2.6    Special Classes

2.6.1    Special classes may be offered at Open Shows, including:

a)    Asian Fusion: Teddy trim with an Asian flair. Some colouring, clothes, and accessories are permitted. Coat carving, such as spirals, wings, love hearts, etc., is also allowed.

b)    Model Dogs: Grooming shall be completed at home and presented for judging on the day of the competition. Asian Fusion dogs may be altered, modified, and minimally coloured. Bows, decorations, and accessories are permitted.

c)    Creative: Dogs may be altered, modified, and coloured. Bows, decorations, and accessories are permitted.

d.    Pure Breed: Dogs may be altered, modified, and coloured to achieve any ANKC-recognized breed standard.

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2.7    Format

2.7.1    The competition format is at the discretion of the Show Organizer. However, the name (title) of the show must include "Open Show" as the judge is either a trainee judge or not fully qualified.

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2.8    Requirements for Open Show Judge

2.8.1    The judge must be an ANKC member for at least 4 years.
2.8.2    The candidate must have a proven interest in grooming dogs.
2.8.3    The Show Organizer shall publish the profile of the judge 3 months before the competition date.

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2.9    Rules & Regulations for Open Show

2.9.1    The Open Show must be conducted in accordance with the judging procedures and competition times stipulated in the Regulations for Dogs Australia National Canine Grooming.

2.9.2    The number of judges for each group is at the discretion of the show organizer, with the possibility of appointing one or more judges.

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2.10    Placements

2.10.1    The competition placements are left to the discretion of the Show Organizer.
2.10.2    The DACGC recommends the following:

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2.11    Group Placements

2.11.1    Level A winners will compete for Best in Group.
2.11.2    Group winners will compete for the Best in Show awards (BIS).

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2.12    Best in Show Placements

2.12.1    The 1st place Best in Group winners will compete for Best in Show 1st.

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2.13    Best in Show for Levels B & C

2.13.1    The Level B 1st place winners from the four main groups will compete for Best in Level B.
2.13.2    The Level C 1st place winners from the four main groups will compete for Best in Level C.

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2.14    Best Freestyle in Show

2.14.1    The 1st place winners from Levels A, B, & C will compete in General Specials for Freestyle in Show.

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2.15    Grooming Expertise Levels

2.15.1    It is recommended to have three levels of grooming expertise in each competition:

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a) Novice/Beginner: A groomer with less than 2 years of experience in grooming. This includes anyone who has used grooming equipment such as clippers, scissors, stripping tools, or other grooming devices. A novice groomer must move up to the open level after gaining 2 years of experience or winning at the novice level against 4 or more competitors. Dog handling, breeding, and showing experience may be considered grooming experience in some breeds.

b) Intermediary: Groomers who have won a novice class or have over 2 years of experience, or a novice who voluntarily chooses this class. An open groomer must move up to the master level after winning at this level against 4 or more competitors.

c) Advanced: A groomer who has more than 4 years of experience grooming

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2.16    One-Day Grooming Competition Schedule

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2.16.1    Morning Session

8:00 AM: Commence Competition
9:00 AM: Toilet Break (10 mins)
10:00 AM - 11:30 PM: Completions and Presentations

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2.16.2    Afternoon Session (Not before 12:30 PM)

12:30 PM: Commence Competition
1:30 PM: Toilet Break (10 mins)
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM: Completions and Presentations
4:00 PM: General Specials and Verbal Critiques
5:00 PM: End of Show

2.17    Additional Guidelines

a) Refer to individual class descriptions for permissible colouring.
c) Any pre-existing colour must be fading out and removed by the end of the groom (e.g., pink ears must be trimmed or shaved to leave no remaining colour). This does not apply to creative classes.
d) For all other DA-recognized breeds to be groomed, guidelines are left to the discretion of the Show Organizer.