Hi Does anyone know how to groom a rough collie for the show ring?

Have you contacted your breeder? They sgould have the best tips for getting the most of your dog's coat and what trimming if any is allowed.
The bare bones bacis are have the dog throughtly brushed to remove any matts, dead coat and dirt. Have the dog washed and blow dried to have a clean and nice smelling dog. Trim the nails, clean the ears and tidy up the feet of long loose hairs.
Check the teeth for tarter, no judge wants to see green junky teeth, handle a smelly dirty dog that is matted or has fleas.
Like i said before check with your breder about any trimming and best of luck.
Fry

thanks for the advice. Do you know if there is any dvds or books to show you how to groom a collie?

Pet grooming yes, show grooming no. :( My advice is to take a day and go to a show without your dog and see if you can chat up a few people when they are working on their dogs and see if anyone isn't too stressed out to offer some advice. Let them know you have a collie and are looking into showing your dog. Nice folks will tell you their favorite products, maybe explain how they prep the dog, what combs and brushed they like and any finish products they favor.
I've retired from grooming but i have groomed a few collies. All were pets.
I do have a favorite shampoo system that i liked to use on long double coated dogs.

Best Shot-Wash, Plenish, Mist Combo Kit This stuff is awesome!

http://www.bestshotpet.com/combo-kits-gift-bags/

 Product worked wonders on double coated dogs and standard poodles. I still swear by it and i'm now retired from grooming.

You will want to invest in a power force dryer.
http://wgroom.com/catalog/metro-aftd-1-air-force-commander-force-dryers-1/

I have an older version of one of these. And you can get a collie dry in about 30 to 45 minutes and get all the loose and dead coat out of the dog in no time.

If you're showing AKC....learn how to chalk

But don't get caught chalking as some judges will toss you out. Though they are few and far between. I've never had a breed that needed chalk or dying :p

I used to travel to shows with a rough breeder. She did it all - white and colored chalk, ear tipping, sprays, trimming, you name it. Her tack box was as large as a steamer trunk. One day we were waiting at ringside for her class to be called and the judge, a longtime rough breeder, started to pat her first class of puppy dogs on their sides dismissing the ones that had chalk left in their coats. Pretty soon most of the handlers were racing back to their set ups to try to get all the chalk out of their dogs before they went into the ring.

Hi does anyone know any collie mentors that could teach me to show groom my collie, that would be helpful?

Jennifer,

This forum does not have a plethora of AKC conformation types on it.  I would contact the Collie Club of America: http://www.collieclubofamerica.org/cca_representatives.html - there are district reps and the one closest to you would be the best person to contact.  Rough collie grooming, as many have noted above, can be a lot of work.  I show ACDs, a "wash and wear" breed, and the grooming I do on mine is nowhere near what my friend who has roughs does.  Good luck!

http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&fr=slv8-msgr&p=how%20to%20groom%20a%20collie%20dog&type=

http://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?p=how+to+groom+a+show+collie

maybe one of the links helps. main thing is keep the coat tangle free leading up to the show. if you do it much, you will want a forced air dryer.

LOL at the chalk comments, used to show miniature schnauzers and it often looked like the dust bowl.

good luck,
Rik