The EGG Challenge – Sunday June 14th

The competition that’s especially tailored to first time competitors.

If you’ve decided to take the plunge and compete this year, here are a few tips to help you prepare you chosen dog (and its owners) for the event along with a few notes on what to expect on the day.
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Customer relations – help the owner to understand what’s needed

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At the point of deciding that this is the competition dog for you, you will need to explain the following points to the owner :They must not trim or cut the coat in any way

• They will need to be prepared to bring the dog in far more frequently than usual to enable you to keep it in good condition.
• You may want to grow the coat longer than they are used to having it.
• If the competition is some distance away you may need to have the dog the night before, either at your home or a hotel or, should the dog be staying with the owner the night before a competition, once you have prepared (bathed & groomed) it be sure that the owner can keep the dog clean and dry for you.

This may seem a lot to ask from your dog owner, but remind them that in return you will be available to bath and remove burrs, gum etc whenever necessary – you may be offering free grooming in between baths for as long as you will be using the dog.
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Coat care and preparation

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You will want to keep the coat in perfect condition at all times to prevent hair from breaking or becoming matted and to discourage staining, so coming to you regularly for bathing is essential – approx 2-4 weeks for most breeds. For thick scissor coats and longer feathering use a heavy conditioner between competitions to help protect the coat from breaking, knots and staining.
Use these times to try out different shampoos and coat preparations, eg coat volumisers, stand-up shampoos etc. Keep nails trimmed on every visit to shrink the quick back to allow nails to be as short as possible by the time of the competition.
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Pre competition

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You may wish to bath and prepare your dog in the morning of the competition but this is not always possible unless you are local to the venue, so spend the evening before preparing your dog. Most rules state that you may attend to under feet and groin before the event, but always check the details on the schedule. Always make sure that ears have been done. Well in advance of the day make a list of ALL the equipment you will need to take and check it all as you load the car. Finally, before you go to bed the night before, make sure your tickets and route to the venue are to hand or in a safe place (even in the car!), and you’ve set your alarm to allow enough time (and time to spare) for your journey and to set up when you arrive.
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On the day – managing your time

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Arrive in good time! It is advisable to leave everything in the car and go straight to the admission desk to register. You will be given a number from which you will be able to find your table in the ring. Now you can go back to your vehicle and bring in your dog and equipment. If you set up your crate and settle your dog first you will have your hands free to set up your equipment on your table which will either be in the ring or ringside depending as to when your class starts. You will of course find it easier if you have a helper to look after your dog(s) throughout the day and it’s always nice to have a friendly face about! Some competitions have a break during the class, which gives you a chance to relax your dog (and a very quick toilet break!) before you continue grooming, but check this with the Stewards early on.

Now you are set up you should be ready to get your dog onto the table, and you can brush and comb your dog through. Take out all the equipment you need to start.
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Judging

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The Judge will come around to assess each dog before the start of the class. Take this opportunity to tell the Judge any issues you may have, such as missing coat etc. An announcement will be made
for you to start grooming. As a general rule the Stewards will give a fifteen-minute warning before the end of the class. Once the class has ended, clear your table, then place your table cloth on it – carefully chosen to show your finished dog in the best possible way – and keep your comb out for the Judge to use. The Judge will then thoroughly look over each dog. This can take some time, so be prepared for the wait if it’s a big class – you will need to keep your dog on the table until the whole class has been assessed and formally dismissed.
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Feedback and the results

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The results for each class are usually announced at the end of the day at the award ceremony.
Always have your dog(s) to hand in case you are placed. Try to speak to your Judge at the end of the day as he or she will usually be happy to give you tips for the future. Remember, competing is an excellent way to improve your grooming skills by watching others, taking advice from your judge and meeting other groomers.