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Onsite Contest Classes

and Time Frame

Individual and Team

IJA Groom Bowl

Pure Breed Competition Class

Free Style Competition Class

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Class: Sporting Coat Types 

This class includes pure breeds with sporting and specific breeds with medium long coat types. Examples of breeds that are included in this class are the Irish Setter, Springer Spaniel, and Cocker Spaniel. To confirm class reference IJA Pure Breeds, Time Frames, and Classes.

 

Coat Types:

  • Sporting

  • Sporting Saddle

  • Medium Long

 

Exceptions to the Rule

Breeds may be placed in different classes due to technical skills and trim style.

 

Excluded from this Coat Class Category and moved to another Class Category

N/A

 

Included in this Coat Class Category from another Class Category

  • Cocker Spaniel - moved from sporting saddle coat type class category.

  • Flat-Coated Retriever - moved from medium-long coat type class category.

  • Golden Retriever - moved from medium-long coat type class category.

  • Nova Scotia Duck Trolling Retriever - moved from medium-long coat type class category.

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Time Frame

Time frame to groom and style the competition dog is determined by the individual breed for this class category.

 

Class: Wire Coat Types

This class includes all pure breeds with broken, scruffy, or tight wire coat types that require hand stripping techniques for the show trim and clipping techniques for the alternative technique for pet trims. Examples of breeds that are included in this class are the West Highland White Terrier, Wire Haired Dachshund, and the Irish Wolfhound. To confirm class reference IJA Pure Breeds, Time Frames, and Classes.

 

Coat Types:

  • Tight Wire

  • Scruffy Wire

  • Broken

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Exceptions to the Rule

Breeds may be placed in different classes due to technical skills and trim style.

 

Excluded from this Coat Class Category and moved to another Class Category

  • Black Russian Terrier - moved to the curly-coated class category.

  • Bouvier des Flandres - moved to the curly-coated class category.

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Included in this Coat Class Category from another Class Category

  • Smooth Fox - moved from the smooth coat type category.

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Time Frame

Time frame to groom and style the competition dog is determined by the individual breed for this class category.

 

Class: Curly Coat Types

This class includes all pure breeds with curly coat types, except for the Poodle, that requires scissoring the coat to create the proper expression and profile. Examples of breeds included in this class are the Bichon Frise, Portuguese Water Dog, Irish Water Spaniel, and the Kerry Blue Terrier.

 

To confirm class reference IJA Pure Breeds, Time Frames, and Classes.

 

Exceptions to the Rule

Breeds may be placed in different classes due to technical skills and trim style.

 

Excluded from this Coat Class Category and moved to another Class Category

  • Havanese - moved to a multitude of coat types.

  • Pyrenean Shepherd - moved to a multitude of coat types.

  • Puli - moved to a multitude of coat types.

  • Komondor - moved to a multitude of coat types.

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Included in this Coat Class Category from another Class Category

  • Black Russian Terrier - moved from the wire coated class category.

  • Bouvier des Flandres - moved from the wire coated class category.

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Time Frame Determined by Height of Dog

16 inches and under 1:45 Hours   

Over 16 inches up to 20 inches - 2:00 Hours

Over 20 inches up to 23 inches - 2:15 Hours

Over 23 inches - 2:30 Hours

 

Class: Multitude of Coat Types

This class includes all pure breeds with a multitude of coat types not included in the wire, sporting, and curly coat type class categories. This class category is perfect for the novice to start competitions. Breeds must be styled in a trim exhibited in the conformation ring. For example, a Pomeranian in a show trim is permitted, but a Pomeranian in a lion trim is not permitted. This trim style is permitted in the Free Style Class. To confirm class reference IJA Pure Breeds, Time Frames, and Classes.

 

Short Coat Types

  • Smooth Coat Types

  • Medium Smooth Coat Types

  • Medium Long Coat Types

  • Nordic Coat Types

  • Nordic Rough Coat Types

  • Rough Coat Types

  • Drop Coat Types (Hairless)

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Exceptions to the Rule

Breeds may be placed in different classes due to technical skills and trim style.

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Excluded from this Coat Class Category and moved to another Class Category

  • Flat-Coated Retriever - moved to sporting coat type class category.

  • Golden Retriever - moved to the sporting coat type class category.

  • Nova Scotia Duck Trolling Retriever - moved to sporting coat type class category.

  • Smooth Fox Terrier - moved to the wire coat type class category.

 

Included in this Coat Class Category from another Class Category

  • Havanese - moved from the curly coat type class category.

  • Pyrenean Shepherd - moved from the curly coat type class category.

