I love this place! However, I bought two boy guinea pigs in September for my son for his birthday. They were acting really strange and one was mounting the other quite a bit while the other one was very docile and submissive,so I called Petco and confirmed that I did in fact buy two BULL guinea which was also stated on the paper work. However, now I've had to separate them because one guinea pig has double in size and is eating and drinking everything in sight, and has little babies kicking inside! I am expected my promised male guinea pig to be having 2-4 piglets within the next 48 hours. Be sure to do your homework before buying guinea pigs from this Petco, they seem to have been confused on how to tell the difference between male and female. read more

Petco - 3 Christmas babies born from my promised BULL guinea pig. - Pet Stores Near Me - Novato, California

Petco is what America is becoming - a mindless chain enterprise with no real interest in the needs of their customers, or their customer's pets. The Corporate Petco entity fails to employ people interested in animals, fails to train them in how to handle pets and pet food and fails to have them provide any semblance of customer service. There's a distinct lack of proper care briefing for customers, who are simply offered a crude printed sheet and made to sign a form 'promising' to care for the animal they're buying. It seems ridiculous until you realize they're probably just covering their legal butts. I've waited for crickets here for 25 minutes, once. That's no exaggeration - there weren't many people in the store, either. Some of the current employees at Vintage Oaks do seem more informed and interested in their given department (at least in aquatics), but there's still much more improvement needed for this chain in terms of animal support, in-store maintenance and general customer service. read more

After having an absolutely HORRIBLE grooming experience at my local PetCo, I learned of the gem that is the Novato location. I was a bit hesitant at first, but friends had all given rave reviews so I brought my dog in. They were FANTASTIC!!! Super friendly, time efficient and, most important of all, my dog was HAPPY and looked and smelled great! Although it's about a 45 minute drive for me to get there, I will not think twice before booking my dog's next appointment with them! Ask for Brooke, you will NOT be disappointed =) I also learned while there that they have a kind of doggy play-pen available. It's wonderful for them to be able to be socialized in a secure environment, and I could tell by all the customer's hanging around that it was quite a joy to just watch these precious animals play and have fun! read more

I have to say, I do not love this Petco itself- the lines are always terrible as they are nearly always understaffed. However, the Grooming Center here redeems it all for me. We lived in Sausalito for years, and during that time tried every high end pet grooming place in South Marin with dismal results for my high maintenance maltese. I eventually tried the Petco in San Rafael which was terrible. When we moved to Novato I started with the well reviewed private grooming sites, and was not pleased with the services. Eventually I went to Petco, in desperation for a last minute grooming. Karina is an absolute ANGEL. A maltese mommy as well, she does a fantastic job with my little guy, and he doesn't dread the groomer nearly as much as he once did. Karina, THANK you!! All of the girls here do a great job with Gabriel and have wonderful attitudes, this is a fabulous grooming center! read more

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This is more a review to the corporation & training available to staff. I've owned tarantulas for a long while now. I have species that vary from beginner species to expert. Not only is the Grammostola pulchripes priced almost $75 more than market value for this species, but the species is highly under-cared for and neglected. This species specifically needs several inches of substrate. There wasn't even an inch sadly. The enclosure was entirely too big for the size of this tarantula as well, which can cause high stress levels that can kill them even. Please don't pay for an overpriced under-cared for animal. If you want to buy a tarantula call East Bay Vivarium ahead of time and ask when Austin will be in. The East Bay vivarium is educated in reptiles, tarantulas, amphibians, etc. Please stray away from supporting companies that put profit before animal care. read more

Of all the boutique pet salons in the city I've tried, none compares to Petco in Novato. I know, Petco? Am I serious? Yes! I never thought I'd be taking my little guy for grooming at a Petco, but WOW, Ellen does an absolutely wonderful job with Scrappy each time. Never a nick or cut with her, and he comes home excited and happy. Ask for Ellen. I hope she never leaves. ------------addendum 10/27/07----------------------------- Dammit! She left! Ellen if you read this, call me! read more

5 stars all the way to the grooming salon at Petco in Novato!!!! My scrappy little dog Cody was in need of EVERYTHING. His fur was long and messy, his little face dirty and talk about halitosis. We decided on the spa treatment add on in addition to bathing, grooming and nailcare. Amanda was amazing and what I liked best is that she did not make me feel horrible about some matting he had on his belly. She clipped exactly as I asked, a not too short puppy cut, and did an amazing job! When I picked my little guy up, he was literally smiling, walked outside with his head held high feeling like a million doggie bucks! The price was more than reasonable at $72 which included bathing, conditioning, clipping and the added on spa treatment. I will definitely return in 6 weeks and very highly recommend Petco in Novato for grooming needs! read more

