Pet Smart Grooming & Pet Smart Training
This is an unsolicited post where we talk a lot about PetSmart. PetSmart has not sponsored this post nor have I been compensated in any way. Denise’s Dog Dish & Shasta’s Yorkie Yap/ denisegruzensky.com only shares information about things we feel you will benefit from as well. PetSmart is not responsible for the content of this post.
Shasta: Mom why has it taken so long for us to get to my second Pet Therapy Student Journal post? If you want to see my 1st post you can read it here.
Dog mom: Well Shasta it might be hard to understand but things take time. First, Tanya had to write a policy also known as a protocol for when you and your future pet therapy “Caring Paws” friends come to the hospital to visit.
Shasta: What is a pet therapy protocol/policy?
Dog mom: It is like a special list of rules that we (your humans/handlers) have to make sure we all follow when we are visiting the hospital.
Shasta: I’m not sure I like the sound of that. Rules are not my favorite thing. As my hooman, you should know that.
Dog mom: I understand Shasta but rules are usually made to help keep you safe. These rules keep you, the patient’s we visit during pet therapy sessions and me safe. By the way, I’ve been meaning to let you know the proper word to use is human.
Shasta: Hu-ma-n… Ok, I’ll try to remember that. Safety is definitely important. So, next question, how come a bath was involved? You know how much I hate those.
I’m heading in for my grooming appointment at PetSmart
Dog mom: Well Shasta, if you want to be a therapy pet this will be part of your job. You see, you’ll need to be groomed within 24 hours of your visit to the hospital.
Shasta: Nobody told me that was involved. WHY?
Dog mom: We have to protect the patients from germs you might carry in on your fur.
Shasta: Ahem, mom I don’t have fur I have hair and I don’t shed but…. I also hate germs so the bath is starting to sound a bit better. I really liked the groomers at #PetSmart in Hanford. I know you can’t tell by my face in the photos but they were really nice. For safety, you were not allowed in the back & they even took photos for you. Though I can’t say I love these pics. 
I definitely want to work as a pet therapy dog to help people so if I must have a bath I’m glad it will be with the groomers at #PetSmartGrooming. Are you going to tell everyone my grade? It is my journal after all.
Dog mom: Sure Shasta, you get a Pawgress report with each visit and you have received an A all three times you’ve been. Since it was at different PetSmart locations we didn’t have the same groomer but they keep all of your records available so they know your vaccinations are up to date (Rabies vaccinations are required) and what you had done at your last visit (like the clipper size used). We are really lucky. Tanya contacted PetSmart and they have been amazing! We have been able to arrange to have all pet therapy dogs with “Caring Paws” groomed at the Hanford PetSmart. They have also worked with us to set up training so we’ll be able to pass our team evaluation for our #PetPartners certification.
Shasta: The PetSmart people are really cool! You’ve told me before how they work with charities and rescues and now they are helping us. Gotta love that! I’ll try really hard to make sure I’m nice during grooming and classes because I really want to be a therapy pet. I really like all this pet therapy stuff you’re cooking up.
Dog mom: Oh Shasta, everything always leads back to food! Just wait to see the treats you’ll get during training.
Shasta: Then LET’S GO TO CLASS!
[bctt tweet=”Pet Therapy starts with a good training class and grooming. We use #PetSmart for both!” username=”denisegruzensk”]
Sure enjoyed having you and Shasta visit for a few days while you attended a class here in Paradise. Always nice to be at the cabin at Serene Lakes to relax too! Thanks for the hospitality.
Love spending time with you too!
Oh Shasta, the very same thing happened to me …only I didn’t get the reward of going to pet therapy class afterwards. PetSmart does a great job and you look fantastic!
I’m glad to know I’m not alone in my bath misery! I sure hope your human still rewards you in some way?! ~Shasta
Mr. N has to get a lot of baths when he does therapy work too. It’s his least favorite part. He loves playing with the kids though!
So excited there is something to look forward to after bath time!!
Those darn required baths! But, I know you are going to enjoy your therapy class!
We are really excited!!
Oh those darn baths! But you sure look fresh and I don’t know how its possible to look even cuter than you already did, but you do!
Aw shucks thanks!! The encouragement helps me to grin (sort of) and bear it! BOL! Smiles, Barks & Wagging Tails, ~Shasta
This is a great post to help others understand what’s involved and this is serious (BUT FUN!) business. So glad you’re on this journey, enjoy!
Thanks, I’m hoping to help people and maybe inspire other pets to do the same. Smiles, Barks & Wagging Tails, ~Shasta
They did a great job with your spring look!
Thanks so much! Smiles, Barks & Wagging Tails, ~Shasta
They did a great job! That photo of Shasta looking up from the bath is too funny.
I was so grateful for PetSmart grooming for taking those photos and I think that one is my favorite too!
Layla agrees with you bathing is torture, I refuse to go into the pet store where Mom bathes me so she has to wheel me in in a shopping cart BOL, but woof yes there are rewards 🙂
BOL!! I’m right there with you Layla!! Smiles, Barks and Wagging Tails, ~Shasta
You look absolutely adorable! I think you will make the perfect therapy dog ❤
Thank you very much! The encouragement is much needed since I hate those baths so much! Smiles, Barks & Wagging Tails, ~Shasta
We love PetSmart! Looking good 🙂
Thanks!
You look stunning!
Why thank you! Smiles, Barks & Wagging Tails, ~Shasta
Wet dogs are the most pitiful, and yet, adorable creatures on Earth! Love the end result, too! What a sweet dog, and thank you for enduring all of this to help people in the hospital!
Dog mom says I look like a drowned rat… I don’t like the reference, not one bit but I sure do feel great with all that hair gone! Smiles, Barks & Wagging Tails, ~Shasta
You look beautiful after your grooming! We love PetSmart!
Us too!
We have always had a really positive experience with PetSmart Grooming. How wonderful it is that Shasta is a therapy dog!
We are so excited! From the time we rescued him we thought he had the PAWfect temperament for a therapy dog and the move has given us the opportunity!
Interesting. I had no idea dogs had to be bathed before visiting. Makes perfect sense though!
Yeah, we are learning a lot. It helps to have Dog mom have been an ER Nurse and now Nurse Practitioner too. 😉 Smiles, Barks & Wagging Tails, ~Shasta
We’re glad we don’t have to have baths all the time, however, we definitely understand why you’d need them when going to the hospital. Good luck on the classes.
Thank you, I’ll keep you posted. You all stay looking PAWfect without baths I’m so jealous! Smiles, Barks & Wagging Tails, ~Shasta
Looking beautiful! Petsmart did a great job with grooming!
We agree and are also grateful for the pictures!
Therapy sessions are really fun and benefit the people you visit! (Even if the bath and groom is not your favorite part!)
I’m going to trust you and dog mom on that one. BOL! Smiles, Barks & Wagging Tails, ~Shasta
You look wonderful after your grooming session – if only it was that easy to bath the cats!
BOL and MOL!
Therapy sessions are really fun for my dog
We really think Shasta is going to take to it well. He loves people.
Awww, pet therapy is wonderful! And what an awesome job PetSmart did on your beautiful puppers!
We are so happy with their grooming and it was nice they took pictures for us!
Glad you’re doing well in your Therapy Dog training! We did ours at PetSmart as well, our trainer Connie is awesome. It’s so important to be clean and smell good for our visits.
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
Dog mom says it is all worth it and I believe her. I’m looking forward to helping people! Smiles, Barks and Wagging Tails, ~Shasta