  • Puli - moved from the curly coat type class category.

  • Komondor - moved from the curly coat type class category.

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Class: Poodle

This class is designed for Toy, Miniature, and Standard Poodles. All Poodle trim styles are permitted. Poodles with a scissored face, such as a teddy bear face, are not permitted and must compete in the Free Style Class.

 

  • Face

The face must be clipped short. Cheeks and throat areas must be clipped short. Mustache and beard are permitted. No scissored faces.

  • Topknot

Scissored or banded topknots are permitted. Tie up must be created during the competition.

  • Feet

Clipped feet are permitted. Scissored feet are permitted.

  • Corded Coat

Poodles in a corded coat are permitted in this class.

 

Exceptions to the Rule

N/A

 

Excluded from this Class Category and moved to another Class Category

  • Poodles with a scissored face are placed in Free Style Class.

  • Included in this Class Category from another Class Category

  • No other pure breed is permitted in this class.

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Time Frame

Time Frame is determined by Height of Dog

16 inches and under                            1:45 Hours   (Feet and face clipped before the competition)

16 inches and under                            2:00 Hours  (Feet and face clipped during the competition)

Over 16 inches up to 20 inches         2:00 Hours   (Feet and face clipped before the competition)

Over 16 inches up to 20 inches         2:15 Hours   (Feet and face clipped during the competition)

Over 20 inches up to 23 inches         2:15 Hours   (Feet and face clipped before the competition)

Over 20 inches up to 23 inches         2:30 Hours   (Feet and face clipped during the competition)

Over 23 inches                                     2:30 Hours   (Feet and face clipped before the competition)

Over 23 inches                                     2:45 Hours   (Feet and face clipped during the Competition)

 

Class: Free Style

This class is all about styling pure breeds in pet trim styles, pure breeds to look like other pure breeds, mixed breeds to look like pure breeds, or using a combination of trim style components to create a unique trim style. All mixed and pure breeds are allowed, so let your creativity run wild.

 

Exceptions to the Rule

All dogs must be styled in a pet trim or free style trim. Asian trim styles are included in this class.

 

Excluded from this Class Category and moved to another Class Category

Pure breed groomed in his/her conformation trim style.

 

Included in this Class Category from another Class Category

  • Pure breeds groomed in pet trims, for example, Pomeranian in a lion trim.

  • Pure breeds groomed to appear like another pure breed. For example, Poodle styled in Bedlington Trim.

  • Mixed breeds groomed to appear like a pure breed.

  • Asian type trim styles.

 

Time Frame Determined by Height of Dog

16 inches and under                           1:45 Hours   

Over 16 inches up to 20 inches         2:00 Hours

Over 20 inches up to 23 inches         2:15 Hours

Over 23 inches                                     2:30 Hours

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*For shows with less than 50 entries, if the number of entries in a pure breed class is less than 10 for Level, Level 2, and Level 3, all levels will be judged together, and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd placements awarded to the class. 1st place winner will be a finalist for best in the show.  

More Info

 

Class: Rescue Me Competition

Rescue Me Competitions are all about bathing, drying, and finishing rescue dogs to help them find homes! All rescue with all coat types and all sizes. Classes are divided by coat type and technical skill requirements. Time frames to complete Weight, height, and temperament are also considerations. Listed below are the 3 coat type categories and the approximate dog.

 

The exception to the Rule:

Coat types may be placed in a different category due to length, weight, temperament, and condition.

 

Competitors Judged in Rescue Dog Class Category

Because of the types of rescue dogs available at a show, the competitor is judged in the class category, the rescue dogs are placed. For example, if a competitor registers for Stacked & Styled and several of the rescue dogs in this category cancels, the competitor will be asked to draw from Furry & Fabulous or Short & Sassy.

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Short & Sassy

Class Category for the Short, Smooth, Medium Smooth and Nordic Coat Type Rescue Dogs

Designed for Bathers and junior groomers

  • 16 inches and under Competition Dogs (1 Hour)

  • Over 16 inches up to 20 inches Competition Dogs(1 Hour)

  • Over 20 inches up to 23 inches Competition Dogs (1 Hour 30 Minutes)

  • Over 23 inches Competition Dogs (1 Hour 30 Minutes)

 

Furry & Fabulous

Class Category for the Medium Long, Rough Nordic, Rough Coat and Long and Flowing Coat (Trimmed)

Designed for Groomers and intermediate competitors

  • 16 inches and under Competition Dogs (1 Hour 30 Minutes)

  • Over 16 inches up to 20 inches Competition Dogs (2 Hours)

