How Old Do You Have to Be to Work at PetSmart? (2022)

How old do you have to be to work at PetSmart? PetSmart is an American privately held network of pet superstores that sells pet supplies, services, and small animals. It is the largest pet firm in North America, and its immediate competition is Petco. Amazon, Walmart, and Target are its indirect competitors.

About PetSmart

PetSmart is an American privately held network of pet superstores that sells pet supplies, services, and small animals. It is the largest pet firm in North America, and its immediate competition is Petco. Amazon, Walmart, and Target are its indirect competitors. PetSmart will have over 1,650 locations in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico by 2020. Its stores provide pet food, supplies, and accessories for pets, as well as small animals. Additionally, stores provide grooming, dog daycare, dog and cat boarding, veterinary treatment via third-party clinics located in-store, and dog training. Additionally, they offer dog and cat adoption through PetSmart Charities' in-store adoption facilities.

Founded in 1986 by Jim and Janice Dougherty, the firm launched its first two stores in 1987 in Phoenix, Arizona, under the name PetFood Warehouse. The stores were warehouse-style and offered pet food in bulk at discounted pricing. In 1989, the firm changed its name to PETsMART and began a long-term transition away from visually unattractive budget warehouse shops into beautiful storefronts that sold pet food and supplies and provided services such as grooming, adoption events, and veterinarian visits. The firm went public in 1993 and rapidly expanded both its geographic reach and the sorts of goods and services it supplied.

After over 300 outlets in the United States, the firm moved to Canada in 1996. It also acquired and rebranded a pet-store network in the United Kingdom, however, the overpriced acquisition was a financial and operational disaster, and PETsMART sold the UK chain in late 1999 at a significant loss to another pet-store firm in the United Kingdom. In 2000, the unsuccessful UK growth resulted in a loss of profitability and a low point for the PETsMART shares. Phil Francis, the business's third CEO, retooled the company by putting an emphasis on staff training and customer service, restructuring operations and systems, visually renovating storefronts, and marketing PETsMART as a one-stop-shop for pet items and services. By 2002, the firm had integrated all of its sales channels, including in-store, internet, and catalog. Additionally, from 2002 to 2009, Francis oversaw the launch of an average of 100 additional stores every year.

In 2005, the firm rebranded as PetSmart and refocused its marketing efforts on "pet parents" who viewed their dogs to be family members. While the firm differentiated itself by focusing on channel-exclusive goods and in-store services including as grooming, dog training, daycare and boarding, veterinary care, and adoption centers, it faced growing competition from big-box retailers and internet e-tailers. In March 2015, the firm was bought by a private equity consortium led by BC Partners. PetSmart acquired Chewy, an online pet supplies retailer, in May 2017 as a wholly-owned subsidiary. Chewy went public in a June 2019 initial public offering; it remains an autonomous subsidiary of PetSmart, which owns the majority of the company. As of March 2021, PetSmart no longer owns Chewy; the two firms operate separately.

How old do you have to be to work at PetSmart?

Job seekers typically need to be 18 years of age in order to work at PetSmart. Some states and locations allow workers that are 15-years-old. Though, positions are limited.

PetSmart required skills

Inexperienced job applicants should bear in mind that PetSmart recruiting managers often prefer candidates with prior pet care expertise. Additionally, interviewers search for people that are self-motivated and dedicated. Additionally, professionals with retail expertise and great customer service abilities benefit from the hiring process.

PetSmart required education

PetSmart generally hires those who have a high school diploma or higher. The following levels of education are acceptable to PetSmart:

• High school diploma
• GED
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree

How to apply to work at PetSmart

Here's how to apply to work at a nearby PetSmart location:

• Visit the PetSmart Careers Apply page.
• Browse available jobs at nearby retail stores.
• Fill out the required job application online.
• Ensure that you meet all of the minimum requirements in order to obtain PetSmart employment.
• Complete your application.
• Follow up with a PetSmart store manager or assistant manager about your application.

Common FAQ's

Common questions from job seekers.

Can you work at PetSmart at 14-years of age?

Generally, no. To work as a retail sales associate at PetSmart, you must be at least 18-years-old. With some state and location exceptions being a minimum age of 15-years-old.

What does a 15-year-old do at PetSmart?

Some PetSmart locations allow 15-year-old workers to be in the following positions:

• Cashier: $7-$11 per hour.
• Pet Products Associate: $10-$16 per hour.
• Pet Care Associate: $7-$11 per hour.
• Pet Training: $8-$12 per hour.
• PetsHotel and Doggie Day Camp Associates: $11-$17 per hour.

Other positions include retail custodial associate that helps with general cleaning and maintenance duties, such as applying pet-safe ice melt on the sidewalks, cleaning cages and tanks, taking out trash, and more.