Dogs with Jobs

Veteran police dog expert, Bernhard Flinks, talks to Kate Fairweather during a break at the UK's National Police Dog Trials 2025. A wide-ranging conversation with Bernhard, who spent over 40 years in the German police force. Bernhard has been hugely successful in the uniquely German sport, "Schutzhund" (German for Protection Dog), also known as IGP. This is something of a triathlon for working dogs (tracking, obedience, protection)or working trials for protective breeds - notably German Shepherds but also the other main protection dog breeds. Schutzhund was given Intangible Cultural Heritage status by UNESCO in 2025. Bernhard discusses cultural differences between training regimes in Germany and the UK. Also how approaches to training working dogs have evolved, particularly the balance between negative correction and positive reinforcement techniques. More information from www.flinks.de. Photo: photo of Bernanrd Flinks (www.Flinks.de). You may also enjoy these connected episodes: The UK's National Police Dog Trials 2025 P.D. Viper the firearms support dog P.D. Chase and the career arc of a general purpose police dog P.D. Meika, who searches for London criminals' cash, drugs and firearms P.D. Ted, the explosives detection dog with the West Midlands Police P.D. Jax the victim recovery dog with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary Mika, the well being and trauma support dog in the Metropolitan Police Champ, the engagement dog working in child protection in the Victoria police Keo the well being dog in the UK police; and Mabel the emotional support worker in the Fire Service Do you work your dog? Or perhaps you know someone else who might like to come on the show? I love all and any working dogs and am always looking for dogs to interview. Get in touch with me, Kate, via team@shineradio.uk. Find more dogs with interesting jobs. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear the UK's top police dogs demonstrate the skills and qualities needed to operate at the very highest level. Courage, physical strength and agility, tracking ability, steadiness, precision and responsiveness are all tested during the UK trials. For the handlers, too, the pressure is on: competing against the best, being watched and judged by their peers. Join Kate Fairweather at the National Police Dog Trials 2025, which took place in May at the Tally Ho training grounds, outside Birmingham. Bringing together police dogs and their handlers - from Scotland to Cornwall, this is a remarkable display of what the UK’s police dogs can do in a competitive trial. Thanks to the West Midlands Police Dog Section for having Dogs with Jobs along. Also to P.C. Demo Smart, (you may recall his explosives detection dog, Ted from an earlier episode), Sergeant Hayley Phillips as well as veteran competitor and judge, Sergeant Nick Dalrymple and P.C. Rachel Bower. You may also enjoy these connected episodes: P.D. Viper the firearms support dog P.D. Chase and the career arc of a general purpose police dog P.D. Meika, who searches for London criminals' cash, drugs and firearms P.D. Ted, the explosives detection dog with the West Midlands Police P.D. Jax the victim recovery dog with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary Mika, the well being and trauma support dog in the Metropolitan Police Champ, the engagement dog working in child protection in the Victoria police Keo the well being dog in the UK police; and Mabel the emotional support worker in the Fire Service Do you work your dog? Or perhaps you know someone else who might like to come on the show? I love all and any working dogs and am always looking for dogs to interview. Get in touch with me, Kate, via team@shineradio.uk. Find more dogs with interesting jobs. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A short but uplifting episode, with a timely update on an important medical research project that seeks to isolate and establish what is hoped will prove to be unique bio-markers for Parkinson's disease. Our interiewee is Claire Guest OBE, whose charity, Medical Detection Dogs has been at the forefront of some remarkable breakthroughs using bio detection dogs. When Dogs with Jobs visited in 2023, the charity was just starting to consider whether its work could extend into Parkinsons - which is hard to diagnose currently. The classic sympoms of Parkinsons, such as tremors, become obvious only late on. So any contribution towards earlier diagnosis could bring a huge benefit to patients and allow earlier intervention. Kate Fairweather grabs an update, before Claire disappears to the Literary Corner to read aloud from her book at Goodwoof 2025. Recorded at Goodwoof 2025. Connected episodes lorin, Iggy and Asher, bio detection dogs and owner, Dr. Claire Guest OBE Hear E-Coli detection dog Plum at work at the charity's training centre. Medical Alert dogs Do you work your dog or know someone else who might like to come on the show? Get in touch with Kate, via team@shineradio.uk. Find more dogs with interesting jobs. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the time came to step up, much loved pet collie Tay abandoned the sofa for the sheep farm, where his herding talent has made him indispensable to lambing season on the farm. Owner and professional trainer Martina Miradoli tried Tay on various sports, including agility, scent detection (he was good at this) and introduced him to sheep. Despite her efforts to stimulate him, his drive remained low. Then, Martina and her partner had the chance to take on the tenancy of a busy farm which meant that Tay had to step up. Martina describes Tay's journey from the sofa to the sheep farm, where he has come into his own at last - just 15 lambs to go at the time of recording. Find Martina and Tay on Instagram at @martina_bordercollie_geek Check out Martina's wonderful and aptly named podcast, The Border Collie Geek Podcast. Photo credit: Martina Maradoli For more photos, visit https://shineradio.uk/dogswithjobs Connected episodes: Diva at the English National Sheepdog Trials 2023 Edie, Max and Joe, the sheep farm workers Get in touch! Do you work your dog? Kate would love to hear from you! Sporting dogs, caring dogs, service dogs - the more varied the better. Get in touch on team@shineradio.uk. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2025 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Viper is a German Shepherd just months off retirement after a colourful career in the West Midlands Police as a Firearms Support Dog. Handler, Police Constable Dave Short gives an insight into how the relationship has evolved over the years with Viper, who was his first police dog. Dave joined the Dog section with 17 years of policing under his belt, but as a newbie in the Dog Unit, learned alongside Viper on the job. It's a varied life, and Dave and his dogs are deployed in a wide range of situations. As Viper heads towards retirement with Dave's family, the newest member of the team is trotting along behind. Six month old German Shepherd, Loki, another has big shoes to fill, but things are looking good so far. This episode of Dogs with Jobs was recorded at Crufts 2025. You may also enjoy these connected episodes: P.D. Chase and the career arc of a general purpose police dog P.D. Meika, who searches for London criminals' cash, drugs and firearms P.D. Ted, the explosives detection dog with the West Midlands Police P.D. Jax the victim recovery dog with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary Mika, the well being and trauma support dog in the Met Champ, the engagement dog working in child protection in the Victoria police Keo the well being dog in the UK police; and Mabel the emotional support worker in the Fire Service Do you work your dog? Or perhaps you know someone else who might like to come on the show? I love all and any working dogs and am always looking for dogs to interview. Get in touch with me, Kate, via team@shineradio.uk. Find more dogs with interesting jobs. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Harley, trained in peanut allergen detection - a highly unusual discipline - yet one that makes perfect sense. Harley is one of two golden retrievers in the busy family household of this episode's interviewee, Natalie Rice. Natalie is the primary handler, but we’re focusing less on Harley's training in this episode; instead exploring the human element and the impact of her work. Natalie is a great interviewee - highly knowledgable on allergens, and wonderfully articulate on the dangers around food and social ritual for those people who, like her daughter, have a life threatening allergy. Harley is a literal life saver and also a much adored pet - spreading joy in a household, which has always had golden retrievers at its heart. Follow Natalie on Instagram to see the reels she mentions in the interview @detectiveharleyfadd or visit her website Harley was trained by Kathy Watters of Nosey Dog Detection Partners in Wyoming Do you work your dog? Or perhaps you know someone else who might like to come on the show? I love all and any working dogs and am always looking for dogs to interview. I love to hear from you, and very much appreciate introductions to those who may not want to put themselves forward, but who are up for talking about the talents of our canine friends. Get in touch with me, Kate, via team@shineradio.uk. Find more dogs with interesting jobs. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2025 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reporting from Crufts, the best known dog show in the world. On International Women's Day, we hear from Police Constable Sue Cheek, who was the first woman instructor in the West Midlands Police's Dog Unit. Police Dog Chase has already shown his superb recall and restraint in the ring earlier in the day. He'll be taking a starring role in the main arena later as part of the Dog Unit's traditional display...In a show that is half drama, half panto, the dogs thrill the packed audience with their abilities to quel disorder, apprehend burglars and bring down suspects. Sue takes a few minutes out to chat with Dogs with Dogs presenter, Kate Fairweather about an illustrious career within the West Midlands Police. It's a last hurah for them all, since both Chase and her specialist explosives dog, Trev, retire alongside her in a few months time - a chance to do all the things together as pets, which you simply can't do as a police dog. You may also enjoy these connected episodes: P.D. Meika, who searches for London criminals' cash, drugs and firearms P.D. Ted, the explosives detection dog with the West Midlands Police P.D. Jax the victim recovery dog with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary Mika, the well being and trauma support dog in the Met Champ, the engagement dog working in child protection in the Victoria police Keo the well being dog in the UK police; and Mabel the emotional support worker in the Fire Service Do you work your dog? Or perhaps you know someone else who might like to come on the show? I love all and any working dogs and am always looking for dogs to interview. Get in touch with me, Kate, via team@shineradio.uk. Find more dogs with interesting jobs. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Herbie, a jet black labrador retriever works as a golf ball detection dog at several golf courses around Petersfield. Owner Roger Hetherington explains how Herbie came to be a golf ball detection dog, the astonishing personal contribution he has made to the cancer charity Macmillan through a golf ball recycling initiative, and the unexpectedly grave danger that lurks on the golf course in high summer. Dogs with Jobs Dogs with Jobs features the full range of working dogs, therapy dogs, military and service dogs, assistance dogs, bio detection dogs and other, random occupations such as truffle hunting, modelling and more. Browse more dogs with interesting jobs. Do you work your dog or dogs? Or perhaps they've taken it upon themselves to do a job, please do get in touch with Kate at team@shineradio.uk. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2024 Photo credit: Roger Heatherington See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Father of two, Nathan Foy, has worked with a guide dog since he was 18 years old. Nathan explains the profound loss the accompanies the end of a partnership, as well as the gratitude he feels every time he steps outside his house with his guide dog partner. It is also a fascinating insight into the human guide dog partnership and its evolution over time. Nathan explains the efficiencies that mark out a veteran dog and how non-verbal communication takes over from verbal commands over time. Each of his (very different) dogs have accompanied him through various stages of life, according to their personalities and strengths: Hughie, his best mate saw him through his teens into his twenties, with many firsts experienced together; Bessie, whose intelligence and sociability made work trips all over the UK an adventure; Mason, whose steadiness guided Nathan, a toddler and a baby in a buggy safely across town every day and through Covid; and now Joey, who sits at the heart of family life, while supporting Nathan with the challenges of blind parenting. Nathan works for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Guide Dogs) Connected episodes on assistance dogs Ralph, the owner-trained, multi-tasking assistance dog - perfect for a Rogate teenager Darcey, the Canine Partner: an assistance dog relationship in full bloom Benjy, the trainee guide dog's first five weeks on the job Daisy, the autism assistance dog - practical, psychological and emotional support Breck, the retired guide dog Dogs with Jobs features the full range of working dogs, therapy dogs, military and service dogs, assistance dogs, bio detection dogs and other, random occupations such as truffle hunting, modelling and more. Browse more dogs with interesting jobs. Do you work your dog or dog? Get in touch with Kate Fairweather if you work your dog/dogs and are interested in coming on the show on team@shineradio.uk. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2024 Photo credit: Designed by WannapikSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dogs with jobs pays an early morning visit to the Hursley Hambledon pack of English Foxhounds in their lodges. Amid the early morning excitement of the pack, Kennel huntsman Keiran gives an insight into pack life. He explains that there's no a particular "top dog" among the boys. The social hierarchy is more complex and changeable among the girls. Surprisingly, the individual canine most "in charge" is not a foxhound at all - but a pint-sized terrier called Poppy. With at least one, occasionally two litters a year, scenting talent and knowhow is passed down the generations within the pack over time, as older hounds retire and the youngsters join. Kieran's affection for the hounds is evident. When pressed, he admits to having a favourite, who will live with him as a pet once she retires. Connected episodes Bloodlines and breeding: the breeding of hounds for a trail hunting pack Meet Debit and Dervish, the hunting hound puppies Do you work your dog or dogs? Kate is generally obsessed with working dogs and loves to hear about them – the more varied the better! Keep the introductions coming! If you, or someone you know works their dog or dogs, and would consider being interviewed on Dogs with Jobs, please get in touch with Kate via team@shineradio.uk. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Christmas AND 4th birthday show, creators Kate Fairweather and John Welsman discuss how Dogs with Jobs has evolved and play snippets from some of their favourite episodes. They celebrate four years of fun making working dog podcasts together and discovering more jobs being done by dogs than they had ever thought possible back in 2021. What started as an amusing lockdown project created by two community radio volunteers during the pandemic quickly showed it had legs. Dogs with Jobs took Podcast of the Year at the National Community Radio Awards 2022 and has been a top 10 pets and animals podcast regularly since then, while growing an international audience. The first episode of Dogs with Jobs podcast aired in January 2021, and featured Acorn, a golden Retriever who worked as a reading assistant in a Petersfield primary school. At the time, dog walking was one of the few ways to get out of the house under the UK's strict lockdown rules. So early episodes were recorded outdoors, which contributed to the podcast developing its distinctive "on location" sound, and relaxed interviewing style. Episodes referred to in this episode: Edie, Max and Joe the sheepdogs, and how to spot herding talent in a puppy Giglee the truffle hunter gets a surprise Medical detection dogs with Dr. Claire Guest CBE Darcy - a human/canine partnership in full bloom Ninja the barkour dog - a charismatic collie and his talented handler Dogs with Jobs features the full range of working dogs, therapy dogs, military and service dogs, assistance dogs, bio detection dogs and other, random occupations such as truffle hunting, modelling and more. Browse more dogs with interesting jobs. Do you work your dog or dog? Get in touch with Kate Fairweather if you work your dog/dogs and are interested in coming on the show on team@shineradio.uk. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2024 Photo credit: Tina Knowles PhotographySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A throwback to summer... this episode of Dogs with Jobs was recorded at the Hampshire Gun Dog Show in August, which featured around 30 gun dog breeds, from golden retrievers and springer spaniels to rare European gun dog breeds.  Joy Venturi Rose of the Hampshire Gun Dog Society describes the various events put on by the society, which include open shows, working tests, field trials and training classes. Joy touches on working breed standards in this succinct, but excellent overview of gun dog breeds, and shares some ideas for keeping your working breed pet happy and stimulated.  She explains how working breeds need stimulation in their life that uses their brain, and ideally mirrors the sort of work they would have done many dog generations previously.  More about the Hampshire Gun Dog Society. Other porting dog episodes: Gundogs galore at the Hampshire Country Sports Day (October 2024) Echo, Delta and Polar, the gun dog trio (September 2024) Oberon the working Clumber spaniel (September 2023) Alfie, the waterfowling retreiver (October 2022) Who's winning at the South of England Hound Show? (August 2022) The Sealyham terrier Rat Pack (July 2023) Meet the Beagles! (October 2022) Clover, the accidental gundog (September, 2022) Debit and Dervish, the hunting hound pups (November 2021) An insight into the breeding of hounds (November 2021) Drake, the gun dog champion (September 2021) Dogs with Jobs features the full range of working dogs, therapy dogs, military and service dogs, assistance dogs, bio detection dogs and other, random occupations such as truffle hunting, modelling and more. Browse more dogs with interesting jobs. Do you work your dog or dog?  Get in touch with Kate Fairweather if you're interested in coming on the show on team@shineradio.uk.  Kate is always at the Countryside Alliance country sports show and the Alresford Agricultural Show, both in September in Hampshire. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2024  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We first heard about the work of Reid the biosecurity dog five months back.  Conservationist and handler Rachel Cripps talks to presenter Kate Fairweather about Reid's work, visiting Scotland's islands during the course of the year, in all weathers, searching for evidence of rat incursions.  Rachel explains the plans for winter, when weather stops all island visits, and how she keeps Reid ticking over and his skills developing.  What is biosecurity? Biosecurity is the practice of protecting places from the threats to wildlife posed by the introduction of new diseases or types of plants or animals that do not naturally occur there. The work of Biosecurity for Scotland focuses on protecting 38 seabird islands around Scotland from invasive non-native mammalian predators, such as rats, mice, mink and stoat. These Scottish islands are remote, home to many globally important colonies of seabirds. Native seabirds, which have not evolved alongside predators and are vulnerable to invasive predators, which eat the eggs, chicks and sometimes adult birds. Thanks to Sophie at RSPB for introducing Reid and Rachel to the show.  NTS and NatureScot.Biosecurity for Scotland  is a partnership of RSPB Scotland, National Trust for Scotland and NatureScot. This project is supported by the Scottish Government's Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot. Other dogs working in conservation Reid the bio security dog - the original interview from May 2024; Skye, the stoat detection dog working to keep Orkney free from predators; A team of five detection dogs survey the Isle of May for ground nesting storm petrels; Barley the conservation dog and his international projects; Nica, Nettle and Phoenix, the Japanese knotweed detection dogs. Do you work your dog or dogs?  Get in touch with Kate at team@shineradio.uk with suggestions or introductions to working dogs to feature on the show - she's always interested to hear about dogs with interesting jobs. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2024See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With long waiting lists for autism assistance dogs and medical alert dogs, and little prospect of getting one, teenager Ella Walker decided to train her own. Meet Ralph, a multi-tasking medical alert and assistance dog, who's just perfect for Ella. They've been together since golden retriever Ralph was less than a year old. Since then, Ella has focused on training him for a range of specialist tasks and functions, with the help and support form her family and others. Ella explains why she always has her eye on the next milestone for Ralph.  Assistance Dogs UK is an umbrella organisation for many assistance dogs charities  Connected Episodes:  More detail and photos at shineradio.uk/dogswithjobs. Other support dogs and assistance dogs: Darcey the Canine Partner support dog and her owner, a relationship in full bloom  Benjy the trainee guide dog and his first five weeks on the job; Daisy, an autism assistance dog who works with a non-verbal autistic teenager;  Cashel, the autism assistance dog who works with an actor; E.T., the military assistance dog who works with a veteran; Medical alert detection dogs and their lives before they start work; Breck, the guide dog and what a mature guiding partnership looks like. Find more dogs with interesting jobs.  © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2024See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dogs pretty much outnumbered people at the Country Sports Day at Bereleigh, East Meon, both inside and outside the arena. A particular delight was the arena demonstration from seasoned gun dog trainer, Graham Watkins, whose five spaniels, including a talented two year old and a 12 year grande dame, showed the range of jobs these dogs do on shoots during the season. Dogs with Jobs presenter Kate Fairweather, caught up with veteran trainer Graham Watkins, who has five decades of experience training gun dogs. Semi retired now, he trains just a couple of dogs at a time - this is the voice of experience. Drawing on the spaniels in the arena on this particular day, he talks talent, training, breeding and career progression for his spaniels. Recorded at the Hampshire Country Sports Day, 2024. Sporting dog episodes: Echo, Delta and Polar, the gun dog trio (September 2024) Oberon the working Clumber spaniel (September 2023) Alfie, the waterfowling retreiver (October 2023) Who's winning at the South of England Hound Show? (August 2023) The Sealyham terrier Rat Pack (July 2023) Meet the Beagles! (October 2022) Debit and Dervish, the hunting hound pups (November 2021) An insight into the breeding of hounds (November 2021) Dogs with Jobs features the full range of working dogs, therapy dogs, military and service dogs, assistance dogs, bio detection dogs and other, random occupations such as truffle hunting, modelling and more. Browse more dogs with interesting jobs. Do you work your dog or dog?  