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**pouslytut** · 11-14-2010, 03:21 PM

It has its pros and cons just like everything in life, just knowing what i do and seeing what ive..seen..theres better options for cheaper or similar pricing. Just my 2 cents though. Its not completely useless, its good for your basic training.

I've worked in both PetsMart and Petco, and my opinions are the same as yours. Tey hire anybody...any kid off the street. You don't have to have ANY animal knowledge, and the "training" consists of a couple 20 minute vidoes on how to properly handle small animals while putting them in boxes for the customer. As far as "training" on animal care...we are asked to read the "stat cards" that most animals have on their cgaes...which are btw, incorrect most of the time.

My first day on the job at Petco, the manager told me "If you don't know the answer to a customer's question, make something up. We can't have our customers thinking we don't know."

Second day there, a lady comes in with her 7 year old son. both of them crying. She's holding a stick thin leopard gecko that is litterally going through it's death throes.

She wanted to know if I could save it. I had to tell her I'm sorry, but it's dying right now. There's nothing anyone could do. Then I asked her if it had been eating.

"No."

"What were you offering."

*sobbing* "Oh, we tried EVERYthing, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, strawberries...he wouldn't eat ANYthing."

*shocked silence*

"Who told you what to feed this guy?"

"The girl who worked here before you".

She had sold a leopard gecko to this customer, and advised her to feed it a variety of fruits and vegetables. Leopard geckos eat bugs. Strictly.

I didn't last long at either job because I was constantly correcting the other employees when they were trying to sell animals and equipment to people.

About their training though...I wouldn't trust them either, for anything other than very basic obedience. They all go through the same training course (Animal Behavioral College, I believe) and depending on their individual drive, intelligence, and knack, they can come out of it very capable of teaching a basic obedience class.

But as with all things, the attitude of the individual trainer makes the difference. I wouldn't walk up to one out of the blue and ask for behavioral advice or anything, lol, unless that individual has proven themselves a cut above the norm, which...like I said depends on that person's attitude about learning and how serious they are about it.

Sounds like the one in your store is just a slacker. lol

I guess what I'm trying to say is that just because a trainer is working in one of these stores doesn't automatically make them a crappy trainer, but it does pretty much garuntee your trainer will be brand new at it.

They don't hire trained trainers...they hire regular folks and get them trained.

Many are just gonna think of this as another random job, and not take it too seriously. Others are using it as a first step into a career as a professional dog trainer. Niether are gonna know that much or have any experience to speak of, but the one that's serious about it is likely to put more effort into learning all that they can to improve their own skills.

11-14-2010, 03:21 PM	#1
pouslytut Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 527 Senior Member	It has its pros and cons just like everything in life, just knowing what i do and seeing what ive..seen..theres better options for cheaper or similar pricing. Just my 2 cents though. Its not completely useless, its good for your basic training. I've worked in both PetsMart and Petco, and my opinions are the same as yours. Tey hire anybody...any kid off the street. You don't have to have ANY animal knowledge, and the "training" consists of a couple 20 minute vidoes on how to properly handle small animals while putting them in boxes for the customer. As far as "training" on animal care...we are asked to read the "stat cards" that most animals have on their cgaes...which are btw, incorrect most of the time. My first day on the job at Petco, the manager told me "If you don't know the answer to a customer's question, make something up. We can't have our customers thinking we don't know." Second day there, a lady comes in with her 7 year old son. both of them crying. She's holding a stick thin leopard gecko that is litterally going through it's death throes. She wanted to know if I could save it. I had to tell her I'm sorry, but it's dying right now. There's nothing anyone could do. Then I asked her if it had been eating. "No." "What were you offering." sobbing "Oh, we tried EVERYthing, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, strawberries...he wouldn't eat ANYthing." shocked silence "Who told you what to feed this guy?" "The girl who worked here before you". She had sold a leopard gecko to this customer, and advised her to feed it a variety of fruits and vegetables. Leopard geckos eat bugs. Strictly. I didn't last long at either job because I was constantly correcting the other employees when they were trying to sell animals and equipment to people. About their training though...I wouldn't trust them either, for anything other than very basic obedience. They all go through the same training course (Animal Behavioral College, I believe) and depending on their individual drive, intelligence, and knack, they can come out of it very capable of teaching a basic obedience class. But as with all things, the attitude of the individual trainer makes the difference. I wouldn't walk up to one out of the blue and ask for behavioral advice or anything, lol, unless that individual has proven themselves a cut above the norm, which...like I said depends on that person's attitude about learning and how serious they are about it. Sounds like the one in your store is just a slacker. lol I guess what I'm trying to say is that just because a trainer is working in one of these stores doesn't automatically make them a crappy trainer, but it does pretty much garuntee your trainer will be brand new at it. They don't hire trained trainers...they hire regular folks and get them trained. Many are just gonna think of this as another random job, and not take it too seriously. Others are using it as a first step into a career as a professional dog trainer. Niether are gonna know that much or have any experience to speak of, but the one that's serious about it is likely to put more effort into learning all that they can to improve their own skills.
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