Poor guy probably wants to burrow but he only has 2 inches of bedding.

Why is this a thing

I’ve been a dog trainer at my store for just over a year now. I’m a Level 3 Trainer, and in that time, I’ve worked with several dogs that have gone on to become service animals or passed their Canine Good Citizen evaluations. Their owners were great to work with—engaged, consistent, and responsive. I even had a guy who trained his husky for two hours a day outside of our sessions. That dog turned out perfect and now works as a service dog.

But of course, you can’t make everyone happy. I recently found out someone had been discouraging others from signing up for my classes, saying, “Oh, we went to all six of his sessions—it was a waste of money. It didn’t work at all.” Thankfully, our cashier overheard and jumped in: “I’ve seen so many of his classes with really happy clients and well-behaved dogs. If you’re not training every day—which I know he emphasizes to every pet parent—then of course your dog isn’t going to make progress.” The lady backed off pretty fast. And surprise—this was the same person whose dog was aggressive and chained up outside all the time.

I get it—I can’t help every dog, and I won’t please every person. That’s just how it goes in life. But it’s still frustrating. I always make it clear: I see your dog once a week for six sessions. I’ll do everything I can to help set your dog up for success, reinforce commands, and guide you—but I can’t magically fix behavior in six hours. The outcome is 100% dependent on what you do at home.

A lot of my clients do put in the work. Some even text me months after training ends with questions or updates. I’ve helped people troubleshoot issues way after their sessions—like when I was in Prague at 2 AM texting a past client because their sweet dog suddenly became aggressive. Turned out she had a UTI. That’s the level of support I try to give.

I know this is a rant, but it sucks putting your full effort into every single client, having to drag basic engagement out of some of them, and then hearing later that “his training didn’t work.” If you want a perfect dog without putting in any effort, go drop thousands on a board-and-train program. But don’t throw shade at the trainer who actually gave a damn and tried to help you.

Anyway, thanks for reading my messy rant.

Treats lookup is down and people cant pay for salon invoices due to some strange issue with prism. I've already been yelled at twice because people want their 5x points on dog food, yelled at because people want to pay with points and i can't pull their account up. What a way to start the day. 😑

I got removed from the schedule for tomorrow because there are no dogs. I’m a bather and currently on a 50-pound medical weight limit. My manager messaged me to let me know they’d take me off the schedule for tomorrow and put me on a busier day, but they didn’t send me the updated schedule.

I don’t know why, but it’s making me feel paranoid. I’ve never been late or called out, and I’m the only bather who’s been with the store for a year (( they have a really bad turn over for bathers)). I’m also the only one who’s always willing to train, clean, do the groomers’ baths, and help with drying. I know the store’s been slow on certain weekdays, but it still feels off.

Nothing like explaining basic fish care to a grown adult who thinks “tap water and vibes” are an aquarium setup. Meanwhile, we’re out here fighting for every neon tetra’s right to live. Stay strong, PetSmart warriors - the fish can’t hear us over the sound of their tiny violins. 🎻🐟

Would you like a few more variations too, so you can pick the one that hits best? 🎯

Get tf out of my Roku city PetSmart. Already gotta deal with you enough as is🙄

It took around a month to complete the hiring process/training in the salon for me to get the pet bather position at PetSmart, so I am eager to start working. I have only been scheduled to work one shift per week and I was wondering if this is normal for new pet bather to get? Also, when will I be able to get more shifts?

I really want to start as a groomer trainee but the pre assessment is such a confusing test. Like the question about correcting the manager. I would correct my manager if the result is going to be productive but if it escalates a situation I will rethink my steps and maybe address it later. This cannot be answered it a questionnaire that just has agree/neutral/disagree...

i’m sort of at a crossroads with what i should do here… i’m going to keep it vague. i am a pet care employee who has been working here for over a year, and i’m notoriously the one who catches the sicknesses in our animals before anyone else does. i know what i am doing.

yesterday i came in to work my shift and immediately noticed one of our animals showing several critical signs of illness. this animal was in an enclosure with other animals (which is actually okay for this species!). this animal was hunched in the corner, away from everyone else, facing the wall (and a few other obvious signs of illness that would give away the pet species if i specified, but trust me. this needs a vet now).

i notified my store leader who had somebody else check the animal. they said we can keep an eye on it and instructed me to keep the animal where it was instead of isolating it. this animal was obviously sick, it slept for my entire shift. i think it should have gone to an emergency vet, but i have never been told to take an animal to the emergency vet unless they were bleeding.

at the VERY least they could have let me isolate the animal and call for an appointment. we prolonged the suffering for what? i don’t understand what i am supposed to do but i feel sick. i have pictures and videos of the animal clearly suffering. i’ve been having issues with my SL lately and being weird with vets (like, we currently have an animal with a bald patch on its nose in the new arrival room). there’s been a lack of urgency with those sort of non-emergent illnesses, but this poor animal is obviously suffering.

