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We give PetSmart a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
PetSmart is likely a company you have heard of, no matter what type of pet you own. This company has been around for a long time, and although it has experienced some changes and updates, it has always provided a wide variety of products to its customers, often at competitive prices.
Whether you are looking for live pets, like fish and bearded dragons, products for your dog or cat, or even a pet to adopt, PetSmart likely has something available for you. As PetSmart has grown over the years, they’ve acquired a handful of proprietary brands, including Dentley’s, Authority, and Great Choice, so you will only find the products from these lines through PetSmart.
Our 5 Favorite PetSmart Products:
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Our Favorite
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Authority Sensitive Stomach & Skin All Life Stage Dog Food |
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Authority Hairball Control and Healthy Weight Cat Food |
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Dentley’s Rawhide-Free Mini Chomping Chews |
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Great Choice Dog Jerky Treat - Beef |
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Great Choice Fortified Parakeet Bird Food |
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A Quick Look at PetSmart
- Wide variety of products
- Provides products for exotic and specialty pets
- Some pets can be purchased within the stores
- Has multiple proprietary brands
- Home delivery and in-store pick-up options in many areas
- Fewer premium products than competitor
- Poor training and staffing have led to animal welfare concerns
PetSmart Reviewed
Who Owns PetSmart and Where Is It Based?
PetSmart is a privately owned brand that was founded in 1986, with the first stores opening in 1987. Originally, the company was named PetFood Warehouse, but the name was changed to Pet Smart in 1989. In 2005, the name shifted to PetSmart with a new focus on marketing toward pet parents who view their pets as a part of the family, not just as pets. PetSmart has also been responsible for the founding of PetSmart Charities.
Currently, PetSmart’s headquarters are located in Phoenix, Arizona, which is also where the store was founded in 1986 by Jim and Janice Dougherty.
PetSmart operates over 1,600 stores in North America, and its top competitor is Petco. For a brief period between 2017 and 2021, PetSmart owned the online pet store, Chewy, but Chewy has since become an independently operated company.
Who Is PetSmart Best Suited For?
PetSmart is a great pet store option for people who own a wide variety of domestic and exotic pets, including cats, dogs, fish, bearded dragons, geckos, birds, and small mammals. At one point, PetSmart also sold supplies for horses, but they do not any longer.
This company sells a huge variety of food, treats, clothes, toys, and supplies for pets. They aim to keep their prices competitive, so many products at PetSmart are a good option for the budget shopper. They carry multiple brands and lines of food for dogs and cats, including some premium brands and lines.
Who Might Prefer a Different Pet Store?
Many people feel that it is important to support their small, local pet stores, so they may avoid large corporations like PetSmart, especially since large companies like this can often lead to small companies going out of business.
PetSmart also has a limited selection of very premium, organic, and specialty dog and cat foods. Petco has become a company that has whittled its pet food selection down, almost exclusively to premium and specialty foods. While this doesn’t mean that PetSmart’s products are of a lower quality or not as good for your pet, you may prefer the selection of high-end foods that Petco now carries.
Discussion of PetSmart’s Products
PetSmart carries a large selection of brands, and while many of them are of great quality, some may be considered to be of the same quality level as grocery store pet brands. They do carry a large number of dog foods that are grain-free and that contain legumes or potatoes, which has become a major source of concern within the veterinary community, and not just with PetSmart. Many veterinarians are now recommending against grain-free and boutique diets for dogs due to the risk of cardiomyopathy.
Some of the proprietary brands carried by PetSmart are considered to be of lower quality, but this does vary significantly between products. For example, Dentley’s has a notably large line of rawhides for dogs, which are generally not recommended by veterinarians, but they also carry some high-quality treats and chews that are safer and more nutritious. Some of the products in the Great Choice line may be of inferior quality to competitors, but there are also many budget-friendly, quality items available.
Product Selection
PetSmart has a huge product selection, often giving you multiple options to choose from. If you’re looking for dog or cat food, you’ll have aisles of products to choose from. Even if you’re looking for something more specific, like a chicken jerky dog treat or a leash for your cat, you’ll have at least a handful of products to choose from.
PetSmart stores are typically well stocked and restocked frequently, so it is usually not difficult to find the products that you need. The exception to this is products that have been impacted by supply chain problems this year, which is a problem you will find at all retailers for certain products.
Inclusion of Specialty Pets
PetSmart has gone out of its way to become one of the top retailers of products for exotic and specialty pets. Whether you have guinea pigs or snakes, they will have products available for you. PetSmart has even gone so far as to offer a line of Halloween costumes made for bearded dragons.
They also have multiple small pets to choose from, whether it’s fish or small mammals you’re interested in. While they usually have animals like guinea pigs, mice, bearded dragons, and parakeets in stock, they also sometimes get shipments of harder-to-find pets, like chinchillas and specialty snake morphs.
