Practical J-Regs: When a Dog Refuses a Blind Retrieve — What Should Judges Do?

In field trials, few things test a dog's control and courage like a blind retrieve. But what happens when a dog flatly refuses to go?

In this article, we explore how the Kennel Club J Regulations apply when a dog refuses a blind, and what judges should consider before reaching for the red pen.

🐕 Scenario: A Dog Won’t Take the Line

You’re judging an All-Aged Retriever Field Trial. A dead bird has fallen behind a dense hedge, out of sight. Dog 7 is called up and the handler is instructed to send the dog for a blind retrieve.

The handler lines the dog up, gives the command, and the dog refuses to go. The handler re-positions, tries again. The dog moves a few steps, stops, and looks back.

After three attempts, the dog is no further than 10 yards from the line. The judge asks the handler to pick the dog up.

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

📌 1. What Constitutes a Refusal?

J(B)5 – Eliminating Faults: “Refusal to retrieve” is an eliminating fault.

✅ A dog that will not leave the handler’s side to attempt the retrieve — particularly after multiple attempts — is considered to have refused.

📌 2. What If the Dog Goes, Then Stops?

Judges must assess:

Did the dog make an honest attempt?
Was the terrain or cover intimidating?
Was there any initiative or effort?

If the dog goes out, even a little, and hunts but gives up, it may be seen as a handling issue or a lack of game-finding ability, which would be marked down rather than eliminated.

But if the dog shows no willingness, it’s a clear refusal and should be eliminated.

🧠 A true refusal is not about failure — it's about lack of effort or intent.

📌 3. Does the Number of Attempts Matter?

While the J Regs do not specify a number of tries, judges must consider the overall picture:

Was the handler given a fair chance?
Did the dog move positively at any point?
Was this a clear refusal or just confusion?

In our scenario, after three failed commands and no progress, elimination is justified.

📝 Judges’ Book Example

"Refusal on blind — failed to leave handler after repeated commands — eliminated under J(B)5"

⚠️ If the dog had moved out, hunted briefly, and failed: "Incomplete blind — hunted short — marked down for lack of drive"

🧑‍🏫 Handler Takeaway

Blind retrieves require:

Trust between dog and handler
Confidence in the unknown
Repeated training over obstacles, into cover, and under pressure

To avoid refusals:

Practise remote blinds from increasing distances
Train for “go” even when dog has no visual clue
Use obstacles and environmental changes in training setups

A confident line-out is often the difference between a placing and an early exit.

🧾 Summary Table

Situation	Outcome
Dog refuses to leave handler	❌ Eliminated (J(B)5 – refusal)
Dog goes a short distance but gives up	⚠️ Judge’s discretion — may be marked down
Dog takes a poor line but tries	✅ Not eliminated — assess handling/initiative
Dog fails after reaching area but hunts ineffectively	⚠️ Possibly eliminated or heavily marked down