming equipment (bathing system, kennels, tables, dryers).
• Career development opportunities such as Grooming Salon Leader, Grooming Mentor, and Grooming Instructor roles.

Schedule

Work is primarily indoors in the grooming salon and requires bending, kneeling, lifting up to 30 pounds, and standing for long periods. Availability is needed for weekends, evenings, and holidays according to the Pet Care Center’s grooming schedule.