  • Over 20 inches up to 23 inches Competition Dogs (2 Hours 30 Minutes)

  • Over 23 inches Competition Dogs (3 Hours)

 

Stacked & Styled

Class Category for the Wire, Curly and Long and Flowing Coat Type (Styled) Rescue Dogs

Designed for Stylists and experienced competitors

  • 16 inches and under Competition Dogs (2 Hours)

  • Over 16 inches up to 20 inches Competition Dogs (2 Hours)

  • Over 20 inches up to 23 inches Competition Dogs (2 Hours 30 Minutes)

  • Over 23 inches Competition Dogs (3 Hours)​

*For shows with less than 50 entries, if the number of entries in a class is less than 10 for Rescue Me Class, the Short and Sassy, Furry and Fabulous, and Stacked and Styled will be judged together and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd placements awarded to the class. 1st place winner will be a finalist for best in the show.  

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Creative Competition Classes - Live Dogs

The purpose of creative styling competitions is to give competitors the opportunity to let their creativity run wild and take a walk on the wild side rather than the conservative side. Different classes for all levels of expertise are offered to encourage bathers, groomers, and stylists to participate. From expert to new, these competitions are definitely for you! Creative styling classes are open to all purebred and mixed breed dogs.

 

Time Frames Established by Coat Types and Size

To offer the ultimate arena when it comes to fairness in the ring, different time frames are allowed for coat type and size of the dog. Why? Because specific coat types are more challenging than others to sculpt, color and decorate, and the larger the dog, the more time required to achieve an overall finished creation.

 

Classes for Everyone

Many creative artists love to perform in front of a crowd and are fabulous entertainers, while others prefer to create their masterpiece behind the scenes and then present to the judging panel. To create a class for all creative artists, IJA offers 2 different types of competitions.

 

Creative Creations Created IN THE RING

Competitors complete 50% during competition. The higher the percentage completed in the ring, the higher the difficulty.

 

Creative Creations Created OUT OF RING

The competitor completes 100% out of the ring. This can be a team presentation, or an individual competitor can present the dog.

 

5 Categories in Creative

3 of the 5 creative categories are about technical skills applied to competition dogs, and 2 of the 5 categories are about creating backdrop with costumes and performing a skit, dance, or reciting a poem. Separating what the competitor creates on the competition dog from what the competitor creates for backdrops, costumes, and skits allow for a more fair competition arena.

 

3 Technical Categories - Option 1

  1. Coat Design

  2. Coat Color

  3. Coat Decoration

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2 Staging and Performance Categories - Option 2

  1. Stage and Present to the Audience and the Judges

  2. Skit, Song or Dance and Perform to the Audience and the Judges

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How to Receive Maximum Points

Competitors must choose Option 1 or Option 2 in the competition. The competitor must complete all requirements to receive maximum points.

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*For shows with less than 50 entries, if the number of entries in a creative class is less than 10 for In the Ring and Out of Ring, all levels will be judged together, and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd placements awarded to the class. 1st place winner will be a finalist for best in the show.

 

Model Dog Creative Competition Classes

Creative Creations Created IN the Ring

Competition classes on model dogs in the creative classes will feature an array of categories to allow creative competitors to let their imagination run wild. Class categories will offer absolutely abstract, exotic animal images, beautiful flowers,  colorful butterflies, and of course, the birds and the bees.

 

Classes

  1. Absolutely Abstract - Lines and Shapes

  2. Animal Instincts - Real and Imaginary

  3. Gorgeous Glittery Gardens - Flowers, Birds, Butterflies, and Bees

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Model Dog Pure Breed Competition Classes

Competition classes using the Model Dogs will be grouped together more by trim style rather than coat type. Classes will feature the Poodle, Short Legged Terriers, Long Legged Terriers, Sporting Breeds, and All Other Pure Breeds such as the Pomeranian and the Shih Tzu. 

 

​To find out more about the World Championship Model Dog Classes, reference Model Dog Rules. To find out more about National Model Dog Competitions, reference National Model Dog Competition Rules. 

 

Confirmation Trim Styles

  1. Continental

  2. English Saddle

  3. Puppy 1 (FCI)

  4. Puppy 2 - Scandinavian (FCI)

  5. Puppy (AKC)

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​Oldies but Goodies Banded Trim Styles 

  1. Desi

  2. Town & Country

  3. Sweetheart

  4. Spiral

  5. Dutch

Accent color and decorative objects are permitted to enhance trim style. Excessive color and decorative objects are prohibited reserved for the creative class.

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Competition Times

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