Practical J-Regs: What Happens When a Dog Runs In?

Welcome to our second Practical J-Regs article — where we bring the Kennel Club’s J Regulations to life through real-world field trial and working test examples.

In this post, we’ll cover a common (and unfortunate) scenario: a dog runs in. What does the rulebook say, and how should judges handle it?

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🐕 Scenario: The Dog Runs In on a Marked Retrieve

You’re judging a Novice Retriever working test. Two dogs are in line. A dummy is thrown and a shot fired. Before the judge can indicate which dog should go, Dog 8 breaks, charges out, and picks the dummy.

It then returns and delivers cleanly to the handler.

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📖 Applying the J Regulations

Let’s go step-by-step through the J Regs to see how this should be judged.

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📌 1. What Is “Running In”?

J(B)5 – “Running in” is listed as an eliminating fault.

Definition: A dog that leaves the handler without being sent is considered to have run in. This is one of the most serious faults in field trials and working tests.

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📌 2. Is There Any Discretion?

There is no discretion. Under J Regs, any dog that runs in must be eliminated — regardless of how well it retrieves or how quickly the handler regains control.

J(A)4.g: Judges must “eliminate dogs for eliminating faults at the time of the fault occurring.”

Key point: Even though the delivery was clean, the initial loss of control is what matters.

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📌 3. How Should the Judges Handle It?

• The judge should immediately inform the handler that the dog is eliminated.
• The dog’s book should be marked: “Ran in on mark – eliminated under J(B)5.”
• If another dog was due to run, the judges may re-throw the dummy or offer an alternative retrieve.

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📌 4. What If the Handler Tried to Stop the Dog?

Even if the handler whistled, shouted, or tried to stop the dog, the fault still occurred. The J Regs do not allow a “partial run-in” or a “recovered” mistake. Once the dog has broken, the outcome is set.

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🚫 Summary: This Is an Eliminating Fault

Situation	Result
Dog runs in before being sent	❌ Eliminated
Handler stops dog before it gets far	❌ Still eliminated
Dog picks, returns, and delivers perfectly	❌ Still eliminated
Dog remains steady but creeps	⚠️ May be marked down for steadiness — not eliminated

🧠 Tip: “Creeping” (e.g. slowly moving forward but not leaving) is not an eliminating fault — but judges will mark it down under control/steadiness.

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🔍 Why This Matters

“Running in” is one of the clearest signals that a dog lacks steadiness and control — key components of gundog work. That’s why it is treated so seriously in the J Regulations.

For new handlers, this scenario reinforces the importance of:

• Practising steadiness under pressure
• Training with other dogs present
• Only sending the dog when instructed (by judge or handler, depending on test type)

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📚 Learn More

• Full J Regulations for Gundog Working Tests
• Beginner’s Guide to the J Regs
• View Upcoming Working Tests

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👉 Stay tuned for the next Practical J-Regs article, where we’ll explore what happens when a dog fails to find a bird and is eye-wiped by another.