Alright this is specifically for Travis in the fish department, he is so freaking awesome and really knows his stuff. I decided to save a betta from Petco a couple months ago and unfortunately he wasn't there for my purchase but when I came back to look for some things to add to my tank he educated me on what my betta fish really needs. He helped me pick out the perfect water heater and a beautiful live plant. It's awesome to have someone who can actually help you and your new pet have a great overall life experience. So now I only go back to buy stuff when his working, anyway keep up the good work Travis! This location is lucky to have you! read more

Increasing my rating to 5 stars for the fact that they do adoption only with local agencies for dogs and cats and the specialties of their staff. This location seemed to have specialists for each of the different species. I was looking for some plants and food for my baby betta and Jason was an expert on everything fish and aquarium related. They had his bio up and it was so neat to see someone with 30+ years of experience helping out customers. He told me all about the natural history of bettas (not in a drab, dull, geeky way) more in a practical way pointing out why darker gravel is better due to where they are used to living, etc. Also, the reptile/amphibian section had its own specialist who knew a ton about frogs, toads and lizards (it backs up to the fish section, so as I was browsing I overhead a family learning about frog care). All of the animals at this location always look well cared for and all of the bettas actually looked quite healthy compared to other Petco locations. read more

Helpful and knowledgeable staff. I'm always greeted when I walk in. They tolerate my 2 year old son running around wanting to see all the animals. Recently we started a fish tank for my son. And Travis and the other team members were extremely patient (I'm new to the aquatics world) and provided TONS of great information for the future. We are more than pleased with their service. We have even brought our aussie to get groomed and they were extremely friendly and wonderful there too. Great location, great staff, we will definitely return!! read more

I have the cutest goldfish from Petco. Very helpful like Jose and Andtew in the fish department. Other employees aren't as nice but the counter ladies are sweet. I love my fish ! Thank you. read more

It's is my go to pet store. It is located in the Vintage Oaks shopping center near the Target. Parking is always a pain during the day and in holidays. It's best to go early when it opens or late when they're about to close, maybe an hour before they actually do. Store is always clean, staff are friendly and helpful. Even the manager roams the floor to help guests. They offer pet training on the weekends. They have a grooming section, which I take my dog to every month. read more

If you're seeking for a live animal, this Petco has Gecko, snakes, frogs, and turtles, fish (freshwater and salt water fish), mice, hamsters, and Guinea pigs. Oh and some birds (parakeets and Cockatiel (hand-fed)). I went in there to just kill time and browse. But these live animals surely knew how to entertain and kill my time! read more

Pretty good for a big box store. We just rescued a dog and needed supplies, a harness, leash and tags. Not a lot of choice, but good quality for mass merchandise. Most important was the great service from more than one employee! Helpful in finding what we needed, and helpful with getting a tag made, hard to ask for more.. read more

I've just had my partner's dog's nails done here yesterday. They look great especially for a fussy older dog. I forgot the young lady's name but she was so helpful, knowledgeable, and calm through the whole process. She did a quick and nice job. She has groomed my dog in the past and will do another full groom on him this week. I'll make sure to get her name and update my post. read more

I was so shocked today when I went in to the store's bathrooms. They were both disgusting. I had my dog with me and, believe me, I would have NEVER taken her in those rooms with me. And this is not the first time. Almost every time I've gone in there the bathrooms are bad. I just kept hoping that someone would have said something. Honestly, there was poop inside and out of the toilets. Floors filthy, especially around the toilets. The sinks were filthy with lots of musty moldy places all around the sinks. I'm so disappointed in this store. Makes me wonder how much those fecal residues have spread about the store. And then what happens? The dogs we bring with us to the store end up bringing that filth back to our homes. Come on guys! Flu season is just around the corner. Get it together!!! The reason I don't think that the bathrooms should be gender neutral is because I don't like having to put down the toilet seats after a man has been in the room. read more

What a way to ruin a day off work, much less not get my dog groomed after booking appt. on a holiday. First mistake: Wasn't greeted with a smile. When I asked how her day was going she growled "I'm tired." Should have left right then. Second indication this wasn't a responsible crew: two dogs crying from being left under dryer for at least 15 minutes while I signed In. Later told "dog cries when owner is late." Is that an excuse for no one attending to dog? Told that groomer was "in the bathroom." Out of sync atmosphere; bathroom groomer returns and proceeds to inspect my dog while check in grouch shows me pictures of breed cuts (because she wasn't familiar with common terms for legs, head, etc. that we'd applied before eg boot cut). Grouch decides to inspect my dog too, pulling hair to document snarls. I'd mentioned that once dog has conditioner the Bichon hair relaxes. Dog bites grouch. Two strangers with new client in its face, hostile energy (come to find out grouch groomer had recently been in a car accident and was "spread thin."). Neck collar should have been applied with any dog who was becoming anxious from waiting. Turns out check in grouch was designated groomer and refused to groom my dog. I was apologetic for her getting nipped yet I left upset, especially when the excuse for unpleasant behavior was that no one wanted to work today and they were stuck. Management needs to step in and counsel regarding customer service, but only hire people who are in tune to both animal and guardian needs. Or get another job. read more

I love this Petco! I have a store closer to me, but I prefer to go out of my way to shop and support this location. The store is always kept clean and their aquarium department is great! You can tell the staff actually care about their jobs and treat the tanks with the respect and care they deserve. The staff here go above and beyond to be helpful and they have all been very friendly too! The experiences I have had at this location keep me coming back, I have not shopped at a better Petco. read more

First time visiting this location. I frequent the one where I live in Santa Rosa for dog necessities but decided to visit the Novato location on my way home from a business trip. I was SO IMPRESSED!!! I was looking to add a little something to my fish tank. TRAVIS was so helpful!!!!! I had no idea what I was doing and what would be right for my tank.....totally felt like a fish out of water.....Travis asked me questions and helped me find even more than I came in looking for!!!! I left signing up for the loyalty program (which I never did in Santa Rosa) and will be bringing a sample of water for Travis to test so he can recommend more fish for my tank.....or an upgraded tank maybe....he also recommended Danny and Andrew if I had any questions......great help and great customer service!!!!! read more

I showed up almost 45 minutes after they had closed and didn't realize they were closed. There were two people at the door and they both worked there and informed me they were closed....since 6! Doh. So I said no worries and turned to leave. They both asked me what I needed. I just needed dog food but said I'll be by tomorrow. They asked if I was out and I was. They told me to wait and then they found out what food and ran back and got it. They have an honor system! Waaaaaaaay cool. So my dog ate her food instead of MY dinner and this store has my business for life. Way to rock that customer service read more

Fun staff...friendliness and helpfulness can vary. It's very crammed to the gills with some aisles repeating, so gets confusing. Great deals. Remember to become a Petco mem ber if you frequent pet stores often for some great deals. Very happy, healthy animals. Especially great for pet maintenance. read more

We're a little snobby about fish stores and only came in to get some filter cartridges. However, they had the exact loaches (gold dojo and butterfly) that we'd been looking for the previous weekend at our local place. They were all active and showed no sign of disease, so we picked a couple up. I asked Travis to help us out and he really wowed us with his knowledge. He made sure that our tank is established and that we understood the requirements for our new fish. He was friendly, passionate about the hobby, and made sure to tell us about their return policy. We always enjoy how clean the store is and their selection, but Travis is the reason I'm writing a review and the five stars are well deserved. read more

Whether needing to groom a pet or purchase pet supplies, this is your place. The aisles are always neat and they have a great selection of pet toys, food, and beds. When I usually go to a pet store, I go straight to their live pet section. I peer into their aquariums and cages to see the care the employees and the company give to the beasts living inside them. They are very clean and the animals look well taking care of. The employees, in general, are friendly and helpful with any questions that I posed. Today I scored a large scratching post for my cat on clearance for just $12. It's normal price was 30. I also picked up some cat treats, cat shampoo, and a cat bed. The gifts were going towards my cat's Christmas list. My checkout was smooth and my wallet only lightly dented from this visit. read more

Absolutely horrible service in the grooming department. My dog left shaking and upset, and his nails weren't even completely done. He has NEVER had issues getting his nails done (he usually just whimpers), but this time he was horrified. Groomers are supposed to know how to handle all dogs and help make the process go as smoothly as possible, not put their entire bodyweight on top of the dog and aggressively shave his nails. Never. Again. read more

This review is for Patrick, in aquatics. I am new to aquariums and I just started mine. I recently visited another petco and had amazing service in regards to starting up my tank. Last night I received amazing service from Patrick about which fish to house in my newly finished tank. He was great at explaining how and why certain fish are housed better together than others and helped me get a better understanding of the fish I currently own. He was very patient and willing to answer all of my questions. Thank you Patrick! read more

TRAVIS who works in the FISH Dept. Is AWESOME -- he's not only an expert on fish, their habitats, origins, etc., he's a kind person who really cares about fish and educating his customers. We had 2 Betta fish and one died, so I went to get a new one and ask what we can do to avoid any more premature fatalities :-( He told me Bettas originally come from Thailand, (floodplains/marshes that were turned into rice fields,) and what they like re: food, plants, tap water treatment, etc. He even pointed me away from the more expensive water plants to the more affordable ones. I told him we have 2 glass vases for our fishbowls and we put them together so the Bettas can visit each other, as our previous 2 fish frequently did. He said it's OK to do that for awhile, but they can get overstimulated, so to slide a card between the bowls to give them some downtime. (I made a card by taking out a photo of Napali Coast from our old Hawaiian wall calendar and folded it -- makes a beautiful background, too!) Travis also said I could buy Catappa Indian Almond Leaf on Amazon to put in the bowls as it turns the water a darker shade, like tea, which mimics their native water and lowers the Ph. (Just ordered them for $7.) We like the clear water, but if it's more beneficial for the fish, we'll learn to love the tinted water. Thanks Travis! :-D read more

