Judges Corner -    October – November 2004  from the Hunting Retriever magazine

 For the first time in a while, I’ve run more tests this fall than I’ve judged.  Kathy and I have a young black lab named Dusty.  Kathy did all his early training.  He’s well-mannered, steady, and a pleasure to run or hunt.  After getting his HR last fall, he earned his HRCH this fall, going five for five in tests in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Texas.  I mention this for a couple of reasons.  I want to thank my training group, which includes two pro trainers in my area (one with a particularly lovely assistant) who made this possible.  Under their tutelage, I’ve become a better trainer and handler and come to understand that a training regime should include a good plan, clear goals, and a high standard and expectations for your dog.  I thought it might be valuable, and pertinent to this column to pass on a few quick observations I’ve made at recent hunt tests from a handlers perspective. 

 I’m very thankful that we have folks willing to take time from their busy life to drive to a hunt, set up the tests, and sit in a judge’s chair for up to 12 hours a day, perhaps two days in a row to evaluate my dog.  I can honestly say every judge I ran under was doing the best they could for the club and dogs.  The tests I saw were well thought out, challenging, and well judged.  I commented more than once that a test, or a portion of a test would require a well-trained dog to complete it.   The one concern I had about some of the tests I ran was the timing of the marks.  At four of the five hunts, judges had the bird boys either counting or throwing off the shot from the preceding bird and I observed a number of quick throws.  I assumed that despite proper instructions, the bird boys got tired of holding the wingers back and were ready to release the bird.  This can lead to handlers not wanting to shoot the bird at the top of the arc where there is a big swing to the next mark.  I’d also like to see a better effort made to begin tests earlier.  It might be me, but I believe in starting early and finishing the work at a reasonable time.  It’s less stressful, and makes the hunt more enjoyable.  I also think clubs and judges should make sure their site marshals, especially inexperienced ones, understand the nuances of ordering a flight that has multiple dog handlers in it, and handlers that need to get to another test. More than once, I saw tests where a site marshal sent a handler to another site rather than work them in and the judges ended up waiting a long time for the handler to return. In the grand scheme of things, our clubs and judges continue to do an outstanding job and I’m very proud of our program. 

In the last issue of this magazine the scenarios presented involved the broad category of control, more specifically controlled breaks and manners and obedience.  Expanding our discussion of that topic as I promised, the scenarios in this column will focus on blind retrieves.  We say in our Judges/Handlers Seminar that the purpose of the blind retrieves required at Seasoned, Finished and Grand levels are to test a retriever’s willingness and ability to be handled, i.e. controlled, to a bird it has not seen fall.  To properly evaluate a dog’s “training” on this, I believe judges need to be competent in at least five important areas.  1) Understand what the rulebook says about blinds, 2) setting up the blind, 3) understanding the problems, pitfalls, suction, etc. the dog will face along the route to the blind, 4) properly recording the dog’s performance, and 5) making good decisions about whether to pass or fail the performance.  I’ll discuss many of these items in the course of the scenarios we’ll cover.  Time and space does not allow me to go into exhaustive detail about setting up blinds, but I have a couple of things I believe are important to mention. A Seasoned blind is much harder to set up than a Finished or Grand blind and will generally require more thought and effort. Seasoned judges must give more careful consideration to factors in the test that might influence the dog’s blind performance such as scent from marks, a walk-up, or a diversion bird, etc.  It takes thought, sweat and effort to insure the Seasoned blind is not too easy or too difficult. Finished judges have a lot of leeway in blind placement, but hopefully, a dog going for a Finished mark and staying in the Hunt Area of the mark should not be able to wind the blind.  I personally think the challenge at the Finished and Grand levels should be getting to the blind bird, not picking it up when the dog gets to it.  For example, it’s frustrating for the dog, handler, and judges to have a dog get to the blind stake then not be able to find the bird because it is smashed down under the water, or the dog disappears into heavy cover within literally arm’s reach of the bird.  Let’s look at some scenarios that might help us learn to do a good job judging blind retrieves.  A handler recently sent me the following scenario and description of his dog’s performance. 

