Style to Rescue is a charity dog grooming competition for rescue dogs. It is an innovative way of supporting rescue organisations and helping rescues find their new forever homes.

The dogs are groomed beautifully by experienced, professional groomers and spoiled to bits with care and lovingkindness. What is most important to us is that the dogs being groomed always feel safe and loved before, during, and after the groom!

We started in 2018, and at our first competition, we raised over £4500; in 2019, over £7500; in 2022, it was over £13k; in 2023, we donated almost £12900, and in 2024 just over £10k.

Over the years, we supported the following dog rescues:

Many Tears Animal Rescue
Spaniel Aid
Wheels to Paws UK
​Doodle Aid
Hessa’s Homeless Hounds
Petwelfare Stafford
​Scottish Terrier Emergency Rescue (STECs)
U- Hearts
Underdog International
Poodles from Portugal

As Claire Louise Nixon from The Wheels to Paws UK says:

"We love the Style to Rescue competition! To see how much fun and love my dogs receive from strangers, and they are now friends for life. My babies have a good life now after the hell they have been through. Style to Rescue is something extra special for them that only very posh dogs usually get to experience. My dogs and I look forward to this event every year."

The rescue centers receive financial support whether their dogs win or not!

Style to Rescue is run on a not-for-profit basis by volunteers.

The Categories

There will be just one category to be judged, which will run over two sessions, morning and afternoon. There will be a maximum of 70 entrants in total.

The Prizes

In total, ten groomers & their dogs will be chosen by our judges over the two sessions (5 in the morning and 5 in the afternoon).

Of these ten places, all will receive a financial reward.

Prizes will also be awarded for People’s Choice and Best Transformation.

All winning groomers will receive a unique and stylish trophy and a rosette.

The Competition Schedule

8:00 – Doors open for competitors

8:30 – Doors open for the general public. Entrance fee by donation but min. £5

recommended per person.

– Pre-judging

9:00 – 12:00 – Morning Class

12 – 12:30 – Judging of Morning Class & Announcing the 5 Finalists

12:30 – 13:00 – Lunch Break

12:45 – Pre-judging

13:00 – 16:00 – Afternoon class

16:00 – 16:30 – Judging of Afternoon Class & Announcing the 5 Finalists

17:00 – Awards

There will be a break halfway through each class, am and pm, to allow the dogs to stretch their paws and have a pee – and the groomers, too 🙂

How does it work? 

The doors of the Kennel Club building open at 8 am for the competitors. At the entrance, you’ll draw a card with a dog's details.

Some dogs might be bathed already, but not many.

Grooming vans will be available where you can wash and blaster your dog. After blastering, take your dog to the drying station. There will be grooming tables and stand dryers available. As we don’t know what dogs are coming and the state of their coat, we ask you to cooperate with the other competitors – like every year 🙂

Bathing can start as soon as the grooming vans are set up, even before 9 am. We just go with the flow!

The Morning Session starts at 9 am and finishes at 12 pm.

During this time, you are in charge of the dog and can take it out, walk it around the grassy areas, and make the experience as relaxed as possible for your dog. You can have a helper if you wish, but obviously, this second person can’t do any grooming!

Once you finish, the judges will come over, judge your dog, take a photo, and then you can leave the ring.

At 12 pm, we will announce the five finalists from the morning – in no particular order!

The Afternoon Session runs from 1 pm to 4 pm.

Dogs can be bathed before 1 pm ( if you wish ).

At 4.15 pm, we will announce the five finalists from the afternoon session.

The Awards Ceremony starts at 5 pm.

At the photographer's stand, you can have your photo taken with your rescue dog before and after the grooming. 

We are delighted to have Kelly Davies & Mathew Spry as our judges at Style to Rescue 2025!

Come and join us at Style to Rescue 2025! We need your help; the rescues need your help!