205. Knowing Your Dogs Limits

Knowing when to stop isn't giving up. It's one of the most important skills you can build as a handler, and this week Claire and I are getting into exactly that.There's a real difference between pushing a dog and protecting a dog, and the line between them isn't always obvious. Claire talks about stretching a dog's ability, that productive discomfort where a dog is learning something new, might wobble a bit, might show a flash of an old behaviour you thought you'd cracked months ago. That's not regression. That's growth. It can look messy. It's supposed to.But there's another side of that line, and that's where things go wrong.What we cover in this episodeThe difference between a stretched dog and an overwhelmed one and why the symptoms can look identical if you're not watching closely. The dog isn't being naughty. It's telling you something.Physical fatigue vs. mental fatigue and why mental tiredness is the sneaky one. A physically tired dog slows down. A mentally tired dog starts chewing grass, showboating with the dummy, going off for a random sniff. It looks like misbehaviour. It's actually a dog running on empty upstairs.The bored dog trap because if you never stretch your dog and just keep repeating the same comfortable routine, you'll get behaviours creeping back in too. A bored working dog will find its own entertainment. It won't be the entertainment you wanted.External pressure and where it actually comes from the other handlers, the gamekeeper's nod, the dog two fields over who's been doing this since it was eight weeks old. Claire is straight-talking on this: comparison is not a training plan.Why working dogs will push through pain to do the job and why that means we have to be the ones to make the call. If you're waiting for your spaniel to tap out, you'll be waiting a long time.The warmup read Claire's practical tip for gauging your dog before you even start. Know what your dog looks like at their best, and you'll know when something's off.Finishing on a high not just as a nice idea, but as a training habit. The challenge this week is to finish one session earlier than you think you need to. Just once. See what happens.Claire also shares the story of Indy and Rose, two completely different dogs in terms of mental stamina, self-regulation, and what 'enough' looks like for each of them. There is no universal rulebook. There is only your dog, in front of you, today. And Claire is recording this just two and a half weeks post knee surgery. Still showing up, still delivering. She's very much one of us.Your challenge this weekFinish one session earlier than you think you need to. Notice how your dog walks away from it. Notice how you walk away from it.Free Masterclass, Tuesday 31st March, 7:30pmReading the Dog in Front of You: A Supercar on a ShoestringUpdated based on your feedback and better than ever. Head to www.thelwdg.com, there's a banner at the top for Free Training. Click it. Join us.Every session, every stumble, every breakthrough, it all counts. Keep going. We see you.Thanks for joining us for this episode of Found It, Fetched It. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve got muddy boots and a seasoned dog by your side, we’re here to walk the journey with you. We’re all about real talk, practical tips, and celebrating every little win—because in this world, progress isn’t always perfect, but it’s always worth it.💬 We’d love to hear from youGot a story to share, a question to ask, or just fancy saying hi? Come chat with us on socials or pop over to the website.📚 Want to go further with your training?Get our LWDG Gundog Progress Gap Map Work Out Where You Are, And What To Train Next !Want to know more about 🎓 The LWDG Society Expert-led courses, community support, and the kind of training that actually makes sense.📱 Stay connected with the pack:Website: ladiesworkingdoggroup.comFacebook: Ladies Working Dog GroupInstagram: @ladiesworkingdogs✨ And remember… Every session, every stumble, every breakthrough, it all counts. You’re not just training a dog. You’re building trust, confidence, and a community that’s right behind you.Keep going. We see you. 💛