Groom Team Canada 2025 Competition Rule Updates

Groom Team Canada is thrilled to announce the new rules for Entry and Intermediate divisions in grooming competitions, effective 2025!

We are excited that most show promoters in Canada and the USA are adopting this model, but we encourage competitors to check each shows website for specific guidelines, as individual shows maintain authority over their own rules.

Please note that Groom Team Canada officially governs rules for the Open Division, but we are highly supportive of these updates for Entry and Intermediate divisions, designed to foster growth and development in our grooming industry.


Updated Division Qualifiers for 2025

Entry(Novice) level to Intermediate Division:

  • Four 1st placements to advance to the Intermediate Division (with a minimum of four contestants in each class for the win to qualify.)

Intermediate to Open Division:

  • Three "Best in Show" or "Best All Around Groomer" titles from the Intermediate Division.
  • Six 1st placements from the Intermediate Division (with a minimum of four contestants entered and judged in the class for the win to qualify.)
  • Four group placements from tiered shows.

We hope these changes will enhance your grooming competition experience and inspire more growth and camaraderie in our vibrant community.


General Rules: Canadian Grooming Competitions

These are the suggested rules for Canadian Grooming Competitions

Groom Team Sanctioned Classes

Show Structure, divisions and awards

Structure:

Multi-Division Competition - Open, Intermediate and Entry (Novice) Divisions compete separately for the titles of first, second and third in their respective division classes.

Competition Level Division

Open: Open to all competitors. Recommended for groomers with advanced styling skills, previous successful competition experience and professional conformation show exhibitors with expert styling skills.

Intermediate: Restricted to competitors who have not won 3 Best in Show or 3 Best All Around Groomer titles from the Intermediate division or six 1st placements from the Intermediate division at any show (with a minimum of four contestants entered and judged in the class for the win to qualify). Recommended for groomers with Intermediate styling skills or conformation show ring exhibitors (Have groomed and handled a breed to champion).

Entry (Novice): Restricted to competitors who have not won four 1st placements from the entry division at any show (with a minimum of four contestants entered and judged in the class for the win to qualify).  Recommended for groomers who have never competed before and/or possess novice-grooming skills.  Handlers, conformation show exhibitors, and grooming instructors are not permitted to compete in the Entry (Novice) division.  This does not apply to new handlers who have not handled a breed to championship.

Groom Team Canada Points

Class placement points (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) will only be awarded to Open Competitors. Groom Team Points are only awarded to Open Division for the following classes, Poodle, Terrier(hand stripped), Sporting and Purebred. Placements from each class will be placed in their own category (i.e.: Poodle points into the Poodle category). Shows that are not able to host at least one full class of Open division competitors (2 or more) will not be eligible for Groom Team Canada Points.  Mixed Breed will no longer count for Groom Team points.

Awards
All divisions are judged simultaneously. The placements (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) are awarded in each division. Only Open Division receives points.

Best In Show
Best in Show will be chosen from all First Place winners. Best in Show will not qualify for Groom Team Points.

Best All Around Groomer
Best All Around Groomer will be chosen from all 3 divisions as established by the placements. In order to be eligible for Best All Around Groomer award, the contestant must enter a minimum of three sanctioned classes.  Specialty classes are not included. Best All Around does not qualify for Groom Team Points.

1st place = 3 points
2nd place = 2 points
3rd place = 1 point

1st tie breaker = highest number of placements
2nd tie breaker = highest number of entries defeated
If an exact tie still exists, the prize will be divided.