Get in touch with Kate Fairweather if you're interested in coming on the show on team@shineradio.uk.  Kate is always at the Countryside Alliance country sports show and the Alresford Agricultural Show, both in September in Hampshire. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2024  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black Labrador, Echo and her daughters, Delta and Polar pick up on shoots in the shooting season, and excel at scurries, trials and other activities during the summer. The trio are much loved pets, but their owner, Kevin Warburton, is also a seasoned gun dog handler and part of the Hamble and Hound Gun dog Club. The club puts on scurries at the South Downs Show, which takes place just outside Petersfield every summer.   Kevin tells Dogs with Jobs presenter Kate Fairweather how he keeps them fit and well for the season, and how the gun dog training and activities keep his three Labradors happy and stimulated. Recorded at the South Downs Show, 2024. Sporting dog episodes: Oberon the working Clumber spaniel (September 2023) Alfie, the waterfowling retreiver (October 2023) Who's winning at the South of England Hound Show? (August 2023) The Sealyham terrier Rat Pack (July 2023) Meet the Beagles! (October 2022) Debit and Dervish, the hunting hound pups (November 2021) An insight into the breeding of hounds (November 2021) Dogs with Jobs features the full range of working dogs, therapy dogs, military and service dogs, assistance dogs, bio detection dogs and other, random occupations such as truffle hunting, modelling and more. Browse more dogs with interesting jobs. Do you work your dog or dog?  Get in touch with Kate Fairweather if you're interested in coming on the show on team@shineradio.uk.  Kate is always at the Countryside Alliance country sports show and the Alresford Agricultural Show, both in September in Hampshire. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2024See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daisie is a black Labrador retriever, who works as an "ambassadog" for the assistance dog charity, Canine Partners.  Daisie and her handler, Ellie Chadwick, demonstrate to the general public the various tasks that an assistance may do to support its disabled human handler. They do this on a voluntary basis at weekends at country shows and other events all over the country, as part of the charity's fundraising efforts.  Ellie's day job is also within Canine Partners, and she has spent her career to date working with and training support dogs. This is linked to the last Dogs with Jobs episode, which focused on the canine/human partnership in action - that of eight year old golden retriever, Darcey and her human partner, Wren Rawlings. They have been partnered for seven years, and Wren gives an articulate and nuanced account of their relationship and how it has evolved and changed his life.  By coincidence, Ellie, whom we hear from in this episode, is the Canine Partners liaison link with Darcey and Wren - making this episode a companion piece. Recorded at the South Downs Show, 2024.  More detail and photos at shineradio.uk/dogswithjobs.  Find out more about Canine Partners - from puppy walking to assistance dogs. Other support dogs and assistance dogs episodes:  Darcey, the assistance dog and her human partner of seven years Benjy the trainee guide dog and his first five weeks on the job; Daisy, an autism assistance dog who works with a non-verbal autistic teenager;  Cashel, the autism assistance dog who works with a working actor; E.T., the military assistance dog who works with a veteran; Medical alert detection dogs and their lives before they start work; Breck, the guide dog and what a mature guiding partnership looks like. Do you work your dog or dogs? I'd love to hear from you if so - or perhasp you can recommend someone else who works their dog or dogs. Get in touch with me, Kate, on team@shineradio.uk or katefairweather5@gmail.com. Find more dogs with interesting jobs.  © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2024See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Darcey, the golden Labrador retriever has been partnered with illustrator and teaching assistant, Wren Rawlings for over six years.  Wren explains to presenter Kate Fairweather what Darcey does for him and how the partnership has seen him through a roller coaster seven years. Having had pretty normal health through his childhood and teenage years, Wren was struck with life-altering illness when he was a university student, which left him disabled. The partnership is one of Canine Partners' many successes: Wren starts a teaching job in September and is getting married in a month after that - with Darcey as ring bearer, at the heart of the ceremony in October. It's a life affirming tale of triumph over adversity. Darcey was trained specifically for Wren by Canine Partners, the support dog charity.   More detail and photos at shineradio.uk/dogswithjobs. Other support dogs and assistance dogs:  Benjy the trainee guide dog and his first five weeks on the job; Daisy, an autism assistance dog who works with a non-verbal autistic teenager;  Cashel, the autism assistance dog who works with a working actor; E.T., the military assistance dog who works with a veteran; Medical alert detection dogs and their lives before they start work; Breck, the guide dog and what a mature guiding partnership looks like. Find more dogs with interesting jobs.  © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2024See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mika is one of two wellbeing and trauma support dogs working in London's Metropolitan Police supporting officers' wellbeing, often in the face of trauma and emotionally challenging work. As a working chocolate Labrador, she's a distinctive presence and something of a one off, recruited specifically for healing work.  One reason that Mika and her canine colleague, Dexter and their handlers are interesting is that they and their handlers are on the payroll. The therapy dog model is well established in the UK, but these dogs are part of the mental health support structure, and perform a key role in signposting further support, as P.C. Morgan Heath explains to Dogs with Jobs presenter Kate Fairweather.  As so often with wellbeing and emotional support dogs, the initiative emerged organically, rather as it did with other emotional support dogs we've featured on the podcast (details below).  Handler, P.C. Morgan Heath tells the story of Mika and the original trauma support dog, Dexter, came to the Met, which has the largest dog section and breeding programme in the country. It's a moving tale, which has its origins in the Covid lockdown. Morgan was formerly an officer in the mounted police before injury forced her to give up riding, retrained and joined the dog section in a mental health support role.  Recorded at Goodwoof 2024, on the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex.  You may also enjoy these connected episodes: Champ, the engagement dog working in child protection in the Victoria police Keo the well being dog in the UK police; and Mabel the emotional support worker in the Fire Service Do you work your dog? Or perhaps you know someone else who might like to come on the show?  I love all and any working dogs and am always looking for dogs to interview.  Get in touch with me, Kate, via team@shineradio.uk. Find more dogs with interesting jobs.  © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2023See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A window into the world of forensic police dogs within the Metropolitan Police, the UK's largest urban police force.   