Junior Groomer

Petco • Apple Valley, MN

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Petco is seeking a Junior Pet Stylist in Grooming to help pets live their best lives. The company prides itself on being a place where pets and pet people go, fostering a culture of making a real difference, creating exciting career paths, and nurturing wellbeing. Petco's core values include 'Pet First – Protect & Empower', 'Foster the Fun – Connect & Bond', and 'Let’s Go! Own & Commit'. Petco has been serving pets for over 60 years, providing meals, toys, supplies, and expert support. The company operates over 1,500 stores across the U.S., Mexico, and Puerto Rico, 250+ Vetco Total Care hospitals, hundreds of preventive care clinics, and eight distribution centers, with a team of over 29,000. In 1999, Petco founded Petco Love, which supports thousands of local animal welfare groups and has facilitated homes for approximately 7 million animals. This role begins with a ten-week training period as a Junior Pet Stylist, where individuals will learn fundamental grooming tasks such as brushing, bathing, drying, and cutting nails under the guidance of seasoned groomers. This industry-leading program is designed to develop essential grooming skills and establish a foundation for a future career with Petco Grooming. The primary purpose of the Junior Pet Stylist is to learn and perform services like bathing, drying, brushing, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and gland cleaning, while prioritizing the comfort, safety, and well-being of pets and delivering optimal customer service to pet parents. This position offers an excellent opportunity for individuals passionate about animals and grooming to start their career in the pet care industry.

Requirements

• 0-1 year of animal related experience, including shelter volunteering or pet sitting.
• Genuine passion for animals and a desire to pursue a career in pet grooming.
• Basic understanding of dog breeds, behavior, and common grooming practices.
• Capable of handling pets of all sizes and temperaments with care and empathy.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills for interactions with pet parents and grooming team members.
• Availability to work weekends, evenings, and holidays, as required by the Pet Care Center’s grooming schedule.

Nice To Haves

• Prior grooming salon assistance is preferred.
• High-school diploma or GED is preferred, though not required.

Responsibilities

• Learn how to perform bathing, drying, brushing, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and gland cleaning services alongside seasoned groomers.
• Assist in the grooming process, prioritizing the comfort, safety, and well-being of the pets in our care.
• Deliver optimal customer services to pet parents.
• Under close supervision of experienced groomers, perform limited grooming services including bathing, drying, nail trimming, brushing, ear cleaning, and gland cleaning according to pet parents’ instructions and company policies.
• Ensure the well-being and safety of every animal in the salon at all times.
• Interact professionally and effectively with pet parents, provide optimal customer service, address grooming related inquiries and provide timely resolution.
• Maintain a clean and safe grooming area and salon.
• Disinfect and sanitize grooming tools and equipment.
• Perform daily and weekly cleaning duties in the salon in adherence to Petco hygiene and sanitation policies.
• Perform other cleaning and maintenance tasks as assigned, including but not limited to cleaning air filters, vents, and drains.
• Schedule grooming appointments, manage paperwork, and maintain accurate grooming records.
• Learn and adhere to Petco's grooming policies, standards, and guidelines to ensure safety, quality, and consistency in all activities and areas of the grooming business.
• Learn dog behavior, pet and self-safety, proper check-in/out procedures, customer service, and grooming policies during weeks 1-3 of training.
• Begin on-the-job training in bathing and drying techniques during weeks 1-3 of training.
• Perform bathing and walk-in services while achieving weekly productivity goals during weeks 3-10 of training.

Benefits

• Competitive base pay
• Medical, dental, vision and more
• 401k and more
• Paid Time Off
• Petco Discounts
• All the supplies & equipment you need, including, brushes, nail trimmers, clippers, blades, shampoo, sprays, tools, etc.
• State of the art equipment, including bathing system, kennels, tables, and dryers

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees