Creative Class Outline

The purpose of the creative class in dog grooming competitions is to recognize the groomer's creativity and ingenuity, as well as his or her grooming expertise. Competition is open to any pure bred or mixed breed dog.

The Competition Dog Requirements

Must be free of any contagious disease and has had no contact with any other dogs having a contagious disease for a period of six weeks prior to the competition. 
• Appear healthy, in good condition and free of infectious disease and parasites. 
• Show no signs of aggression or viciousness. 
• Be on a safety lead or safety loop when not in a crate. 
• While on the grooming table the dog must be under control and may not be left unattended. 
• Be properly crated and cared for, with food and water, when left in secure holding area, hotel room or other accommodations. 
• Must show no signs of obvious pregnancy or nursing. 
• Must be a minimum of one (1) year and not older than ten (10) years of age. 

Preparation Requirements

• The Competition Dog must be prepped and ready for the Judges' inspection prior to check in procedures. 
• The dog should be freshly shampooed and dried, brushed, combed and free of any mats.
• Dogs with hand stripped coats must be clean. 
• Ears should be clean, toenails clipped and the hair between the pads clipped, if applicable, according to breed standard. 
• Sanitary trimming, the genital and stomach areas, should be pre-trimmed, if applicable, according to breed standard. All other trimming shall be done only after the competition starts, unless otherwise stated in the rules for an individual competition class.
• Coat colouring is allowed prior to the competition. Clipping may be done prior to the creative class, however all scissoring and decorating must be done during the creative class competition.

Coat Length Qualifications

The Competition Dog, including rotated coats on hand stripped dogs, must have adequate coat, defined as being sufficient to allow the contestant to make a distinct change in the dog's overall appearance. Generally being 6 to 8 weeks of coat growth.

Grooming Techniques

• All techniques of grooming are permitted, including clipping, snap-on combs, scissoring, thinning, hand stripping, plucking and carding. 
• Singeing of the coat is not permitted. Flame devices are not permitted in the competition ring, the prep area or the bathing and drying area. Tie- up type head styles are allowed. The contestant must create the tie-up during the competition time frame. 
• All grooming techniques are permitted.

Grooming Equipment

• Contestants must provide all of their own equipment, including grooming table, grooming arm and safety loop, extension cords, unless otherwise arranged with Pet Supply House.
• Contestants must be responsible for providing bathing accommodations for the competition dog, unless otherwise arranged with Pet Supply House.
• Hair dryers, curling irons and crimpers are permitted in the competition ring. 
• Holding crates are not permitted in the competition ring. 
• Personal grooming tables and equipment must be removed from the ring after competition. 

Props and Decorations

Coat colouring products, spray glitter, ribbons, rhinestones, or other finishing products are permitted. Costumes, decorations and cosmetic finishing touches to enhance, but not cover the design are permitted. All products, decorations or props must be safe for animals and humans.
Glues must be water-soluble. Hot glue guns are not permitted.
Costumes or ornaments must not, in any way, hinder a dog's ability to move, impair his/her vision or inhibit free movement of his/her ears. The judge will perform a technical evaluation.
Props, contestant costumes, and backdrops are allowed, but due to space and time constraints there will be 15 minutes time allowed to set up before judging begins.

Contest Ring Conduct

Contestants must conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times. 
Each contestant must adhere to the following:
• Safe and gentle handling of the dogs.
• Professional language and attitude.
• Appropriate grooming attire.
• Safe and organized equipment and station.
• Appropriate clothing and shoes. 

Warnings and Disqualifications

Judges will give a warning for the following violations. A second warning will result in disqualification.

Professional Warning for:
• Inappropriate attire.
• Inappropriate language and attitude.

Technical Warning for:
• Skin abrasions such as clipper burns, nicks or cuts.
• Dematting in a non-compassionate manner.
• Hand stripping or plucking in a non-compassionate manner.

