Practical J-Regs: Creeping — When Does It Cross the Line?

You’ve seen it — a dog inches forward on the line as a bird is flushed or shot. It hasn’t broken, but it’s clearly not still.

Is this running in, or just creeping? And how should judges respond according to the J Regulations?

In this article, we break down the difference and show how to apply the rule fairly.

🐕 Scenario: A Dog Creeps Before the Send

During a Novice Retriever Field Trial, a bird is shot to the right. Dog 2 is sitting on the line. As the shot is fired, it edges forward about two feet, ears pricked.

It stops just short of leaving the handler, and only moves when the judge instructs the handler to send.

🧑‍⚖️ Step-by-Step: What the J Regs Say

📌 1. Creeping Is Not an Eliminating Fault

J(B)5 – Eliminating Faults: “Running in” is an eliminating fault. ❌ “Creeping” is not listed.

✅ So, a dog that does not leave the handler without instruction, but inches forward, is not eliminated — but will be marked down.

📌 2. Judges Must Still Penalise Loss of Steadiness

J(A)4.f: “Dogs must be steady to shot and fall. Quiet handling and control will be taken into consideration.”

Steadiness is a key judging criterion, especially in Open and All-Aged stakes. A creeping dog shows a lack of:

Impulse control
Discipline under pressure
Confidence in waiting

Even if it performs the retrieve perfectly, creeping should affect its placing.

📌 3. When Does Creeping Become Running In?

If the dog:

Crosses the line
Leaves the handler’s side before being sent
Advances beyond what could reasonably be described as “shifting position”

…it becomes a run-in and must be eliminated under J(B)5.

🧠 Judges must watch carefully — particularly when cover hides movement.

📝 Judges’ Book Example

"Creeping on shot — moved 2ft forward — remained steady otherwise — marked down for control"

❌ If the dog had left the line completely: "Ran in on mark — eliminated under J(B)5"

🧑‍🏫 Handler Takeaway

Creeping is often a sign of:

Over-anticipation
Excitement
Inadequate steadiness training

To address it:

Practise delayed sends
Mix retrieves with no sends to build patience
Train dogs to hold position until explicitly released — even after a fall

In a competitive field, even minor creeping can push you out of the awards.

🧾 Summary Table

Situation	Outcome
Dog shifts forward slightly but doesn’t leave	⚠️ Creeping — marked down
Dog inches forward with each bird but never breaks	⚠️ Repeated creeping — more heavily penalised
Dog leaves line before being sent	❌ Eliminated (running in)
Dog remains steady despite distractions	✅ Rewarded — high steadiness score