---

Scenario: 

The wind at the Seasoned land test was blowing left to right, and became stronger as the day progressed.  The test consisted of a blind that was run in the right portion of the field which was directly downwind of the area where the double marks were being run on the left.  A popper was fired at the blind and the dog was sent.  It got off line slightly to the left and was stopped with a whistle.  It was cast right toward the blind, and took the cast.  While going back and right, it turned left when catching scent from bird crates located with bird boys at the wingers. It took the next whistle, but refused another right cast and continued toward the scent. The dog was stopped again almost directly left of the blind and finally took a cast to the right, carrying it past the blind to a point where it winded the blind bird and picked it up.   

Question: 

The handler asked:  “Is it acceptable at the Seasoned level to allow a retriever exhibiting a degree of control to pick up the blind if it winds it, assuming the distance between the dog and the blind is short”? 

Answer: 

The handler said nothing about the outcome of this performance in his initial e-mail to me.  In my reply, I said,  “I was expecting the last line of your e-mail to say you were failed for this performance”.  More on that later!  I then went on to explain what I thought about Seasoned dogs winding the blind.  First, let’s address the dog winding the bird crates at the wingers.  I would bet the judges took this into account when setting up the test, and I’d guess the wind just got stronger than they expected or changed direction slightly.  If this happens and is affecting dogs that are taking a reasonable course toward the blind, judges should stop a test and correct the situation with the hunt committee’s blessing.  Usually it’s fairly painless to move the blind slightly and easier than moving winger stations.  Just for purposes of discussion, let’s take the bird crates out of the equation.  Judges understand that a Seasoned dog should cooperate with its handler and exhibit some degree control.  Far less precise control than Finished or Grand levels is certainly to be expected.  While it’s not unreasonable for a Seasoned dog to wind the blind some distance from the blind stake there is an important requisite I believe the dog must meet when it does this.  I look at how the dog got to the position it was in when it winded the bird.  Was it carrying a line or a cast when it winded the bird?  Good job.  Was it ignoring the handler or wandering the course and/or did it put itself in a position to wind the blind?  Not acceptable.  It stumbled on the bird.  Remember this when we start discussing finishing a Finished blind.

I also told the handler that I would not expect a Seasoned dog that winded a bird a short distance away to stop on a whistle and would not penalize one who didn’t.  Now, as Paul Harvey says, here’s “the rest of the story”.  In a follow-up e-mail, the handler told a slightly different story.  I had my suspicions the dog was failed, and I didn’t really think it was for winding the bird.  It’s not often I get two scenarios from one dog’s test.  Here is the amended scenario that included another very good question from the handler. 

---

Scenario: 

Same test description as above.  This time dog gets left of blind and according to judges, is failed for three casts and two whistle refusals, not because the dog winded the blind.  The handler indicated this is obviously different than what he thought happened, stating, “I was preoccupied with running the retriever, whereas the judges were concentrating on our performance so I accept the judges numbers as correct”.  The handler went on to ask the following question: 

Question: 

What is the acceptable number of whistle and cast refusals at the Seasoned level?  

Answer: 

Good question, but before answering, let me commend the handler for being forthright and honest about the dog’s performance, and recognizing something a lot of handlers refuse to acknowledge:  Judges usually do a much better job of tracking whistle and casts than handlers do.  I’ll respond by first saying HRC does not publish, advise, nor recommend that dogs be failed for a specific number or percentage of cast or whistle refusals, at any testing level.  The difficulty and circumstances vary widely between tests, and there is a real danger in even suggesting numbers that might be taken as gospel by some judges.  Take our recommendations on marked retrieves as an example.  We have enough trouble getting some judges to understand the concept of handling in the area of a fall on a mark versus handling to the AOF, and we still hear about judges who insist HRC says to fail dogs who are handled on two marks!  So if we don’t use a numerical value to evaluate control on blinds, how should we make a determination on the performance?   

