Contest Registration
Only entries submitted through the online show registration site will be accepted. Registration is not complete until payment is made in full. There are no refunds after the contest registration deadline of February 20, 2026. Entry fees will not be refunded if a contestant is late, absent, disqualified, or excused by the Judge or show management. Contestants under 18 years old may compete, but must have an adult parent or guardian sign and submit a waiver. Send all waiver requests to Janelle@wpamail.org.
Show Entrance
All registered competitors will receive free access to the trade show floor. Competitor assistants must be registered to attend the show and be badged at all times. Competitors and assistants will be given colored ribbons to attach to the badges that will grant them 24-hour access to the bathing and holding areas, as well as early entry to the contest ring before the trade show floor opens.
Special Note
Electricity will not be provided inside the contest ring. Your equipment must be cordless and fully charged before entering the contest ring.
Contest Ring Opening Time
For all contests, the ring will open at least 15 minutes before prejudging begins. All contestants must be present for prejudging, or they will not be permitted to compete. Check the contest schedule for times.
Competition Dog Qualifications
Dogs must be current on vaccinations as required by law, age appropriate for competition, (recommendation is between the ages of 1 and 10 years), appear healthy and in good physical condition, free of disease, open wounds, injuries and parasites, must not show obvious signs of pregnancy or nursing, must not show signs of aggression or viciousness, must be leashed when not crated or not being groomed and must never be left unattended. Animal Safety & Handling Standards must be followed at all times.
Six weeks or more of coat growth is recommended; however, as some dogs grow coat more quickly than others, adequate coat growth is defined as enough coat to make a distinct change in the dog’s appearance. Rolled or rotated coats are permitted in the hand-stripped breeds, but must be adequate to make a distinct change in the dog’s appearance.
Contest Dog Preparation
Before the competition starts, the dog’s coat should be clean, dry and free of mats and tangles. The nails should be clipped and/or filed, the ears should be clean and the sanitary area and foot pads may be trimmed. Coloring, other than to enhance the natural color of the coat is prohibited; only non‐toxic colors and products may be used.
Product Application
Chalk may be applied before or during the completion time to aid in hand stripping or enhance coat color. It should be used sparingly and should not rub off on the judge’s hands. It is prohibited to apply any products once the contest’s finish time is called. Hair sprays, finishing sprays, and gels may be applied during the competition time frame. Once the contest finish time is called, sprays are limited to minor application. Re‐shaping, such as the marcelled Kerry Blue coat or spray‐up of the show Poodle headpiece is prohibited. Competitors should only use non-toxic materials on their dogs. If permitted by individual contest rules, hair extensions of the same coat color as the dog may be applied before the competition starts. Decorative objects such as bows and scarves are prohibited unless otherwise stated in individual contest rules.
Check-in and Pre‐Judging
- Please arrive at the contest ring at the posted ‘ring opens’ time. If the contest ring is ready, competitors will be allowed into the ring earlier than the posted time.
- Your table will be pre-assigned in the ring, and a colored tag with your name and contestant number will hang on your table. Staff will be there to assist you in finding your assigned table.
- As soon as you arrive at your assigned table, please set up your table with your tools and equipment. The pre-judging process will begin 15 minutes after the ring opens.
- Before the contest starts and during the pre-judging process, Judges will evaluate all dogs to confirm the following:
- The dog is entered in the correct class
- The correct time frame by size, breed, or technique
- The groomer is entered in the correct division
- There is sufficient coat growth to be able to present a distinct difference in the appearance of the dog
- That the dog has been properly prepped (bathed, bushed, etc.) for the competition, and the suitability of the dog for competition.
- Judges will make a notation of specific information supplied by the contestant, such as missing coat, ear infections, scars, warts, healing injuries, etc.
- The contest ring will close 15 minutes before each contest starts. If you have not been pre-judged before the contest ring closes, you will not be allowed to compete.
- Assistants are not allowed in the contest ring once the pre-judging process has started. The role of an assistant is to help carry equipment and handle dogs for the contestant.
Competition Start
Once the contest start time is announced, you will groom your dog for the correct time you are allotted. There will not be any breaks during the contest.
Competition End
Once the contest ends, contestants should clear the table of hair, tools and equipment, and place a comb on the table, and stack their dog to present to the judge. Contestants may comb their dogs after the competition time ends, before and after final judging.
Final Judging will evaluate the following:
- Overall uniformity of the trim
- Balance, symmetry and style of the trim
- Purebred: adherence to correct breed profile
- Freestyle: the ability of the groomer to create the best possible profile according to body type, conformation and coat.
- Scissoring: plush appearance without scissor marks
- Hand stripping and carding: smooth natural appearance and proper technique
- Clipper lines should be clean and free of irritation
- Edges such as cocker and poodle feet should show neat and tidy bevels.
