Abstract Design

Saturday, March 14, 2026 • 1:00 pm–4:00 pm • Hall B Grooming Stage

1:00 PM: Ring Opens / Check-in
1:15 PM: Pre-Judging Begins
1:30 PM: Ring Closes
1:45 PM: Contest Begins
3:15 PM: Contest Ends/Final Judging
3:45 PM: Awards

Special Note: Electricity will NOT be provided in the contest ring. You must supply your own cordless clippers where applicable.

Divisions: Open to all competitors at any level. All competitors will compete in a single division.

The Abstract Design Challenge is intended to highlight the beauty of an “abstract design”, beautifully sculpted with minimal accessories and minimal color (no more than 10% of color may be added during the contest time frame). Judges are looking for stunning sculpting quality and artistry appropriate for a client’s pet. Design should be reproducible in one day in a salon setting.

The pet’s coat is the blank canvas for the artistic design and should be groomed in advance with no trace of preset design or sculpted pattern.

• Any purebred or mixed-breed dog or cat with any coat type may be used.
• Design or sculpted pattern must be entirely created during the competition time frame.
• There should be no trace of a preset design or sculpted pattern in the coat before the contest starts.
• Competitors will have 1 hour and 30 minutes to sculpt the design into a pre-groomed/prepared coat.
• Competitors with cats may have one assistant to help hold the cat in the contest ring during the design sculpting.
• Entries are open to all levels of competitors.
• The judging emphasis is design placement, execution, precision, artistry and overall balance and appeal.
• If color is used on your entry, the color will not be considered in judging.
• Visual or written instructions are prohibited in the contest ring.

Prize Money: