Rules for All Charm City Grooming Competition Categories
General Rules
- There must be sufficient coat to allow the groomer to make a distinct change in the dog’s appearance.
- Contestants will have between 90-135 minutes, depending on size of dog, to complete each category. All styling must take place during the time frame of the competition, except where noted below.
- All dogs must be groomed according to breed standard, with the exception of Salon Freestyle and Creative.
- All dogs may have sanitary and pads shaved, prior to class start.
- All dogs may have nails trimmed and ears cleaned, prior to class start
- Chalk products are permissible prior to and during the competition time frame, but are prohibited after time is called.
- Finishing sprays are permissible in order to tidy up after competition time frame ends however, reshaping with water or product application is prohibited.
- There is to be no coaching by anyone, at any time, during the competition.
- There is to be no access to visual or written grooming instructions during the competition.
- All photos and videos taken are the property of the Charm City Grooming Competition
Structure
- Three-Tier, Multi-Division Competition
- Open Division, Intermediate Division and Entry Division Compete separately for titles of first, second and third in their division classes.
- Immediately following each Class awards presentation 1st place winners from Open, Intermediate and Entry are judged against each other to establish Best in Class.
- Best in Class winners from Wire Coat, Salon Freestyle, Sporting, Poodle and Other Purebred will move on the Best in show.
Competition Level Divisions
- GroomTeam Sanctioned Class rules will apply to all levels with the following exception:
- ONLY ENTRY division may use clippers, scissors and thinning shears when bodywork is typically hand stripped and/or carded for show ring in sporting class and wire coat class. Fifteen-Minute time reduction will be levied
Open Level
- Open to All competitors, Recommended for groomers with advanced styling skills, previous successful competition experience and professional conformation show exhibitors and/or certifiers with expert styling skills. ONLY OPEN division class winners are eligible to earn GroomTeam USA points
Intermediate Level
- Restricted to competitors who have not won THREE Best in Show or THREE Best All Around Groomer Titles, from intermediate division at any show. OR FOUR group placements from any tiered show, or SIX 1st placements from intermediate division at any show. Recommended for groomers with intermediate styling skills or conformation dog show exhibitors and/or certifiers and instructors with intermediate styling skills.
Entry Level
- Restricted to competitors who have not won a Best in Show or Best All Around title from any division at any show, OR FOUR 1st placements from entry division at any show, OR one group placement from any tiered show. Recommended for groomers who have never competed and/or possess novice-grooming skills. Conformation dog show exhibitors, owners, breeders, handlers who have finished a champion, and/or certifiers and grooming instructors are not permitted to compete in the Entry Division.
A minimum of four contestants must be entered and judged for a class 1st to be considered in level advancements protocols
A contestant placing and defeating someone in a regular class, in open division, at any show is prohibited from Competition in intermediate or entry division
A contestant placing and defeating someone in a regular class, in intermediate division, at any show is prohibited from competing in entry division.
All divisions are judged simultaneously. Three placements are awarded in each division.
Sanctioned Class Rules
Acceptable coat growth for all GT sanctioned classes:
It is the responsibility of the show promoter and /or their designated judges to determine adequate coat growth.
Acceptable Styling for all GT sanctioned classes:
- All styling must take place during the time frame of the competition except where noted below.
- All dogs must be groomed according to breed standard with the exception of Poodle as noted below.
- All dogs may have sanitary and pads shaved prior to class start.
- All dogs may have nails trimmed and ears cleaned prior to class start.
- Finishing sprays, are permissible in order to tidy up after competition time frame ends however, re-shaping with water or
product application is prohibited. - Chalk products are permissible prior to and during the competition time frame but are prohibited after time is called.
- Wire Coats must be hand stripped. Clippers are only permissible as presented in the conformation show ring.
- Sporting coats must be carded and/or hand stripped. Clippers are only permissible as presented in the conformation show ring.
- Other Purebreds must be styled as presented in the conformation show ring.
- Poodles can be styled as presented in the conformation show ring or pet trims, provided they respect the breed profile as
set forth by the standard.
