PARTICIPATION CONDITIONS

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

Date: October 9, 2026

Session: 11:00 AM (Participants must be ready at least 30 minutes in advance.)

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 center on animal welfare, are listed below.

1. Participation, Eligibility, and Health Requirements

• Age and Participation Restrictions: Individuals under the age of 18 cannot participate in the competition. It is forbidden for the organizer company personnel or their first-degree relatives to participate. The organizer has the authority to evaluate applications and make the final determination of the competitors.

• Accepted Breeds: Poodle, Pomeranian Spitz, Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier, Biewer Yorkshire Terrier, Shih Tzu.

• Experience Requirement: No specific experience is required. Groomers who have been actively working in the pet grooming profession for at least 2 years will be admitted to the competition in the “experienced (master/open class)” status.

• Health Booklet and Vaccination: The health booklet of the dogs participating in the competition must show a rabies vaccination administered within the last 1 year. The competitor must keep the dog’s passport/health booklet with them throughout the competition and present it to the veterinarian, organizer, or judges upon request.

• Microchip: All dogs brought to the competition area must be microchipped.

2. Prizes and Payment Terms

• Placement Prizes: The 1st place competitor will be awarded 25,000 TL, the 2nd place competitor 15,000 TL, and the 3rd place competitor 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 provide this IBAN information in full on the application form. Competitors who do not have a TL account may request a transfer to the account of a relative residing 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 must be supplied by the competitor. Competitors may bring their own spare clippers or charging units.

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

• Assistant Prohibition: Competitors are forbidden from having assistants with them. All procedures must be performed solely by the competitor.

• Table Arrangement: The judge(s) will constantly walk between the tables while evaluating. Therefore, grooming equipment, bags, and dog strollers must be positioned neatly so as not to narrow the area or create clutter.

4. Preparation of Dogs and Coat Condition

• Coat Length: The dog’s coat must be long enough to create a clear difference after cutting and must have at least 6-8 weeks of growth.

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

• Matting and Knot Rule: There must absolutely be no mats or knots in the dog’s coat. The competition time is for the scissor and styling show, not for dematting.

• Prohibition on Pre-lining: No lines, patterns, or forms should be predetermined on the dog using scissors or clippers prior to the competition. Dogs whose grooming has been started in advance will be disqualified in the arena.

5. Animal Welfare, Safety, and Responsibilities

• First Aid Knowledge: By participating in the competition, every competitor agrees that they possess basic human and veterinary first aid knowledge.

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

• Stress and Strain Situations: In cases where a dog becomes overly uncomfortable, aggressive, or strained by being groomed, instead of an immediate disqualification decision, the judge may grant the competitor a “mandatory break” if deemed appropriate. The duration of this break is entirely at the judge’s discretion. If the dog continues to struggle after the break, again at the judge’s discretion, the competitor may be disqualified or a second mandatory break may be applied.

• Treatment of the Dog: If the judges determine that a competitor has made a harsh, impatient, or inappropriate physical/verbal intervention toward the dog, the competitor will be disqualified without warning.

• Injuries and Responsibility: Even the slightest scratch, cut, bleeding, or clipper burn on the dog due to the use of scissors, clippers, or combs during the competition is grounds for unconditional disqualification. The competitor is personally responsible for any physical damage 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 performed with the owner’s permission. However, since health is involved, the competitor is solely responsible for any possible consequences of this intervention.

6. Competition Operation, Media, and Ethical Rules

• Recording and Broadcasting Rights: Throughout the competition, photos, video, and audio recordings of the competitor and the grooming model (the dog) will be taken by the organization team. These images and sounds may be used in digital and printed media, and on national and international channels for promotional purposes without any claim to rights. Photos and videos of the competitor and the dog they enter the competition with may be used as promotional material in any media without prior permission.

• Communication and Dialogue Prohibitions:

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

  • Arguing with other competitors or assisting/intervening in their grooming is prohibited. The judge’s decision is final and includes the right to disqualify.

  • (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 permitted during the competition.

7. Jury and Evaluation System

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

• Table Arrangement and Comb: A professional comb must be kept on the table at all times during the competition so that the jury can perform instant coat checks.

• Conflict of Interest: A competitor candidate cannot participate in the competition under the umbrella of a brand that produces, sells, or supplies grooming materials. Any competitor identified as an employee/representative of a brand providing services in this field will be instantly disqualified. If this is discovered after the competition, the prizes will be returned, and legal action will be taken.

• Final Decision and Tie: The decisions of the jury committee 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.