Our rulebook, in the Seasoned Guidelines, item V., page 36 says, “Less control and more whistle and cast refusals can be accepted for the Seasoned dog as compared to more advanced categories”.  Our founders must have considered that some refusals are to be expected at this level.  When do you suppose you can expect whistle and cast refusals on a blind retrieve from a Seasoned dog?  How about when it heads toward an area where it picked up a mark.  Or perhaps it sees a stump in the water or a fish splash or it might be headed to the bank or far shoreline.  Many times a handler won’t recognize why the dog is giving the refusals, and continue to rack them up.  Conversely, at various points during the dogs journey toward the blind a trained dog will cooperate with it’s handler, which is really what the judges should be looking for.  I saw a dog run a water blind once and one of the judges said the dog should be renamed “Magellan” after the famed explorer. When asked why, the judge explained, “He circumnavigated the entire lake, stopping only to briefly explore the small isles and points of interest along the way in his quest for the blind”.  This dog showed no cooperation, nor willingness to let the handler participate in the retrieve after the initial cast.  Sometimes only a few proper whistle and cast responses will come amidst and among periods of refusals, but a control is maintained and the retriever is making an effort to stay with the handler.  Rather than count whistle and casts and refusals, it’s more important to look at whether the Seasoned dog is exhibiting this willingness to be controlled, and has been trained enough that it has decided it’s running the blind more for the handler than for itself.  So what about Finished?  How many whistle and/or cast refusals are okay at this level on a blind?  Let’s look at our next scenario. 

---

Scenario: 

At the end of the day, the Finished judges were reviewing their score sheets and focusing on the dogs blind retrieve performances.  In the interest of being fair and consistent, they decided to total each retriever’s whistle and cast refusals and come up with an overall cutoff number. Scores above the cutoff would be a fail, and below would earn a pass.  

Question: 

Would this be an acceptable way to determine pass or fail on the blind retrieve portion of a Finished test? 

Answer: 

No!   If you are a Finished level judge reading this and answered yes, please take out a scissors and cut your judges license into small pieces immediately.  Like the Seasoned blinds we’ve discussed, the standard of performance we look for on Finished blind retrieves is not a number.  So how do we determine acceptable work at this level?  I could probably fill about half this magazine trying to fully answer that question, but UKC only allows this column to consume a limited amount of their ink and paper reserves.  I’ll settle on giving you some brief, but important points to consider and hope good common sense, knowledge of dogs, and experience will give you the rest of the answer.  

Our rulebook tells us what is required of the Finished dog on blinds.  Page 40, Test Rules, item IX states, “Lining the blind is not required.  The Finished Hunting Retriever should demonstrate the ability to take an initial line toward the blind and a willingness and ability to respond to commands from the Handler.  The Finished Hunting Retriever must stay under control and pick up the bird quickly and efficiently.”  I would remind you also that the Purpose and Philosophy under the Finished Hunt Tests portion of our rulebook on page 37 says, “Judges will look for natural ability and a trained performance.  The Finished Hunting Retriever must respond promptly to either voice or whistle commands and remain steady and under control at all times.” 

You’ll often hear judges use these words or phrases when talking about blind retrieves:  running at the blind, challenging the blind, and avoiding the blind.  A brief examination of each of these terms might help us understand what judges should expect from a dog and handler. 

Running at the blind:  You’ll often hear judges ask Finished handlers to run at the blind, i.e., cast their dogs directly toward the blind when initially sent. This demonstrates the dog’s ability to take an initial line and shows the retriever can go a reasonable distance in the direction it’s cast. It’s perfectly fine to say to a handler and it’s a good indicator of both control and training. 

Challenging the blind:  When judges say, “challenge the blind”, they’re asking handlers to keep the dog directed at, and make progress toward the blind.  By asking handlers to do this, judges can evaluate the dog’s willingness and ability to be controlled to the bird.  Most judges agree it’s adviseable to tell a handler to keep their dog directed toward the bird if it’s obviously heading elsewhere and the handler is letting it.  

Avoiding the blind:  This is where the handler is directing the dog somewhere other than toward the blind during a portion of the retrieve, or the handler allows the dog to go in a direction that is not taking it toward the blind.  An example would be sending a dog out to sea on a water blind to avoid a point of suction. The handler is probably telling the judges, I can’t control my dog along the route you’re asking me to run so I’m taking another approach.  

