AL:
What Is Grooming?
Grooming is the general term given to all aspects of coat and skin care required by animals and, in this instance, dogs. Some need more maintenance than others however, every dog requires grooming on some level as it is a necessary part of dog care.
Grooming can include bathing, brushing, clipping, hand stripping & styling and this all depends on the type of coat your dog has.
The YKC holds two classes in Grooming, the Groom Through class where members are required to show understanding and skill required to remove all dead hair and tangles from the dog’s coat and the Clip/Trim/Strip class which enables members to show their skills in coat removal by stripping, trimming and/or clipping, competitors may use either one or all of the skills in this class.
Can Any Dog Take Part?
Grooming is open to all dogs so your dog does not have to be a pedigree, or pure-bred dog to take part, but it must be registered with the Kennel Club on either the Breed Register or the Activity Register.
How Do I Compete?
Download a list of YKC Grooming Qualifiers, where you will find details of clubs that hold classes which qualify members for the YKC ring at Crufts please ensure you read the YKC Grooming Rules & Regulations before entering a competition.
Class definitions are: Under 12 years, 12-17 years and 18 years and over.
GROOMING RULES
AND REGULATIONS
ELIGIBILITY FOR GROOMING
COMPETITIONS
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• YKC Grooming classes which can qualify members to take part at Crufts are held
throughout the year, these classes can be found at
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• Only dogs of six (6) calendar months of age and over on the day of competition are
eligible for entry into a YKC qualifying Grooming class.
• Dogs entered must be registered at the Kennel Club in accordance with Kennel Club
Regulations for Classification and Registration B. If your dog is a rescue or crossbreed, the
Kennel Club has an Activity Register for dogs that do not qualify for the breed register.
• The first and second placings from each subdivision will qualify for the final at Crufts
provided there are at least three dogs competing in the division. If there are less than three
dogs competing in the division, only one member will qualify. If there are more than five
dogs competing in the division, first to third placings may qualify at the discretion of the Judge.
• Members must be aged 6 years and up to, but not including 25th birthday.
• There are six divisions of the classes, divided by age of member and class definition as
listed below.
Under 12 (Handlers 6 years and up to, but not including 12th birthday) Groom Through
Under 12 (Handlers 6 years and up to, but not including 12th birthday) Clip/Trim/Strip
12 Years and Over (Handlers 12 years and up to, but not including 18th birthday)
Groom Through
12 Years and Over (Handlers 12 years and up to, but not including 18th birthday)
Clip/Trim/Strip
Over 18 years (Handlers 18 years and up to, but not including 25th birthday)
Groom Through
Over 18 years (Handlers 18 years and up to, but not including 25th birthday)
Clip/Trim/Strip
• Two competitors from each subdivision will qualify for the final at Crufts provided there are
at least three dogs competing in the division. If there are less than three dogs competing in
the division, only one member will qualify. If there are more than five dogs competing in
the division, up to three competitors may qualify at the discretion of the Judge.
• No persons shall carry out punitive correction or harsh handling of a dog at any time.
• No substance which alters the natural colour, texture or body of the coat may be present in
the dog’s coat for any purpose at any time during the Show or used before the competition.
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14 | REGULATION BOOKLET 2013
• The use of block chalk is allowed in the preparation of dogs
• Block chalk and talc is allowed should it be necessary prior to competition but the
chalk/talc must be brushed out before exhibition in the show ring.
• The use of powdered chalk is not permitted
• No substance which alters the natural colour of any external part of the dog may be present on
the dog for any purpose at any time during the Show or used before the competition.
• Any other substance (other than water) which may be used in the preparation of a dog
for exhibition must not be allowed to remain in the coat or on any other part of the dog
at the time of exhibition.
• Breaking any of the above rules will result in disqualification from the competition.
• Please note that the YKC office will only accept wins from classes that are
listed on the YKC website. If a show schedules an YKC class which has not
been approved by the YKC Management Team and published on the website,
it will not qualify for Crufts.
• Please note that in order to enter any YKC Crufts qualifying competition
you must be a fully paid up member at the time of entry. If you enter a
Crufts qualifier and you have not previously paid your membership fee then
any award will not count towards qualification for Crufts. Therefore it is
important to renew and maintain YKC membership as current if you wish
to participate in qualifying Crufts competitions.
YKC GROOM THROUGH CLASS
CLASS DEFINITION
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• Handlers must be aged 6 years and up to 24 years of age.
• Show the understanding and skill required to remove all dead hair and tangles from the
dog’s coat. It is acceptable for the competitor to complete a small amount of trimming
to tidy the feet, ears and tail. This will form part of the assessment if completed.
• Basic trimming of feet, ears and tail for the purpose of tidying the coat, this should not be
the main focus of this assessment.
• No dead hair remaining.
• No knots or matts in the coat
• Clean ears, eyes & teeth.
• Nails of a suitable length
• Classes will be judged on the following standards; handling of the dog, cleanliness of ears,
eyes, mouth and other sensitive areas, no loose hair or dirt should remain in the dogs
coat, dog should be bathed prior to the competition with no sign of shampoo or
conditioner remaining in the coat, skin should be healthy and claws should be short.
REGULATION BOOKLET 2013 | 15
• If the competitor is deemed to be completing work beyond the Groom Through class
they will either be asked to move to the Clip/Trim/Strip class or to reduce the work
according to the class.
• Competitors may be disqualified at the judges discretion if the dog is harmed
(deliberately or accidently) during the competition.
YKC CLIP/TRIM AND STRIP CLASS
CLASS DEFINITION
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• Handlers must be aged 6 years and up to 24 years of age.
• Show skills in coat removal by stripping, trimming and/or clipping the coat. Competitors
may use either one or all of these skills in this class.
• The handler will be judged on the ability they have shown with any grooming skills they
have used to remove the coat.
• The coat should be even in length for trimmed and clipped coats.
• Stripped coats should lie flat and give a smart appearance.
• Clean ears, eyes & teeth.
• Nails of a suitable length
• Classes will be judged on the following standards; handling of the dog, cleanliness of ears,
eyes, mouth and other sensitive areas, no loose hair or dirt should remain in the dogs
coat, dog should be bathed prior to the competition with no sign of shampoo or
conditioner remaining in the coat, skin should be healthy and claws should be short.
• If the competitor is deemed to be completing work below the Clip/Trim & Strip class
they will either be asked to move to the Groom through class or to increase the work
according to the class.
• Competitors may be disqualified at the judges discretion if the dog is harmed
(deliberately or accidently) during the competition.
YKC CRUFTS FINALS
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• All competing dogs must be aged eight calendar months or over on day of competition.
• Handlers are placed into the age group in accordance with their age on the first day of
Crufts and not at the qualifier.
• The breed of dog qualified for the competition must be the breed groomed in the final.
• Handlers who are aged 25 years by the first day of Crufts are not eligible to be a YKC
member and therefore cannot compete
• Dogs cannot be swapped or transferred after the closing date of entries
Hope this will be enough info for you
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