Is PetSmart’s Treats Rewards Program Worth Joining?

Every pet owner has a running tab they’d rather not total up. The bag of kibble every few weeks, the litter, the chew toys that last a single afternoon, the bath before the holidays. It all adds up, and most of it is going to get bought somewhere no matter what.

That’s the case for PetSmart’s Treats Rewards program. It doesn’t ask you to spend more. It pays you back on what your pet already needs, and it costs nothing to join. PetSmart’s own terms say enrollment is free for U.S. residents 18 and older, so the real question is how much it returns and how to get the most from it.

What members get

The core is simple. According to PetSmart, members earn 10 points for every dollar spent on merchandise and services, and every 1,000 points converts to $2 in savings on merchandise and services for your pet.

Points come from more places than the checkout aisle, too. PetSmart says grooming, dog training enrollment, and PetsHotel and Doggie Day Camp bookings all earn at the same 10-points-per-dollar rate. Completing your member profile adds a one-time bonus of 1,000 points, and donations to PetSmart Charities at the register earn double points.

Then there are the perks that aren’t points at all. PetSmart lists members-only pricing in stores, free home delivery on orders of $49 or more (with some exclusions), 5% off recurring Autoship orders, and a gift for your pet on its birthday or Gotcha Day. Pet owners who use the grooming salon can also collect up to two $10 Salon Reward Certificates per calendar year on full bath or groom services.

For a free program, that’s a generous list.

Running the numbers

The math is easy to do for yourself, and it’s the best way to see what the program is worth to your household.

Start with the base rate. Ten points per dollar, at $2 per 1,000 points, works out to 2 cents back on every dollar you spend. That’s a 2% return on the things you were buying anyway.

Now apply it to your own spending. Take a rough monthly total for food, litter, treats and supplies, multiply by twelve, and you have your yearly spend. Multiply that by 0.02 and you have a baseline value in rewards. A household spending $600 a year at PetSmart, for example, would earn 6,000 points at the base rate, which is $12 in rewards. Add the 1,000-point profile bonus and that’s another $2.

Then layer on the extras that don’t show up in the points math. If you use the salon, the two Salon Reward Certificates are worth up to $20 a year on their own. If you put your pet’s food on Autoship, the 5% discount on recurring orders applies on top of the points you earn. For regular salon customers and Autoship users, the perks can easily outweigh the points themselves.

Climbing the tiers

Treats Rewards has three levels, and the higher ones pay more on every dollar. PetSmart sets them by annual spend: Member covers $0 to $499, Bestie starts at $500, and VIPP (Very Important Pet Parent) starts at $1,000.

The bonus is meaningful. PetSmart says Bestie members earn 2 additional points for every dollar, and VIPP members earn 4 additional points. Run that through the same math and Bestie works out to roughly 2.4 cents back per dollar, while VIPP reaches about 2.8 cents.

Getting there is less of a stretch than it sounds. A large dog on premium food, a cat household with several litter boxes, or one pet with regular grooming appointments can get close to Bestie in a year, especially when everything goes on one account. Services count toward your spend as well, so boarding and day camp bookings help you climb.

Who gets the most out of Treats

The program rewards consistency. The households that come out furthest ahead tend to share a few traits.

Multi-pet homes. Two dogs and a cat can push yearly spend past the Bestie threshold quickly, and every extra dollar then earns at the higher rate.

Regular grooming customers. Two $10 Salon Reward Certificates a year are a straightforward bonus for anyone already booking full baths or grooms at the salon.

Autoship users. PetSmart says recurring deliveries earn 10 points per dollar, and members also get 5% off those recurring orders. It’s the easiest way to make sure every bag of food counts.

Families who board or use day camp. PetsHotel and Doggie Day Camp bookings earn points, and those services can move a household up a tier faster than supplies alone.

New pet owners. The first year with a puppy or kitten tends to be the most expensive one, with a crate, bedding, bowls, toys and training all landing at once. Joining before that first big shop means all of it earns.

How to make every point count

Sign up before you buy anything, then finish your profile straight away to collect the 1,000-point bonus. Points only post when PetSmart knows it’s you, so give your phone number or email at the register, scan the barcode in the PetSmart app, or log in before you shop online.

Keep one account for the whole household. Combining everyone’s purchases is the fastest way to reach Bestie and then VIPP, where each dollar earns more.

Redeem as you go. PetSmart’s terms say each point expires at the end of the twelfth month after it was earned, so cashing in rewards regularly keeps the full value working for you. Watch your account for bonus-point events too, since PetSmart runs them from time to time.

And if your pet visits the salon, book a full bath or groom rather than a Quick Wash when you can, so the visit qualifies for a Salon Reward Certificate.

Program details can change, so check the current terms in the PetSmart app or on the website before you plan around a specific number. The basic deal stays the same: it’s free, and your pet’s everyday needs start paying you back from the first purchase.