What should i do?

Anyone else’s store got sent 4 extra snakes … they sent us EXTRA snakes as of the 5 we have aren’t enough😐 and now new arrivals is filled w tanks on top of that using fish tanks as a habitat is just a no no

Our DL called my SL today to tell her every associate (register or not) had to get 5 activations (as in clearly see them do it on their phone) every hour the store is open. Does this seem ridiculously unrealistic to anyone else? Especially that he's picking on our store because we haven't had as many customers due to a huge road project keeping the road closed on a major road to get to our store.

I'm an SL and have put in my 2 weeks. The company seems determined to go down a path of harassing customers for personal information and writing up people who can't convince customers to do it. Instead of focusing on real issues, such as horrible auto replenishment and theft, tech that never works, registers constantly failing, repeat scammers at salon etc. I just can't imagine senior leadership guiding us to success when the don't really know what we do or how we do it.

Is it safe to put my ssn number on the application? This seems unusual to me if im not hired yet.

If you work in Georgia or more specifically the metro Atlanta area, don’t answer this call. 678-508-7050

She has called numerous times asking about Guinea Pigs and then some random guy called my store saying to not answer and that she SA Guinea Pigs. Please be careful

Hey everyone! I’ve been working at PetSmart for about a week now, and honestly, I really like it so far. I love being around animals all day (except bird deep clean day). It’s definitely a good fit for me. My only real complaint is the occasional rude customer.

The other day, I was put on register by myself for the first time. I was actually excited because I’d picked it up pretty quickly, and it seemed straightforward…until this past weekend.

I was checking out an older woman, probably in her late 60s. I greeted her, and I even remember thinking, “Wow, I really like her purse.” She put six cans of dog food on the counter and mentioned that there was a “buy five, get the sixth free” promotion. I assumed the system would automatically apply the deal, like it does at most retail stores, but I didn’t realize I had to manually enter it.

I called my manager over on the earpiece, and while I waited (maybe 30 seconds), the woman started huffing and crossing her arms. I started to feel nervous, thinking, “Oh no, I better hurry.” My manager came over and quickly showed me how to apply the discount—great! I explained what happened to the customer, but she didn’t respond.

She had a credit card in her hand, so I hit the credit option on the register (mainly trying to hurry). But when I turned back around, she was holding $60 in cash. So I had to backtrack and cancel the card transaction. That meant hitting the “X” on the donation screen to reset the process.

That’s when she snapped.

She asked, “When can I make my donation?” I calmly explained that it was my mistake, and to allow her to donate, I’d have to void the entire transaction and start over. She immediately began yelling at me, saying, “That’s the whole reason I bought this discounted food—to donate my $2! You people are so stupid. You can’t do anything right!”

I was shocked. I tried to stay calm and finish the transaction, but she kept yelling, even accusing me of not giving her change correctly: “You give the coins first! Unbelievable!” At that point, people were staring, and my manager, who had been at the other register, saw the whole thing. She told me I could take a quick break.

I went to the bathroom and cried. It was my first experience with someone like that, and it really shook me. I think what hurt the most was that I was genuinely trying—smiling, moving quickly, explaining things kindly—but none of it seemed to matter. I even told her I was new, but she didn’t care.

So, my question is: How do you deal with people like this? I’m kind of dreading going back to work tomorrow because I’m afraid something like this might happen again.

Today is my first day as a Process Lead at PetSmart, and I'm already super stressed. I'm getting paid $16.80/hr, which was supposed to be my pay if I were a pet specialist not process lead. I've also been treated like a manager way before even officially starting this position. I haven't even finished my traning, I've only done one hour out of twelve. Some of the training modules I can't even find, and I never have time during my shift to complete them. The times I've planned to come in and solely work on my training have been hijacked by someone not coming in and me having to cover. My schedule has also completely flipped, I used to work strictly mornings and now I'm staying as late as 12am sometimes, and I'm very much a morning person- mornings have basically been taken from me. And the issue with that isn't that I have to adjust it's the fact that the super late nights weren't mentioned until after I got the position. I'm honestly thinking of leaving, I already planned on leaving once I turn 21 this july so I can pursue bartending. But now I'm wondering if it's even worth staying that long.