- Difficulty regarding the amount of coat removed, pattern created or followed, coat type, texture, quality and quantity.
- Camouflaging conformation faults and accentuating profile attributes.
Competitor Dress Code and Conduct
Attire in the contest ring should be professional for both men and women. Shoes (preferably with non-skid soles) must be worn. Appropriate grooming attire and shoes should be worn at all times, (low-cut shirts or pants, tight shorts or very short skirts and flip flops are considered inappropriate). A grooming smock is recommended to be worn during competition. A contestant’s attire that management determines to be inappropriate will not be permitted to compete. Consider the dog’s color when choosing attire. Professional manner, attitude and good sportsmanship must be practiced at all times. These attributes are displayed when a competitor respects fellow competitors, judges, and the contest dogs. Professional conduct is also carried into the care of the dogs, and respect for hotel, grounds, rooms and property.
Application of Professional Skills
Contestants must maintain a safe styling station at all times, (open scissors left on the table for the dog to step on is an example of an unsafe styling station), practice safe handling techniques at all times, and apply technical skills with safety. Nicks, cuts and clipper burns are considered unsafe technical skill application.
Strictly Prohibited in Contest Ring:
- Cell phones
- Radios
- Headsets
- Headphones
- Ear buds
- Hair dryers
- Flame devices or smoking
- Beverages not in spill proof containers
- Visual or written instructions
- Very large tack boxes
- Kennel crates
- Standing or sitting on tables or standing on chairs
- Coaching by anyone at any time during the competition
Equipment for the contest ring
Tables and grooming arms will be provided. Contestants must provide grooming equipment such as, but not limited to: table risers, scissors, clippers, blades, brushes, combs, grooming loops, products, etc. The contest ring will not have electricity, so please plan to use cordless equipment and make sure it’s fully charged. If you are using chalk products, please cover your table with a towel or mat.
Warnings and Disqualifications
Judges and Show Management will monitor the contestants during the competition to ensure a professional atmosphere is maintained. Warnings may be given and may include: unprofessional image, unprofessional conduct, unsafe skill application, unsafe grooming station, unsafe handling, etc. A second warning may result in dismissal from the class. A third warning may result in dismissal from the show. Failure to follow WPA Animal Safety and Handling Standards will result in competitor disqualification.
Grievances
Immediately notify the grooming director or judge of a grievance and then provide written notice. A grievance form can be found at the staff desk, or ask a judge for a copy. Grievance(s) will not be accepted after the close of the class, except for sportsmanship issues, which must be submitted before the close of the show and while all involved parties are on site.
Access to Bathing Area
The onsite bathing area will have sign-up sheets available to reserve tub times. You must provide a bathing loop and towels or a shammy for drying your dogs in the bathing area. Show management will provide bathing tubs, shampoo, conditioner, tables, dryers, and electricity.
24-hour Dog Holding Area
Dogs are to be kept in the onsite 24-hour Dog Holding Area when not actively being utilized during a competition, an education demonstration, or when they are not using the exercise and potty areas. No soft-sided holding crates or open exercise pens are allowed. All dogs that are housed in the holding area must be in hard-sided or wire crates, and the crates must be large enough for the dogs to stand up and turn around. All dogs must have water inside their crates at all times. All persons housing dogs in the holding area are responsible for the care of the dogs including exercising, feeding, watering and cleaning up.
Dogs allowed at the show
Dogs may only be on convention center property if they are being utilized for a competition, in‐booth demos, or by speakers for specific lectures. Service animals are allowed. Otherwise, no personal pets are allowed. Dogs should never be left unattended in a vehicle unless you are actively unloading/loading them out of or into a vehicle. Dogs left unattended in a vehicle is considered negligent and actions will be taken against the person or persons who are responsible.
All prize winners must complete a W-9 form or international tax forms before payment will be made. If you win multiple awards, you only need to fill out the form once. Please hand your completed W-9 to a staff member by Sunday, March 15 by 4:00 pm. United States and Canada winner checks will be mailed within 30 days of close of show. All checks must be cashed within 90 days of issue or they will be voided. All other international winners will be paid on site at the contest table on Sunday, March 15, after 10:00 am. Anyone not turning in Tax papers before the end of the GROOM’D show on March 15 at 4:00 pm will forfeit their win money. For all international winners, WPA is required to withhold 30% of total prize money.
Show photographer: Before and after contest photos are optional. All winner photos are mandatory and all photos will be taken inside the photo studio near the grooming stage. You may have pictures taken in the studio any time after the awards are completed. You may purchase these pictures from the photographer’s website Animal Photography.com.
As a competitor, I hereby certify that I have read and understood the competition rules and regulations and agree to abide by them. 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.
Show management will determine clarification of any issues that may arise that are not covered by the rules.