General Comments:

1. All participants who pass and who are IGA members are eligible to receive an IGA Certificate.
2. Distance between participant tables should be a minimum of 1.2 m and from judge table to first row should be a minimum 2 m.

General Rules for Participants:

1. Groomers taking part in Examinations are required to complete the grooming activities on 1 (one) dog in a time limit of 2 (two) hours. (Bathing, cutting of nails, cleaning of ears, brushing and combing can be done before the time.)
2. Competitors for Class B and Class A should have passed the preceding Class Grooming certification approved by IGA
3. Competitors who pass the Class C or Class B Salon Free Style must take the Class C Pure Breed examination before they may enter Class B Pure Breed.
4. Competitors with a Class C Pure Breed certificate may only enter the Class B Pure Breed examination after a minimum of 6 months.
5. Competitors with a Class B Pure Breed certificate may only enter the Class A examination after minimum of 12 months.
6. Competitors attire: No Shorts, Bermudas, Slippers or sandals are allowed. Competitors are also not allowed to wear any attire that bears advertisements of any grooming schools, clubs or pet products.
7. The model dog’s hair must be long enough to enable competitors to make changes to it’s physical appearance.

(a) Competitors must trim paw pads & hygiene area during the examination time.

8. Model dogs must be freshly washed and dried and have no tangles in their hair. Ears must be cleaned and nails clipped before the start of the examination.
9. Competitors are responsible for their dogs throughout the whole examination. The following may lead to disqualification.

(a) A competitor may NOT leave his dog alone on the table.

(b) A competitor may NOT talk to other contestants once the exam has started or during the judging time.

(c)A competitor may NOT walk over to other contestant tables during the exam or the judging time.

(d) competitor may NOT use a mobile phone during the examination or judging time.

(e) Rough handling or injury to the model dog, including clipper irritation, cuts and nicks.

(f) Aggressive or insulting language towards the judge or any IGA official.

10. Competitors must place the comb on the front left of the table for the judge during inspection & judging of the dog. Participants must remove all items and tools from the table.
11. Competitors who rent or hire dogs may use a grooming leash during the exam if they do not feel confident to control the dog.
12. Competitors may use curve shears in all classes.
13. The IGA Judge’s decision is final.
14. No aggressive dogs will be allowed to participate in the grooming examination.
15. Designer dogs or crossbreeds may NOT enter the Pure Breed Classes; they may only enter the Salon Freestyle Classes.
16. The use of aerosol spray for class A and class B is dependent from country to country. If a country does not permit the use of aerosol spray, then a water-based alternative may be used. (Aerosol spray is not permitted in Class C)

Model Dogs Rules for ALL Certificates:

1. The dogs must not be less than 8 months old on the day of competition.
2. Model dogs must not be trimmed 2 months or more prior to the Competition / Examination.

Model Dogs Rules for Salon Freestyle and Open Category:

1. Salon Free Style Class B may not use a clipper on the body of the dog. Exceptions:

(a) A shaver may be used on the poodle: muzzle, face, poodle feet, tail and sanitary areas of all breeds

2. Participants in Open & Salon Free Style may use Maltese, Shih Tzu, Poodles, dogs from the Terrier group; Sporting & Non-Sporting including crossbreeds provided the hair growth is a minimum of 25mm.

Model Dogs Rules for Pure Breed Class C, B and A:

1. The model dog must be a pure breed dog of the approved breeds for class C, B & A.
2. Class A, B and C Scissoring breed – participants may not use thinning shears. Finishing shears may only be used on Plucking & Thinning breeds (Cocker etc.)
3. Pure Breed Class A, B and C may not use a clipper on the body of the dog: Exceptions:

(a)  A shaver may be used on the poodle: muzzle, face, poodle feet, tail and sanitary areas of all breeds

(b)  A shaver may be used on the ears for T-Clip

4. For competitors in A Class using poodles as their model dogs, only English Saddle, Continental or Puppy Clip are allowed.

(a) Model dogs from the Thinning and Plucking Groups must follow the Show Clip for Breed Standard.

5. Competitors may do a T-Clip or German Clip in Class A but only on a Standard Poodle in two hours.
6. For competitors in Class B using poodles (standard, miniature or toy) as their model dogs, only the T-Clip or Lamb Clip are allowed.
7. For competitors in Class C using poodles as their model dogs, only the Lamb Clip is allowed.
8. An Additional time of 30 minutes will be given for competitors in Class A using a Standard poodle or Kerry Blue Terrier as Model Dogs.

(a) T-Clip on a Standard Poodle in Class A MUST be completed in 2 hours.

9. For competitors using dogs from the Plucking Breeds, only stripping is allowed. No clipper work is allowed on the coat in Class A, B and C.

Approved Breeds are:

Scissoring Group: Poodle (Toy, Miniature or Standard), Bichon Frise, Bedlington terrier and Kerry Blue Terrier.

Thinning Group: American Cocker Spaniel, English Cocker Spaniel and English Springer Spaniel.

Plucking Group: Miniature Schnauzer, Scottish Terrier, Lakeland Terrier, Wire Fox Terrier, Airedale Terrier, West Highland Terrier, Welsh Terrier, Sealyham Terrier and Irish Terrier.

Approved Breeds are:

Scissoring Group: Poodle (Toy, Miniature or Standard), Bichon Frise, Bedlington terrier and Kerry Blue Terrier.

Thinning Group: American Cocker Spaniel, English Cocker Spaniel and English Springer Spaniel.

Plucking Group: Miniature Schnauzer, Scottish Terrier, Lakeland Terrier, Wire Fox Terrier, Airedale Terrier, West Highland Terrier, Welsh Terrier, Sealyham Terrier and Irish Terrier.

Awards:

1. Marks required to pass the examination must be confirmed with IGA before each competition.
2. Additional prizes or merit awards are also awarded based on the number of participants in each class.

The number of prizes guide is as follow:

Restricted Entry into Competition Venue:

IGA reserves the right to restrict anyone, regardless of whether they are a member or non- member, from entering the competition venue.

Amendments to the Rules:

IGA reserves the right to amend the Rules and Regulation as and when deemed necessary.