Speaking of the route to the blind.  I think it’s important to understand a couple of things about this pathway, or “line to the blind”.  1) Judges must identify and understand the obstacles that a Finished dog might face and the factors that might impede or influence its progress and control along the route to the blind.  For example, on a water blind, these might include the angle of entry, depth of water, vegetation and stumps, old fall areas, decoys, poison birds, an inviting shoreline or point, levees and channels, wind and waves, sun and shadows, etc. One simple word for all these hazards would be “suction”.  2) It’s not a fixed width, and sometimes it’s not an exact straight line.  Our rulebook, page 40, item IX says we can’t require retrievers to run a predefined route or channel.  When we expect dogs to take a line exactly over a point, log, etc., we’re doing that. Think of the route to the blind more in terms of a highway to the blind.  Bill Rath made this analogy several years ago as a guest writer of this column and I believe it’s an excellent one.  Sometimes it’s better to “drive” more in one lane when there are hazards (suction) or heavy construction (obstacles) in the other one.  Bill correctly noted that fast dogs could take up a lot of road, especially if the handler has a slow connection between their brain and whistle.   When we understand the hazards on our blind, we’ll know the points where we might expect dogs to have a few handling challenges, i.e. cast or whistle refusals.  The best of dogs may fall into a hazard, for example ignore a cast and fall for the strong suction of a point.  To continue the highway analogy, this is akin to running off the shoulder of the road.  As a judge, I’m paying close attention to whether the driver is going to maintain enough control to avoid going through the guardrail.  In other words, I’m looking for “recovery” from the hazards the dog encounters along the route to the blind.   

I noted earlier in this article that it’s important that judges properly record a dog’s performance.  It’s fairly easy to note that a dog either stopped or it did not on a whistle if it’s clear the dog heard it.  Understanding casting and cast refusals is a different matter.  For purposes of discussion, let’s assume the dog can clearly see the handler and vice-versa.  A cast should elicit a change in the direction a dog was going prior to the cast.  A dog “refuses” the cast when it continues to travel on the line it was going prior to the cast, or goes where it wants to go after the cast.  Most often, handlers are casting toward the blind, or the line to the blind.  We can say a dog refused the cast when, for example, on a left over or left angle back, the dog goes right.  When a handler blows a come-in whistle, the dog should move somewhat toward the handler, and not go further back.  On the subject of casting, I should note that it’s imperative a judge realize that a dog will not always go exactly where cast, but this is acceptable.  The dog that lands on the point on the route to the blind is again a perfect example.  The true line to the blind may be an angle back, but it may take an over cast to drive the dog off the point.  Taking an angle back when given an over is not a cast refusal!  This is called improvement casting.  So we understand what the dog is expected to do, the hazards along the route, and casting.  Let’s cut to the chase and talk about what is acceptable Finished blind work. 

When talking about control in my last article, I said that anytime a dog is out of control during the test, it should fail, and I’m saying it again with regards to the blind.  There should be no recovery that merits a pass from out of control during any portion of a blind.  A few cast or whistle refusals when negotiating the hazards or suction along the route to the blind is not out of control, and far different from refusals racked up where the route is clean. Remember to give the dog credit that continues to “stay with” the handler and demonstrates recovery.  I believe most judges will agree a dog is out of control when it refuses to allow the handler to direct it by having multiple and usually successive whistle or cast refusals, it goes where it wants to go and/or hunts for the bird and is not controlled to it.  You might have heard judges or handler say the dogs are not “finishing” the blind.  Dogs must stay under control to the end of the blind.  You might want to re-read what I said about stumbling on the bird in the previous Seasoned scenario.  I said that Seasoned dogs should be running the blind more for the handler than for itself.  I believe a Finished dog should be running the blind for the handler the majority of the time.  Before closing, I’ll give you a few more thoughts about how I personally determine if the blind work is acceptable.   

Sometimes a dog will simply take a bad initial line when cast for the blind.  A handler who corrects early if this happens is showing me they are in control of the dog.  When a dog refuses a cast, I don’t like to see a handler let the dog continue in the wrong direction.  If they didn’t want the dog to change it’s direction, why the whistle and cast?  My training group taught me that the longer I let my dog continue in the wrong direction, the more he thinks he’s going in the right direction.  While a Grand dog running my test might swim by a point with suction, I don’t expect Finished dogs to do it.  I also don’t believe all cast refusals are created equal, which is another reason not to use numbers to determine performance.  I think it’s reasonable to expect better control when the dog is closer to the handler and on portions of the blind where suction is not in play.  I also don’t care how many whistles or casts it takes a dog to get to the blind.  How close to the center of the highway the handler wants to run the dog is up to them.  Finally, if I have determined that the dog’s performance was weak or marginal in the morning, but had not yet warranted a failure, I’m looking for a much stronger performance in the afternoon test.  I think handlers understand and accept this.   

I hope this discussion of blind retrieves has been helpful and interesting.  At the least, I’m sure it will generate some good discussions among judges, trainers, and handlers. To be sure, there is more we can cover on this topic that we can hopefully explore in future articles.