Delivery and Pick-Up Options
In recent years, many PetSmart stores have worked to make their products more accessible to people. While you can always pick up items in the store or order from the PetSmart website, many stores have also added delivery and pick-up options.
If you know you’re going to be in a hurry after work but you desperately need cat litter, you can order it from the website and your order is usually ready to pick up within a few hours. If you’re too busy to run by the store or if it’s out of the way, you can order home delivery as well. Many times, you will be able to have same-day home delivery if you place your order early in the day.
Animal Welfare Concerns in PetSmart Stores
Like most large pet stores, many people have concerns about the welfare of the animals being sold in PetSmart stores. While some PetSmart employees are experienced and well-trained, they also hire young people with minimal experience and training. In some cases, the lack of experience or low staffing issues has led to animals being neglected or not cared for properly. This is most commonly seen in fish tanks, but some people have reported purchasing or seeing sick small mammals, reptiles, and birds within the stores.
On rare occasions, these training or staffing issues have led to injuries and death for animals who are in the store for grooming, boarding, or training.
Reviews of the 3 Best PetSmart Products
1. Authority Sensitive Skin & Stomach All Life Stages Dog Food – Our Favorite
The Authority Sensitive Skin & Stomach All Life Stages Dog Food is formulated for dogs of all ages, including puppies. It is intended for dogs with food sensitivities and problems with their skin or digestive system. It contains deboned salmon and menhaden fish meal, which provide a great source of omega fatty acids to support skin and coat health. It’s free of chicken, beef, and other common protein allergens.
This food is packed with prebiotic fiber to support digestive health and help firm up loose stools. It contains 26% protein and 14% fat. Like many skin and stomach foods, this food is a little bit pricey.
- Formulated for dogs of all ages
- Supports skin and coat health
- Free of common protein allergens
- High in omega fatty acids and prebiotic fiber
- Good source of protein and healthy fats
- Pricey
2. Authority Hairball Control & Healthy Weight Cat Food
The Authority Hairball Control & Healthy Weight Cat Food is a great pick for indoor cats. It’s formulated to help reduce hairballs and keep things moving smoothly, thanks to prebiotics and fiber. The addition of L-carnitine ensures indoor kitties develop and maintain healthy muscles, as well as a healthy body weight.
It contains 33% protein, making it suitable for most cats. It’s lower in fat than some foods, coming in around 11.5% fat content, which allows it to help your cat maintain their body weight. This is a pricey food, especially in the 16-pound bag, and some people report their picky kitties refusing to eat it.
- Supports hairball control and healthy body weight for indoor cats
- Contains prebiotics and fiber for healthy digestion
- Good source of L-carnitine for muscle health
- High in protein
- Lower in fat to help maintain a healthy body weight
- Pricey
- May not be suitable for picky eaters
3. Dentley’s Rawhide-Free Mini Chomping Chews
The Dentley’s Rawhide-Free Mini Chomping Chews are a good alternative to rawhides for small dogs. They are highly digestible and pose a much lower risk of obstruction and choking than traditional rawhides do. These chews are flavored like peanut butter and are formulated for mild chewers. They’re low in fat, but they should still be fed sparingly.
These chews are formulated to keep your dog entertained to prevent destructive behavior. They also provide a boost to your dog’s dental health. There are 60 chews to a bag, and this is a budget-friendly product. Some customers have reported pickier dogs not liking these chews.
- Safer alternative to rawhide
- Peanut butter and honey flavor
- Formulated for mild chewers to prevent unwanted chewing
- Will help clean teeth
- Good value
- May not be suitable for picky dogs
What Other Users Are Saying
Because we know that you don’t just want to know what we think about PetSmart, we checked around to see what other customers of this company are saying.
- Consumer Affairs – “We find everything we went looking for. Customer service is a very pleasant people that know where everything is located. The hours of operation are very convenient and the store very where we live. The prices are always very acceptable and competing with other store.”
- Trustpilot – “The staff are friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and the store is clean and well stocked. Advice is always available and finding staff is never a problem.”
- Sitejabber – “What you need for your pet they have or can get for you. So shop for your friend today, Don’t forget to check out their clearance section.”
Conclusion
PetSmart has proven itself through the years to be a constant in the pet supply world, and its wide selection of products for multiple types of pets makes it a great option for many people. It offers competitive prices and a few proprietary brands that sweeten the deal for customers. They even carry products for specialty and exotic pets.
While we love many things about PetSmart, there are concerns associated with animal welfare within some of the stores. It’s important for PetSmart to listen to these concerns and work toward improving their in-store animal care to provide full and happy lives to the animals in their stores until they go to their forever homes.
