PARTICIPATION CONDITIONS

ISTANBUL GROOMING SHOW (POWERED BY PETZOO) OFFICIAL COMPETITION SPECIFICATIONS AND RULES

Date: October 9, 2026 Session 1: 11:00 AM | Session 2: 02:00 PM Application: www.petzoogroomingshow.com / www.istanbulgroomingshow.com Application Deadline: September 20, 2026

• Participation in the competition is free of charge.

• Our competition rules, which comply with international standards, are fair, and prioritize animal welfare, are listed below.

1. Participation, Eligibility, and Health Requirements

• Age and Participation Restrictions: Minors under 18 cannot participate. Employees of the organizing company and their first-degree relatives are prohibited from participating. The organizer has the authority to evaluate applications and make the final selection of competitors.

• Accepted Breeds: Poodle, Bichon Frise, Pomeranian, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Maltese Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier, Afghan Hound.

• Experience Requirement: No prior experience is required. Pet groomers with at least 2 years of active experience in the profession will be accepted into the “experienced (master/open class)” category.

• Health Card and Vaccination: Dogs participating in the competition must have a rabies vaccination recorded in their health card within the last 1 year. The competitor must keep the dog’s passport/health card with them throughout the competition and present it to the organizer or judges upon request.

• Microchip: All dogs brought to the competition area must have a microchip.

2. Prizes and Payment Conditions

• Placement Prizes: The 1st place winner will receive 40,000 TL, 2nd place 20,000 TL, and 3rd place 10,000 TL.

• Bank and Account Requirement: Prize payments will only be made to Turkish Lira (TL) accounts located in Turkey. Foreign competitors must open a TL account in Turkey prior to the competition and share this IBAN information in full on the application form. Competitors without a TL account may request the transfer to be made to the account of a relative in Turkey.

3. Area, Equipment, and Dress Code Rules

• Provided by the Organizer: The organizer will provide each competitor with one grooming table and an electrical connection with a 3-socket extension.

• Provided by the Competitor: All scissors, clippers, combs, and cosmetic materials will be provided by the competitor. Competitors may bring their own spare clippers or charging units.

• Electricity Usage: Only grooming devices and chargers can be connected to the electrical outlets provided by the organizer.

• Assistant Ban: Competitors are prohibited from having an assistant with them. All procedures must be performed solely by the competitor.

• Apron Requirement: It is mandatory to wear the special apron provided by the organizer to the competitors. This apron cannot be removed at any time during the competition.

• Table Layout: Judges will continuously walk between the tables while evaluating. Therefore, grooming materials, bags, and dog strollers must be properly placed so as not to narrow the area or create clutter.

4. Dog Preparation and Coat Condition

• Coat Length: The dog’s coat must be long enough to create an obvious difference (wow effect) after grooming, reflecting at least 6-8 weeks of growth.

• Pre-Preparation (Washing and Drying): Dogs participating in the competition must be brought to the area 100% washed, professionally blow-dried, and completely clean.

• Matting and Tangle Rule: There must absolutely be no matting or tangles in the dog’s coat. The competition time is for scissor and styling shows, not for dematting.

• Pre-styling Ban: No lines, patterns, or forms must have been predetermined on the dog with scissors or clippers prior to the competition. Dogs whose grooming has already been initiated will be disqualified in the arena.

5. Animal Welfare, Safety, and Responsibilities

• First Aid Knowledge: By participating in the competition, every competitor acknowledges having basic human and veterinary first aid knowledge.

• Environment Conditions: Since the competition area will have a show concept, the ambient noise and light levels will be high. Competitors are responsible for ensuring the dogs they bring are psychologically resilient to this environment.

• Stress and Hardship Situations: When dogs are extremely uncomfortable with being groomed, become aggressive, or struggle, rather than an immediate disqualification, the judge may, at their discretion, grant a “mandatory break” to the competitor. The duration of this break is entirely at the judge’s discretion. If the dog continues to struggle after the break, the competitor may be disqualified or a second mandatory break may be applied, again at the judge’s discretion.

• Treatment of the Dog: If it is determined by the judges that the competitor has made harsh, impatient, or inappropriate physical/verbal interventions towards the dog, the competitor will be disqualified without warning.

• Injuries and Responsibility: Any scratches, cuts, bleeding, or clipper burns occurring on the dog due to the use of scissors, clippers, or combs during the competition time are grounds for unconditional disqualification. The competitor is personally responsible for any physical harm they may cause to their dog arising from the grooming process.

• Veterinary Intervention: A veterinary technician provided by the organizer will be present in the area. In an emergency requiring first aid, intervention will be made with the owner’s permission. However, since it involves health, the competitor is entirely responsible for the possible consequences of this intervention.

• Needs and Breaks: Giving treats or canned food to dogs on the table is prohibited due to the risk of choking. The competition duration will run on a 50 Minutes Grooming + 10 Minutes Mandatory Break + 50 Minutes Grooming schedule. During the 10-minute mandatory break, dogs will be taken off the table and allowed to stretch their legs. Additionally, competitors can rest their dogs on the grooming table without prior permission during their 50-minute active grooming periods.

6. Competition Procedure, Media, and Ethical Rules

• Recording and Broadcasting Rights: Throughout the competition, photographs, video, and audio recordings of the competitor and the grooming model (dog) will be taken by the organization team. These images and sounds can be used in digital and print media, on national and international channels for promotional purposes without any claim to rights.

• Communication and Dialogue Bans:

  • Talking to or communicating with the audience during the competition is prohibited.

  • Arguing with other competitors or helping/interfering with their grooming is prohibited.

  • (Only the sharing of grooming tools or devices among competitors themselves is permitted.)

• Device Usage: The use of mobile phones, smartwatches, or electronic devices is not allowed during the competition.

• Style and Duration: Grooming styles are entirely freestyle and at the discretion of the competitor. Colored chalk powder and spray may be used cosmetically, but no lines or patterns should be visible. The competition time will be applied as 50 Minutes Grooming + 10 Minutes Mandatory Break + 50 Minutes Grooming.

7. Jury and Evaluation System

• The jury committee will elect a head judge (president) from among themselves.

• Table Layout and Comb: To allow the jury to instantly check the coat during the competition, a professional comb must constantly be kept on the table.

• Conflict of Interest (2+1 System): If a competitor is sponsored by a specific brand or works within a brand, that competitor will not be voted on by a jury member representing the same brand.

• Final Decision and Ties: The decisions of the jury panel are binding and final; they cannot be appealed. In the event of a tie in scoring, the organizer has the authority to cast a vote to make the final decision.

• The organizer has the authority to change the date of or cancel the competition.

• In case of disputes, the decisions of the organizer/official are binding.

By submitting their application, every competitor is deemed to have read, understood, and fully accepted all the rules stated above.