Police Constable Clyde Charlesworth has worked forensic dogs for over 15 years, having worked on many significant UK disasters, such as the collapse of Grenfell tower in London, the Croydon tram crash, searches for missing persons Sarah Everard, April Jones, Alice Gross. Clyde talks to Dogs with Jobs presenter, Kate Fairweather in between displays in the arena in Goodwoof and explains the scope of work within this scent detection discipline.  Forensic dogs' work is vital in finding evidence to support convictions for violent crime.  Clyde currently has three dogs - General Purpose Police Dog Bonnie, a black German Shepherd and two spaniels - Rambo, the forensic dog, and Jeff the trainee forensic dog. Clyde also talks about Rambo's sub-specialism, finding bodies in water.  Despite the sad circumstances in which Rambo and others like him work, this is a lovely relaxed listen, and was recorded in the beautiful surroundings of the Goodwood Estate, at the dog event, Goodwoof 2024. Photo credit: @nonineedsmedia Related episodes:  P.D. Meika, who searches for London criminals' cash, drugs and firearms  P.D. Ted, the explosives detection dog with the West Midlands Police P.D. Jax the victim recovery dog with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary; Champ, the office based engagement dog in child protection team in the Victorian police in Australia Mabel the emotional support dog in the Hampshire & Isle of Wight fire service P.D. Didi, the general purpose police dog Keo, the wellbeing support dog in the police Do you work your dog or dogs?  Or perhaps know someone else whose dog is doing an interesting job? Please get in touch!  I love to hear about dogs with interesting dogs. Find me at kfairweather5@gmail.com or team@shineradio.uk.   © & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2024See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Skye, an English springer spaniel who is one of a ten strong stoat detection dog team working on the Orkney Native Wildlife Project. That may sound like a lot of dogs, but since 2010, when the first stoat was spotted on Orkney, this INCREDIBLY successful predator has bred in its thousands, posing a huge problem to the island's wildlife:   Its super high metabolism means it eats 25% of its own body weight every day; It's not fussy - eggs, chicks, voles, mice, rabbits, hedgehogs, fish, insects and even roadkill are all acceptable; It tends to kill more than it needs to eat and stores the rest to eat later; It's an amazing hunter -  fast, agile, can climb well and has great eyesight, hearing and sense of smell; It's a great swimmer too, and can swim 3 km or more (eg to another island); When the baby stoats, called kits, leave home, they can travel over 40 miles in search of their own territory. Handler and conservationist Chantel Carr explains to Dogs with Jobs presenter Kate Fairweather that just two years ago, stoats were running around all over Orkney. Since then, over 6,000 stoats have been trapped. Now the numbers are coming down, the dogs' work is even more important, as they actively find stoat scat (poo) and can alert the team to “stoat hot spots”.   The Orkney team swaps information and best practice with counterparts in New Zealand, where stoats were introduced to keep rabbits down, but have caused the extinction of a number of native birds.   Find out more information on the Orkney Native Wildlife Project; Find out more about the work of the RSPB in Scotland and NatureScot, which support the Orkney Native Wildlife Project.  Other dogs working in conservation Reid, the bio-security dog, who patrols the Scottish isles  Five detection dogs survey the Isle of May for storm petrels Barley the conservation dog and his international projects Nica, Nettle and Phoenix, the Japanese knotweed detection dogs Do you work your dog or dogs?  Kate would love to hear from you.  Get in touch via team@shineradio.uk or katefairweather5@gmail.com, and follow Dogs with Jobs on your podcast app. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2024See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The display from the Odyssey Flyball Club proved one of the delights of the Goodwoof arena at the Goodwood Estate in Sussex a few weeks back. Flyballer handler Hilary Larkham explains to Dogs with Jobs presenter Kate Fairweather what flyball is all about, how it came to the UK, and why precision timing is just as important as speed in this wildly exciting, four dog relay race. Although you can see flyball at Crufts every year, this emerging, wildly exciting relay race over obstacles is not as well known as it deserves to be in the UK. We hope to bring you a longer version, but this is a great taster.  Other interviews recorded at Goodwoof 2024:  Ninja, the Barkour dog, who travels around Europe practising the noble art of parkour, or freerunning; Police Dog Meika, who searches for criminals cash, drugs and firearms with the London Metropolitan Police Find out more about Goodwoof.  Do you work your dog or dogs?  If you know a dog with an interesting job, Kate would love to hear from you!  Find me at kfairweather5@gmail.com or team@shineradio.uk.   © & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2024See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Six year Ninja is probably the best known proponent of "barkour" (parkour for dogs) in the world. Owner and handler Dominik Arend used to teach parkour to children in his native Germany, but Ninja and he now work professionally together. Parkour, also known as free-running or l'art du déplacement (art of movement) originated in France and is a discipline, which demands both athleticism and artistic expression. The urban environment is viewed as an obstacle course to be engaged with in one's own individual, often gymnastic style. Dominik is eloquent and fascinating on the activity that has turned into a career for them both and how their relationship has developed over their shared working life, which clearly suits them.  Barkour's popularity is such, that Ninja and Dominik have almost half a million followers on Instagram and recently found themselves performing at Goodwoof, on the Goodwood Estate in Sussex. Dogs with Jobs presenter Kate Fairweather caught up with them both backstage. Thanks to Dominik for taking time to chat (@parkour.ninja on Instagram). Thanks to Noni Needs (@nonineedsmedia on Instagram) for the photo. Find out more about Goodwoof.  Do you work your dog or dogs?  If you know a dog with an interesting job, Kate would love to hear from you!  Email team@shineradio.uk or katefairweather5@gmail.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet talented youngster, Police Dog Meika, of the London Metropolitan Police's Dog Section.  A week shy of her second birthday, Springer spaniel Meika is already trained in detection work across several disciplines, including drugs, firearms and cash detection.  Police Constable Emma Robling explains some of the training and demands on Meika, as well as what a working day looks like. She also gives some context - the Met has its own breeding scheme and lays claim to the UK's biggest urban police dog section, with a dizzying variety of specialist search disciplines. Meika and Emma are part of one of four teams on duty at any given time in London.   Recorded at Goodwoof, the annual dog event held on the Goodwood Estate, where Meika and Emma were part of an arena display put on by the Metropolitan Police's Dog Section.  Thanks to Emma for taking a few minutes to talk about Meika's talents and work.  Thanks to Noni Needs (@nonineedsmedia on IG) for the photo.  Related episodes:  P.D. Ted, the explosives detection dog with the West Midlands Police P.D. Jax the victim recovery dog with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary; Champ, the office based engagement dog in child protection team in the Victorian police in Australia Mabel the emotional support dog in the Hampshire & Isle of Wight fire service P.D. Didi, the general purpose police dog Keo, the wellbeing support dog in the police More photos at shineradio.uk/dogswithjobs  Do you work your dog or dogs?  