Creative Styling Rules 3.9
Copywritten 2010 IJA Inc. • May not be reproduced without permission Revised and approved 6-30-10

Theme
Anything goes. Designs may have been used at other shows or competitions. Designs are NOT required to be original.

Description of Contest
The purpose of this class is to recognize the groomer's creativity and ingenuity, as well as his or her grooming expertise. Open to any purebred or mixed breed dog that show off the contestant's grooming and styling skills.

Competition Time Frame
All dogs will be permitted a total contest time of 2-1/2 hours. The contestant will have an additional 10 minutes to set up his/her stage area and finalize costumes, ornaments and props.

Levels of Competition Skill
Open to all contestants.

Grooming Techniques
The following techniques of grooming are permitted: clippering, snap-on-combs, vacuum grooming, scissoring, thinning, handstripping, plucking and carding.

Competition Dog Coat Length Qualifications
The competition dog must have adequate coat, defined as being sufficient to allow the contestant to make a distinct change in the dog's overall appearance. Four to six weeks growth is recommended.

Products, Decorative Objects and Coat Coloring Allowed on the Competition Dog Permitted
Anything goes in the creative styling class as long as it is safe to put on the dog and safe for the contestant to use.

• Decorative objects, such as bows, beads, glitter, ribbons, rhinestones, or other finishing decorations
• Hair extensions
• Cosmetic finishing touches to enhance but not cover the design
• Costumes and ornaments are permitted but must not, in any way, hinder a dog's ability to move, impair his/her vision or inhibit free movement of his/her ears, legs or tail. Any costume or ornament should be easily removable to facilitate judging.
• Glues should be water-soluble. Air brush, curling and flat irons, pet safe coat coloring, holding sprays, coloring sprays, chalking products, decorations, and costumes
• Contestants may color the coat prior to the contest

Not Permitted:

• Hot glue guns
• Singeing of the coat
• Use of duct tape, carpet tape or any other substance that pulls on the skin or hair to remove, or is used to apply decorations to the dog
• Large or heavy objects placed on the dog are prohibited. All props placed on the dog must have prior approval from the judges.

Preparation Requirements for the Competition Dog
The competition dog must be prepped and ready for the judges' inspection prior to check-in procedures. A list of coloring products used prior to the competition, products and equipment that will be used during the competition, props, decorations and enhancements to be placed on the dog, must be available for the judges' inspection prior to contest start.

• Coats should be freshly shampooed and dried, brushed, combed and free of mats.
• Ears should be cleaned and free of hair.
• Toenails should be trimmed.
• Sanitary area, genital, foot pads, and stomach areas may be trimmed
• All other trimming shall be done after the contest starts.

Judging Considerations

Technical Finish
The following will be considered:

• Sharpness and precision of the clipper lines.
• Quality of scissored finish
• Overall technical finish and/or application of any and all decorative applications
• Color: Sharpness and/or blending.

Profile
The overall appearance of the design. Is the design or concept easily determined by the judges? Contestants are encouraged to tell judge what they were attempting to achieve, and to explain the design or movement of the design, if needed. Example: If the design transitions from the dog lying down to standing, judge should be made aware of this and it should be demonstrated to them. This also should be explained to audience, if necessary, during Presentations.

Difficulty
The following are considered: Percentage of design, coat removed, and coloring applied during the contest.

Competition Start
All competitors will begin the competition at the same time in the ring.

The Final Presentation

• Each contestant will have a 6'x 6' space to decorate to enhance his/her creative styling theme. The entire presentation should not exceed the 6'x 6' space unless cleared with Barkleigh staff before the event.
• Table tops must be protected from glitter, glue and color.
• A maximum of 2 assistants may enter the stage area to move props onto stage during the 10 minutes following "scissors down."
• Decorative objects, and products such as sprays or chalks may not be applied to the competition dog after the contest ends.

Awards
The judging panel will choose a first, second and third place winner.

People's Choice Award
People's Choice Award is given at most Barkleigh creative competitions to determine the most visually appealing grooming /presentation of the contest. Presentation is not a part of the judging criteria, but because creative is such a visual art this Award is given to the groomer who has the most audience appeal as determined by applause by the audience. At certain larger competitions such as Groom Expo and Groom & Kennel Expo, the winner of the People's Choice Award will be placed on the cover of Groomer to Groomer as part of the People's Choice Award, except in the following case: If the creation has been on the cover of the magazine within the last three years, that groom will not qualify for People's Choice Award and that groomer must abstain from that part of the competition. However that groomer can still win first, second or third place in judging of the event. Only creations that have not been seen on the Cover of Groomer to Groomer are acceptable for People's Choice Award.

Presentation to Audience for People's Choice Award:

• Contestant will have a maximum of two minutes to present a skit, song, music, etc. for audience appeal and People's Choice Award. This award goes to the contestant who garners the most audience reaction with applause, etc. This presentation will NOT be used by the judges to determine a winner. Up to three persons may assist in the presentation on stage and three off stage.
• The presentations may engage the audience. Music must be given to staff before contest or at "Sally Break" and must be cued up and ready to start. Lights may not be dimmed during performance.
• Smoke, confetti, streamers or explosive items are strictly prohibited as they may set off alarms, or incur cleaning charges. If in doubt, call Adam Lohr at Barkleigh Productions, Inc. for clearance.

Barkleigh Rules
Seasonal and holiday themes may not be used on the cover of the magazine, due to difficulty in timing the placement of the photo on the cover (Example: A Christmas theme may work in December, but the magazine cover may not be produced until May, at which time the photo would be deemed unsuitable for the cover). Judging of such themes will not be affected, nor would the creation be judged any better or worse than any other theme. The photo would be included inside magazine coverage of the show.