Handling Warning for:
• Dog left unattended on the grooming table.
• Dog jumping or falling off grooming table.
• Rough handling or improper movement of the dog.
• Safety loop adjusted too high.
• Lifting of dog by his/her tail.

Strictly Prohibited:
• Use of cell phones, radios and headsets.
• Smoking in the competition ring.
• Standing on the grooming tables.
• Standing on chairs to groom or style.
• Beverages NOT in spill proof containers.
• Coaching by anyone, at any time, during the competition.
• Visual or written grooming instructions.

Contestant Check in Procedure

Contestants must register at the Check-In Station between 12:30pm - 1:30pm, Saturday afternoon. Check- In Contestants must complete all check-in procedures before entering the contest ring. Contestants will be assigned a table after the completion of the check-in procedures. Contestants who have not checked in before the competition starts will not be allowed to compete.
The Contestant and the Competition Dog must register at the Check-In Table. The following will be verified: Contestant is in the correct level, if applicable; Correct breed for class, if applicable; Contestant must sign the competition rules one time for the entire competition. Contestant must inform the judges during check-in procedures of special notations such as missing coat, hot spots, etc.

Station Set Up

• Station Set Up Time begins after check in procedure.
• Equipment and electrical power to the contestant's table must be checked before the competition starts.

Competition End

Contestants must stop all grooming procedures, except for combing, at the end of the competition. Accessories may not be applied to the dog after the competition ends. Contestants should remove all hair, equipment and products from the grooming table. A comb should be placed on the table in front of the dog for the judge to use during the technical evaluation. Contestant should stack his/her dog to present to judge or judging panel. Contestants may comb their dogs before and after the judging panel has evaluated their dogs.

Judging

The judging panel will complete all judging within 30 minutes after the class is over.

Judging Considerations

The judging panel will evaluate the following:
• Originality and creativeness of the styling design. 
• Degree of intricacy of the clipped and scissored design. 
• Percentage of the styling design completed in the ring. Patterns can be preset, however, the degree of pattern application in the ring may affect the difficulty aspects in the overall judging. 
• Overall technical finish. 
• Brilliance and clarity of the coat colouring. – Contestants may colour their dogs prior to entering the ring or use temporary spray colour during the competition. Any colouring substance used must be safe for animals and humans. 
• Sharpness of the colour lines, if applicable, when more than one colour is used on the creative design. 
• Blending of the colour lines, if applicable, when more than one colour is used on the creative design. 
• Quality and quantity of decorative type applications on the dog. 
• Name of the presentation, competition dog, props, contestant's costume and table decorations are considered when judging the final presentation.

Competition Time Frame

• Creative competition will last 2 hours and 30 minutes.
• Immediately following, will be 15 minutes allowed for prop set up.

Awards

The judging panel will choose First, Second and Third placements.

Fees

All fees must be paid prior to contest. Entry fees are not refunded for cancellations received less than 10 Days prior to the show or to contestants who are dismissed or disqualified for any reason.

Contestant agrees to the following:

I, the undersigned, in consideration of my participation in this event, do hereby agree to adhere to the rules of this contest. Failure to comply will mean immediate expulsion from the contest. I understand that the judges decision is final and binding. Pet Supply House/Canada Grooms reserves the right to use photographs, slides, video, audio, digital images and judges' comments in future educational endeavors, show coverage, advertising and promotion of future events and the undersigned specifically waives any proprietary rights and any rights to compensation he/she may have for their use. I agree to absolve Pet Supply House/Canada Grooms, Contest Judges, Contest Sponsors, Show Staff Personnel and the Hosting Hotel and their employees for any legal claim for loss or injury which may be alleged to have been caused directly or indirectly to any person or thing thereto, and I personally assume all responsibility and liability for any such claim. I further agree not to hold the aforementioned parties legally responsible for any claim for loss of my entry dog(s) by disappearance, theft, death, damage or injury, to be caused by negligence of the parties aforementioned, or due to the negligence of any other person, or any other cause or causes. A copy of these rules must be signed prior to competition.