Or perhaps know someone else whose dog is dooing an interesting job.  I love to hear about dogs with interesting dogs. Find me at kfairweather5@gmail.com or team@shineradio.uk.   © & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2024See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear about the vital contribution to seabird conservation made by Reid, an English springer spaniel who works as a rodent detection dog in the Scottish islands. Conservationist and handler Rachel Cripps talks to presenter Kate Fairweather about Reid's work, visiting nearly 40 islands during the course of the year, in all weathers, searching for evidence of rat incursions.  Biosecurity is the practice of protecting places from the threats to wildlife posed byintroducing new diseases or types of plants or animals that do not naturally occur there. The work of Biosecurity for Scotland focuses on protecting 38 seabird islands around Scotland from invasive non-native mammalian predators, such as rats, mice, mink and stoat. These Scottish islands are remote, home to many globally important colonies of seabirds. Native seabirds, which have not evolved alongside predators and are vulnerable to invasive predators, which eat the eggs, chicks and sometimes adult birds. Thanks to Sophie at RSPB for introducing Reid and Rachel to the show.  Biosecurity for Scotland is funded by NRF, and is a partnership of RSPB Scotland, NTS and NatureScot. Other dogs working in conservation   Do you work your dog or dogs?  Get in touch with Kate at team@shineradio.uk with suggestions or introductions to working dogs to feature on the show - she's always interested to hear about dogs with interesting jobs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hear a lot about breeding in working dogs. Yet we know little about their brains:  How might a guide dog's brain differ from that of a hunting hound? Where does personality fit in with a working dog?  Can a dog have ADHD?  Kate Fairweather asks these questions and more of Sophie Barton of the Canine Brains Project, based in the Hecht Lab at Harvard University in Boston. Sophie oversees the Working Breed Study at the Canine Brains Project. This is a non-invasive brain imaging study into selected working breeds. A major goal of this research is to benefit the working dog community by improving breeding and training practices. Participate in The Working Breeds Study  More about the Canine Brains Project  Do you work your dog or dogs? Get in touch with Kate via team@shineradio.uk if you have a dog that does an interesting job. She loves to hear about working dogs. Also, if you have suggestions for guests for the podcast - either handlers or people who are working in an academic or training area in this field, please do get in touch! © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2024  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Explosives detection work is a highly specialised discipline within the police, and the stakes are high. On this episode of Dogs with Jobs, we meet Police Dog Ted, one of 17 explosive detection dogs working within the West Midlands Police Service, one of the largest urban police forces in the UK, which even has its own breeding scheme.   Ted's handler, Police Constable Damo Smart, has over 21 years' experience as a police dog handler and instructor. Damo was part of the West Midlands Police display team in the Crufts arena with dozens of police colleagues and dogs. Performance over, he joins Dogs with Jobs presenter Kate Fairweather in the press room at Crufts to talk about P.D. Ted, and where such specialised police dogs fit into the overall framework and resources within the police service. Travel sickness is a no-no for explo dogs, who must be away from home for big sports events and royal occasions as part of the job.  Damo explains why it also takes a certain attitude from the handler to work these dogs, given the high stakes involved. So a steady attitude and the ability to relax once the work is over is key. Damo explains what he looks for in an explo dog and what it takes to search at this level - and to search safely.   Connected episodes:  Jax the victim recovery dog with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary; Mabel the emotional support dog in the Hampshire & Isle of Wight fire service P.D. Didi, the general purpose police dog Keo, the wellbeing support dog in the police More photos at shineradio.uk/dogswithjobs  Do you work your dog or dogs? If you would be interested in coming on the show, please get in touch with Kate at team@shineradio.uk or call 10730 555 500.  © & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2024  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Bakersfield and Strike, as they relax in the dressing room, during a break between performances. These two collies are competing at the highest level in the Heelwork to Music competition at Crufts, the world's biggest dog show.  It's a glamorous business, yet the atmosphere in the dressing room is cosy and good natured. Both handlers are veterans of the heelwork to music competition, with many appearances at Cruft behind them.  Bakersfield's handler, Lucy Creek, explains what the sport entails and how she fell into it. To do well, her dogs have a focus and energy that marks them out from being tiny puppies. Lucy explains how distractions in the arena might call for a bit of improvisation on the fly. Heelwork to music demands precision movement from the dog. The freestyle round allows plenty of room for humour and artistic inspiration and the individual performances are very different from each other, so a delight to watch from the arena side. It's the first time Strike has performed at Crufts, but his handler, Lucy Heath has been here 16 times with various dogs, performing in the heel work to music category. She's honouring her last, beloved dog by choosing her favourite medley from the musical, Grease for the freestyle. With Spike by her side, their performance is a huge crowd pleaser. More photos at shineradio.uk/dogswithjobs  Do you work your dog or dogs? If you would be interested in coming on the show, please get in touch with Kate at team@shineradio.uk or call 10730 555 500.  © & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2024    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fascinating and rare glimpse into the world of fox red Labrador Jax, a police victim recovery dog. There are fewer than 40 dogs working in this highly specialised field within the police in the UK.  Victim recovery dogs - also known as cadaver dogs or human remains dogs - search for human remains, blood or tissue as well as shallow graves or blood spattered evidence such as clothing or weapons. The stakes are high. On the one hand, the work of Jax and dogs like him is key to identifying forensic evidence, which can be definitive in prosecuting violent crimes. But there's a very human side too: in a search for a missing person who is presumed dead, the location of a body can bring much needed closure to family and loved ones.  It's not an everyday sort of job, and Jax is often deployed as part of a large missing person search, travelling from home and dropping into unfamiliar sites. His steadiness, sociability and love of the hunt means that he and his handler are a highly effective part of the wider search teams. Police Constable Felicity Thomas of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary talks training, rewards and the thrill of the search with Dogs with Jobs presenter, Kate Fairweather. Browse more dogs with interesting jobs. Hear about the astonishing work of Medical Detection Dogs Florin, Iggy and Asher Keo the Oscar Kilo (OK9) wellbeing dog in the police Meet Mabel, emotional support worker in the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire Service, from her owner, the Chief Fire Officer. Hear about Didi the Police Dog Do you work your dog or dogs? If you would be interested in coming on the show, please get in touch with Kate at team@shineradio.uk or call 10730 555 500.  © & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2024  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This month's episode is a short but interesting one. Presenter Kate Fairweather introduces springer spaniel Bonnie, who works as a bedbug inspector checking hotels - including some household name, super smart hotels - for bedbugs.   Many of the best hotels consider it best practice, to have regular sweeps for bedbugs.  Sometimes a hotel has had a past problem, had it treated, and wants to check that these unwelcome little visitors have not returned.   Other clients are highly sensitive and don't want anyone to know they have bedbug detection dogs in the house - which also makes sense! For more sensitive clients, Simon Chapman and bedbug detection dog Bonnie do out of hours visits, leaving Bonnie's working harness at home, and pretend to be a regular owner and pet dog out on an evening walk...  Simon Chapman of K9 Manhunt Scotland explains to Dogs with Jobs presenter Kate Fairweather how he keeps Bonnie motivated and up to scratch.  Browse more dogs with interesting jobs. Hear Simon talking about how he took five detection dogs to the Isle of May for a conservation project  Do you work your dog or dogs? If you would be interested in coming on the show, please get in touch with Kate at team@shineradio.uk or call 10730 555 500.  © & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2024See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first seabird conservation project to use detection dogs in the UK. A team of five detection dogs are deployed to an island off the east coast of Scotland, UK. "Sprocker" spaniels Molly and Nelson, Storm the Belgian Shepherd and Piper the Springer spaniel are experienced detection dogs, but this was their very first conservation project. With a short time window in which to work on the project, a pet dog, Esme, a Belgian Malinois, was been trained as a backup.   It was a first for NatureScot, which looks after Scotland's natural heritage and, at the time, was the first time detection dogs had been used in the UK in seabird  conservation work with seabirds. Their job was to start the process of surveying the Isle of May, which is a nature reserve, to establish the size of a new colony of storm petrels. The storm petrel is a shy, nocturnal, ground nesting bird hitherto not seen on in the east of Scotland. How did they know the storm petrels were there? As part of conservation efforts in the UK and elsewhere, fine mist nets are used as a safe way to capture wild birds for ringing. Licensed ringers place a lightweight ring with a unique number around a bird's leg. Once ringed, an individual bird's activity can be noted. Such information allows conservation organisations to understand bird population movement, changes and trends, and provides information vital for bird conservation. It was through this practice that the presence of storm petrels on the east coast of Scotland was first noted. Simon Chapman of K9 Manhunt Scotland explains to Dogs with Jobs presenter Kate Fairweather how the project came about, what the challenges were and how the dogs - most of whom usually work as drugs dogs - stepped up to the challenge of a new type of project and distraction-heavy environment. Other conservation detection dogs episodes: Barley the conservation detection dog and his international projects Nica, Nettle and Phoenix, the Japanese Knotweed detection dogs Do you work your dog or dogs? Contact me, Kate Fairweather if you would be interested in coming on the show, at team@shineradio.uk. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2024  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet a talented trio of highly specialised detection dogs, who focus on UK's most  invasive plant, the notoriously tough Japanese knotweed. Nica the springer spaniel, Nettle the working cocker spaniel and Phoenix the Dutch shepherd devote their entire working lives and considerable skill on finding Japanese Knotweed. Together with their talented handler, Kat Janczur of Canine Detection Solutions, they work with knotweed eradication companies, landowners and developers to survey construction sites, highways, railroads and individual properties.  Japanese Knotweed is the UK's most invasive plant.  Over two metres high in full bloom, it has evolved to withstand volcanic eruptions and seismic events, and can lie dormant for years, waiting to regerminate once conditions are favourable.  It's a very, very tough plant, which means that it's almost impossible to eradicate, and a constant fight to keep it down. Nica, Nettle and Phoenix can detect even tiny bits of knotweed, as well as the underground rhizomes, which humans cannot see. This which makes them the most effective way to check sites, all year round. Kat explains how she keeps the team physically fit and mentally at the top of their game for this high stakes detection work. She explains some of the techniques she uses to keep her dogs independent, and to avoid handler bias when it comes to detection work. Connected episodes: Barley the conservation detection dog and his international projects Do you work your dog or dogs? Contact me, Kate Fairweather if you would be interested in coming on the show, at team@shineradio.uk.© & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2024    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy New year!  This episode focuses on Barley, a hugely talented 10 year old border collie, who works as a conservation detection dog on projects in the U.S. and Latin America.   Barley has travelled all over national parks in the United States as well as Guatemala in the course of a varied and glittering career to date. He has trained and worked on 16 separate plant and animal scents, from zebra mussels to ocelots and other wildcats.  And there's more on the horizon for Barley, who will be adventuring with his owner and handler to Alaska's remotest islands to study wolves, as well as travelling to El Salvador, where his olfactory superpowers will be used to identify any evidence of puma activity (pumas were declared extinct in El Salvador in the 1940s, but have been spotted in the last five years). Barley's owner Kayla Fratt is an ecologist, dog behaviourist and founder of the U.S. based non-profit, K9 Conservationists. Kayla is currently studying for her PhD at Oregon State University, and canine conservation detection is a significant part of her PhD. A recipient of the prestigious U.S. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Kayla is highly knowledgeable, in love with her work and a lively and fun interviewee in a wide ranging conversation with host Kate Fairweather. The use of conservation dogs is highly evolved in the U.S. so this is a great episode to hear an overview of the scope of conservation work done by dogs. As part of field trials, dogs collect valuable data for conservation purposes, enhancing our understanding of different species' population, behaviour and movement (migration), including those of endangered species.  Such data can, in turn, feed into understanding the bigger picture - how temperature changes are likely to affect biodiversity, for example.  More information on the work of K9 conservationists, including their 18 week course on training conservation detection dogs. Do you work your dog or dogs? Please get in touch with Kate Fairweather on team@shineradio.uk to suggest a topic, interviewee or with any feedback - I love to hear from you!  You can find more photos etc at shineradio.uk/dogswithjobs Find more dogs with interesting jobs.  © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2024  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Presenter Kate Fairweather and co-producer John Welsman and his guide dog Benjy are delighted to be recording from the UK-based charity, Guide Dogs charity's  Christmas Brunch.  Over 50 dogs in a lovely restaurant in the heart of the City of London - what a delight. What an amazing atmosphere and absolutely no barking or dodgy behaviour, because they're all beautifully trained.  