General
The contestant can enter in any of the 4 following official categories:
· Handstripping
· Spaniels and Setters
· Poodles: Toy, Miniature and Medium size, Standard
· Pure breeds
In the 4 official categories you can choose to enter in the following classes:
· Open
· Champion
Open Level – More than 2 years full time grooming experience and may or may not have competed previously. Must not have placed first in selected category at any competition.
Champion Level – Must have been placed first in the same category. If a Champion Class has less than 3 entries, contestants will be entered into the Open Class.
And in the extra classes*
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Beginners*
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Intermediate*
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Mixed Breed/Miscellaneous/Salon*
*These classes/categories are not eligible for Best In Show.
- In each class and category, there will be 3 contestants placed per class.
- The Best In Show will be chosen from the 10 first placed class winners from the official 4 categories.
By Entering the competition, you are, without extra registration, also competing for the extra prizes, such as best Norwegian groomer and Special achievement prizes, which can be given at or after the show.
Class definition
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Beginners Class is for groomers with less than 1 years grooming experience.
A contestant is eligible for entry in the beginner’s class when they have less than one years experience in the specific breed with which they wish to compete. After one year has elapsed from the first competition the contestant must move up to the intermediate class or open class for that breed, however they may compete in the beginners class with a different breed for another year if they wish.
The period of one year as a beginner is irrespective of whether the contestant wins or not.
Dog show experience counts towards the initial period of one year for the beginner’s class.
Intermediate Class is for groomers with more than 1 years grooming experience or groomers who have already won 1st place in the beginner’s Class with maximum 2-year experience. The winner won’t be allowed to compete in “Intermediate Class” anymore.
Open Class is for experienced groomers who have not yet won 1st place in open class within the same category.
Champion Class is for groomers who have already won 1st place in open class within the same category.
After winning 1st place in beginners, intermediate class or open classes contestants may move up to the next level immediately, but must move up to the next level no later than the 1st of January of the following year.
Useful information
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- Contestants must bring their own dogs in natural hair colour and own grooming tools.
- The organization will provide the tables.
- The contestants need to be in the ring 30 minutes before the start of the competition for prejudging.
- The contestant and the competition dog must proceed to the photo studio where the pre-contest and after photo will be taken.
Timing
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Handstripping without clipper use
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· Small and Medium sizes = 2:30 hours
· Big sizes (Airedale Terrier) = 3:00 hours
Spaniels and Setters
All Setters, American Cockers, English Cockers, Springers,... = 2:30 hours
Poodles
· up to 35 cm = 1:45 hours
· 35 cm up to 45 cm = 2:00 hours
· Over 45 cm = 2:30 hours
Pure Breeds
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· Bichon, Bedlington = 2:00 hours
· Kerry Blue Terrier, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Black Russian Terrier, Bouvier = 2:30 hours
Mixed Breed/Miscellaneous/Salon
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· Small sizes (Bichon)= 2:00 hours
· Big sizes (English Sheepdog) = 2:30 hours
Beginners and Intermediate = 2:30 hours
Grooming rules
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All dogs needs to be washed prior to the competition.
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The ears and nails need to be groomed and the dog’s underbelly, genitals and hind quarters may be previously groomed for reasons of hygiene, according to the breed standard.
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Any evident line or pattern from a previous grooming is not allowed. Dog’s coat must be long enough to allow the groomer to make a distinct difference in it’s appearance. Poodles minimum 5 cm coat length.
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All grooming techniques are allowed, as long as the chosen technique suits the type of the dog’s coat.
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If there is any problem during the competition, raise your hand and the president of the jury will come and help you.
Category Handstripping / Spaniels & Setters
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Stripping knives are allowed.
Dog needs to be groomed according to the breed standard.
(Colored )Chalk powder/block/spray and cream is allowed for Terriers.
It is not allowed to use clippers except:
Scottish Terrier – chest, head and ears.
West Highland Terrier - chest and ears.
Cockers and Setters - chest and ears.
Schnauzer - chest, head, inside of back legs and ears.
Category Poodles / Pure Breeds
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The dog needs to be washed and fluff dried.
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The muzzle, feet, stomach and tail can be clipped before the competition.
Poodles must be groomed in a style recognized in the breed standard.
Poodles with top knots can have 15 minutes extra time to finish and may ask for help from an outsider to hold the dog while doing the top knot (in these 15 minutes they can continue using the scissors) . Colouring is not allowed
Category Mixed breed/Miscellaneous/Salon
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Is for all mixed breeds or breeds like poodle that you wish to groom as a Bichon for example.
Salon: This class is made for commercial work, the dogs we see in the salon on a daily basis. No pure breed styled in his/her conformation trim is allowed in this class. Examples of breeds that are typically in the salon class are the Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese, Lhasa Apso, and Shih Tzu, Cockers Spaniels, and many more breeds, all styled in a commercial trim.
Judging
The judges will examine each dog during prejudging and final judging and will take in consideration the following issues:
· Suitability of chosen style to the dog.
· The difficulty degree of the clip.
· Ability to camouflage defects and enhance beauty.
· Up to date with today’s modern grooming styles.
· Respect for today’s breed standard.*
· The quality of scissoring, clipping and or stripping after passing a comb.
· Balance, symmetry, and smoothness.
· Presentation of the dog to the judge.
*Allowance to be made for International differences in styling for example USA or Scandinavian styles.
Poodles
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The quality of the clipper work whether the feet, face and tail are clipped with the appropriate blade. All clipper work should be smooth with no tufts of hair around the lips , eyes, pads of the feet.
Hand Stripping
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There should be no visible pink or bald patches. The hair must be removed with the lay of the coat and without causing pain. Removing the undercoat by a carding tool is allowed only after the hand stripping has taken place. Rolling coats are acceptable; however the work done in the ring must be sufficient to allow the groomer to make a distinct change in the dog’s appearance.
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If clippers are used to trim the soft coat on the head or ears, the front of the neck, or on the insides of the back legs, these areas must be trimmed neatly and smoothly with the appropriate blade. The clipper work should blend smoothly with the furnishing or feathering rather than stick out.
Pure Breeds and Spaniels & Setters
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If thinning shears are used: the areas that are thinned should blend smoothly and create a natural appearance.
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The judges’ decision will be final and binding. We kindly ask all participants to be sportive and to respect the final decision of the jury.
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Points
In all categories the judging system is based on points. Each judge awards the competitors 10 points for the first place, 8 points for the second, 6 points for the third and 4 points for the fourth in each class. Judges are not allowed to exchange any opinion concerning the judgment during the competition. Each judge will have his/her own place list. Adding up the points of all judges, the assigned President of the Jury will obtain the final place list. In the event of a tie, the President of the Jury will discuss with the judges to establish the place winner. The Judges who judged the 4 official categories will judge the BIS on a voting based system.
Handling
Judges may give a warning to any competitor who is seen handling a dog in a rough or unsafe manner. A second warning will constitute disqualification. If the competitor makes clipper burns, nicks or cuts he can’t be placed as a winner. Any indecorous or aggressive language used towards the judges may lead to disqualification.
Declaration As a competitor, I hereby certify that I have read and understood the competition rules and regulations and agree to abide them. Contestants entering the competition with a dog showing less than 8 weeks of coat growth or visible lines from a previous grooming should be aware that they will be penalized and have little chance of being selected. I hereby acknowledge that the organizer of the competition has the sole right of use of any images, (photos or videos) data (names of the competitors) for the purposes of promoting future events.