I went to check out the grooming service there after buying some fish supplies where the guy there was very helpful. The lady manager at the groomers was simply rude as she told me they were very busy and couldn't take my dog for nearly 3 weeks. And she just had this attitude that she didn't want the business and never smiled once. With that kind of care who would trust their loving pet with them? The place was small and you can see the cages there in the back and looked like a prison so no thanks! read more

Just an update...I absolutely love Brooke, Roxanne, Amanda and all the groomer girls at Petco! They really understand dogs :)

Novato Petco grooming dept. should be out of business for the way they treat pets! Amanda was having one of those days according to Chris so my pets suffered with a worst haircut!! Give a child the scissors instead. Maybe that child can do a better job than Amanda!!! Count me out coz' I won't even look at that place for my pets" needs! read more

This review is for the groomers. They are amazing. I took my Saint Bernard in there last Friday. He was a pretty dirty guy. He came back happy and spotless. I can't say enough good things about the service. I've taken our other dog to a very high end groomer that cost twice as much and she didn't look or smell half as good. We made an appointment for our dog for next week we were so pleased. read more

Julianna groomed my toy poodle Eddi last week and was most kind and caring to both Eddi and I. .Gave me good suggestions what to ask for in the future and told me of his behavior during grooming ie.what he likes and does not like.She did a terrific job and Eddi seemed happier than in the past--was not withdrawn for the few hours after grooming as he often has been. read more

Clean!! Wide aisles. Friendly staff. Everything is well stocked. I've purchased plenty of cat toys here and Boogie loves them all :)

I gave it one star only because it is the lowest that I can give. The animals are always filthy, the lines are always long, and they are always understaffed. Then when I have been able to find anyone to help me, they are usualy unknowledgable. My worst experience has been with the manager John. He is smug and rude. Last week I returned a bag of cat food because it had moths in it that totally infested my house. When I talked to the manager about this, he basically told me that I must have had the moths in my house to begin with, even though they were inside the bag!!!! When I made him look inside, he laughed and said " Well, what do you know!" Really? I used to shop here all the time, but I never will again, and I will make sure I tell my friends and family not to as well!!!! read more

As always, Nelly looks great and is a happy dog!! :) U guys rock!

Robert was just so very helpful for me tonight as I was looking for different things throughout the store. He also started me on my very first Petco 30 pound litter Pail. I got the fresh litter scent and can't wait to get home and see what it smells like. Much credit also should go to Toshia the store manager for having such well trained and helpful people. Kudos to this particular Petco as this is the best service I've ever gotten chain wide. I will definitely be back. read more

Speaking for the aquatics crew I had a great experience here, keen, helpful and natural politeness (not the I was told to say this stuff). I have learnt a great deal from various staff here and they deserve all good credit. I highly recommend them and will be returning for more. read more

People there are friendly and helpful. Dave in aquatic keeps his tanks clean and healthy. Found some nice cichlids mislabeled in the asst peacock that I'm lucky to have read more

I've brought my dog to get groomed here countless times. It's always been convenient, reliable, and predictable. They have always done a nice job. My last experience was really frustrating, and I will no longer be coming here. I got a voicemail to reschedule my appointment, due to an employee being out sick. No worries. I called back, and they let me know that it no longer needed to be changed...perfect. I verbally confirmed the day and time over the phone, and also confirmed via text message. I got a call an hour before the appointment, saying that my appointment had been canceled. I called back to talk to a manager, a bit frustrated. She was very accommodating and rescheduled me, and offered to comp the service. Again, I got another call to move the appointment. Growing increasingly frustrated I obliged and moved my schedule around to make it work(the 3rd time) The day of the appointment I arrived on time and got my dog checked in. The groomer there stated that it would take her 3 hours as she was running behind. This is longer than usual, but I again obliged. I came back 3 hours later and she was just getting started on my poor puppy. Meaning he had sat in the cage for over 2 hours without being seen. I have yet to pick him up, but no matter how good he looks I will not be coming back here. They jerked me around, and I tried to be flexible but it was taken too far. No thanks! read more

Grooming employees have become soo rude. Amanda was one of the best- she always took care of my Maltese. Now that she I gone I'll have to find somewhere else. read more

Very Pleased! Being a small business owner myself I always try to to support the local small businesses in my community. I had been taking my dog to a small pet groomer near my house and was content yet not super happy with the results. I decided to try Petco and I was pleasantly surprised by what a wonderful job they did! The staff was very involved and took the time to really get in communication with me regarding what I wanted. At one time my dog had 3 people working on her. They even put pink bows on her ears. My daughter loved that!! read more