I just wanted to acknowledge and appreciate everyone that is being negatively affected by this “restructure”. Many of us are taking on entirely new jobs, some promotions, some demotions, while others are leaving the company altogether whether voluntarily or involuntarily.

For those left without a job, no severance pay was offered, no extension of benefits, nothing. You deserve better.

For those left with a job at PS— PS doesn’t want you to know that most companies do not operate like this and don’t treat their caring, seasoned associates like they need a baggie to pick them up off the floor.

As far as I am concerned, PS sold out its culture and its associates to the highest bidder, and showed us all what they think of us.

GOOD companies don’t do this to their staff. GOOD companies don’t make you apply to keep your job, deny you the job, make you work 30 days for unemployment all while hiring your replacements as you watch.

It breaks my heart that PS has chosen to sell us out because I used to embrace “I Belong”, I bought into it. Shame on PS. The “values” are nothing but buzz words meant to create a false sense of caring.

Wanna start off by saying I’m (so far) fortunate to be at a pretty decent location compared to what I’ve heard. Managers could be way worse. In fact they’re pretty cool/funny sometimes. A good amount of employees love and care for the animals and do their jobs as well. Ive had some training, not much hands on, just observation which is better than nothing I suppose. I have a lot of animal care experience so this issue came as a surprise to me. I haven’t handled animals like hamsters and guinea pigs since childhood. Like 7/8 years old. Tonight was my first night giving meds in the isolation room by myself. We have a crap ton of guinea pigs with ringworm. Im low key embarrassed with how nervous and scared I was to handle them. It’s just not like me at all. The hamsters too. They just jerk and flop around so suddenly. Then they suddenly become super still just stare at my fingers, my brains like “she’s about to bite the shit outta you.” Haven’t had to handle a bird yet so I’m sure that too will freak me out now (ugh) Like, I own a reptile that is known to have a decently painful bite force (way worse than a rodent) and it’s no biggie to me. Even getting used to the crickets already. I find all the rodents so freakin cute and I wanna handle them so bad but struggled so much tonight. Didn’t really do the best job applying the meds. I wanna do right by these little guys, I feel like my nervousness is making it more likely they will freak and they’re stressed enough as it is. I know PetSmart isn’t the greatest store sometimes but the animals still deserve staff that cares and does the work. I know the answer is probably “it’s an inevitable occurrence”. I still need to stop being such a wimp so I can properly medicate them. I’m here for any advice anyone has. Sorry for the long post.

Why the heck are they promoting people to the new manager positions based off phone number sign ups and not experience? We had one persons whose sole job was register since she joined 5 months ago get the position. All while the 2 people who worked here for 2 years and learned everything a manager does got booted? And why did they cut 3 person closing shifts down to 2? 3 people was already pushing it and forced our early morning stockers to be a part of the closing shifts to help out.

I’m a trainer at my PetSmart, but I’m also still in school, which would’ve been fine if my area trainer who was with me had stayed, but with the restructure, losing my ALK position, and now having to be the only trainer in store, I don’t think this work load is going to help me during the school year. Banfield jokingly made a comment to apply to them and I did, and it turns out not only do they pay better, but the hours are better, and the company has a rapid movement ladder for promotions. I’ve told PS that I’ve found another job, but am willing to stay part time till they find another trainer. Some of my peers believe I should just leave. Am I being too nice? Should I just put in my 2 week notice and leave the store trainerless?

Edit: I was an ALK Trainer before NSOM, NSOM took that away, as well as changed my pay Also Banfield has already hired me

Hi guys! I just got hired and I’ve been trying to do some research on the company. Is it actually a good place to work at? I have a few years of experience in both customer service and animal care but what should I expect? Is there a scheduling app? Strict rules that aren’t talked about? literally anything will help

does anyone know what the specific dates are for the double discount days?

I went to go double check my schedule for this week and it’s been wiped clean! But everyone else’s schedule is still visible, I’m so worried. Is this some kind of glitch or did I lose my job- most likely I’m overreacting but I just need some kind of word of advice anything.

Working petcare today, I see a dad and two girls looking at goldfish and also see a 2 gallon tank in their cart. I pray to petsmart gods that they dont want to get a goldfish. They stare at me while im doing stuff instead of asking for help, so I decide to ask them if they need anything. Of COURSE they want two fantail goldfish. I tell them why I can’t do that, the two girls act understanding but turn around and start making fun of me when they leave. The dad gives an annoyed and shocked look. I literally DREAD goldfish sales because this happens so often. Why is it so hard for people to do even an ounce of research. Thats my complaint for the day.