They're not all guide dogs: Kate meets Zack the buddy dog, who provides companionship to an entire family but mainly supports his disabled young adult, also called Zack.  We also meet Upton the Ambassadog and hear about his fundraising activities, as well as two beautifully named puppies, Errol and Dylan introduced by Glenys and Sue, who explain what's involved in being a puppy walker for the charity. Guide Dogs' Dave Kent explains how the Christmas brunch celebrates accessibility and why restauranteur Martin decided to host the event at the the M Restaurant in Thread Needle Walk, to celebrate accessibility.  Connected episodes  Follow Benjy the trainee guide dog over his five weeks training on the job John Welsman talks about how his relationship with Benjy's predecessor, Breck the guide dog developed over eight years of partnership. Meet Daisy, the autism assistance dog If you work your dog or dogs, or know someone else who does, and who would be interesting to hear from, get in touch with Kate at team@shineradio.uk. Browse other dogs with interesting jobs. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2023  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Endeavoured" is a show dog champion with a lot of silver trophies.  His owner Patricia Sutton describes working life as a show dog, and the qualities needed to compete at national level. Pat is hugely knowledgeable, with an earthy turn of phrase, so the episode is packed with humour and detail. She runs the venerable Rossut Beagles kennel, which was founded by Pat's parents in the 1940s. Known as Dev these days, the former show champion is living the dream, finding equal success in his post-showing career as a stud dog.  In a first for Dogs with Jobs, we're giving a mild content warning on today's episode: expect a fairly frank discussion about sex and the mating process.  Other beagle-filled episodes:  Keo, the beagle cross, who works as a wellbeing dog in the police service;  A kennel huntsman on working with a modern beagle pack in Meet the Beagles!  Lifelong beagle enthusiast Matthew Higgs on how to spot the wining beagle at a working hound show; Do you work your dog or dogs?  Please get in touch with Kate at team@shineradio.uk if you'd be interested in talking about your working dog.  More photos etc at shineradio.uk/dogswithjobs Find more dogs with interesting jobs.  © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2023See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A rare glimpse into truffle hunting at the highest level, from Italy's National Working Trials, which took place in October 2023.  Louise Mizen Ferguson, Chairman of the Lagotto Romagnolo Club of Great Britain takes us, via her audio diary, on a road trip to Italy with her Lagotti, Dario and Sage.   This is the full version.  You can also listen to editorial highlights in the most recent episode of Dogs with Jobs, the show that celebrates the key workers of the canine world.  Hear the editorial highlights: British truffle hounds find success at Italy's National Truffle Trials; Meet another truffle hound, Giglee, finding tuber borcii on a frozen morning in Sussex Listen to more dogs with interesting jobs.  Find out more about the Lagotto Romagnolo Club of Great Britain Do you work your dog or dogs, or know someone else who does?   Kate would LOVE to hear from you on team@shineradio.uk.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of Dogs with Jobs gives a rare glimpse into truffle hunting at the highest level, from the Italian National Working Trials, which took place in October.  Louise Mizen Ferguson, chairman of the Chairman of the Lagotto Romagnolo Club of Great Britain takes Dogs with Jobs to Italy.  Her own Lagottos, Dario and Sage, have had a lot of success in the show ring both in the UK and Italy. Indeed Dario has previously been graded in both the show ring and the working trails in Italy at this same event.  This episode is an excerpt from an audio diary recorded by Louise in Italy. Louise discusses the intricacies of the working trials with fellow British Lagotto owner Lynn, who works Sibby.  She also talks to Lucy, whose dog Elsa performed well in the "tourist" class and about this wonderful breed in general. It's great to have to gain a first hand account of what it is like to compete at this level, with the world's top truffle hounds. We'll be back in the next epsiode with highlights of Dario and Sage's performances in the working trails. Listen to Louise's full length audio diary of the trip. Connected episodes If you enjoyed hearing about these working trials for truffle hounds, you may also like these episodes: Diva at the the UK's National Sheepdog Trials Clover, who competes at scurries in the UK at country shows Drake, a gun dog champion at working trails Another truffle hound, Giglee  Do you work your dog or dogs?  Please don't hesitate to get in touch - I LOVE to meet working dogs. You can reach Kate on team@shineradio.uk and explore the webpage for the series at shineradio.uk/dogswithjobs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Breed enthusiast Barbara Brown introduces the wonderfully named Oberon. He's a Clumber Spaniel, which is the largest English spaniel, and is a vulnerable breed, hailing from Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire.  Oberon works as a gundog, specialising in heavy cover - using his superior nose to clear ground after a shoot. Barbara talks to Dogs with Jobs presenter Kate Fairweather about his talent, and discusses the breed, which is strongly associated with the Royal Family - King George V kept a pack of them, as did Prince Albert and King Edward VII. Recorded at the Hampshire Country Sports Day 2023. (Photo credit: Heidrun Humphries) Connected Episodes: Alfie, the waterfowling retreiver (October 2023) Who's winning at the South of England Hound Show? (August 2023) The Sealyham terrier Rat Pack (July 2023) Meet the Beagles! (October 2022) Debit and Dervish, the hunting hound pups (November 2021) An insight into the breeding of hounds (November 2021) Dogs with Jobs features the full range of working dogs, therapy dogs, military and service dogs, assistance dogs, bio detection dogs and other, random occupations such as truffle hunting, modelling and more. Browse more dogs with interesting jobs. Do you work your dog or dog?  Get in touch with Kate Fairweather if you're interested in coming on the show on team@shineradio.uk.  Kate will be at the Countryside Alliance country sports show and the Alresford Agricultural Show, both in September in Hampshire. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2023  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Fairweather discovers how far instinct can take a sheepdog with no formal training when it comes to working sheep.  The dog handler, trainer and author, Stuart Barnes performs as the “Dog and Duck Show” at country shows. He draws on decades of experience as a shepherd for his performance, which took place at the South Downs Show in August 2023. Stuart introduces Jess the sheepdog and Lassie the totally untrained sheepdog, who has spent most of her life in a kennel.  They star in the “Dog and Sheep Show 2023”, renamed because of the ban on poultry gatherings in the wake of Avian flu. Stuart explains how he manages to coax a creditable performance from both dogs in the arena, despite their varying levels of experience. He shares stories and observations on dog behaviour, recalling some of the outstanding dogs he has worked with, and the combination of talent, perseverance and experience gained in the lambing pastures that characterised them. Connected Epsiodes (sheepdogs and herding):  Diva the border collie performs at the National Sheepdog Trails 2023 Sheepdogs Max, Edie and Joe gear up for lambing at Rothercombe Farm Do you work your dog or dogs?  Please get in touch wtih Kate at katefairweather5@gmail.com if you'd be interested in talking about your working dog.  More photos and a video of the Dog and Sheep Show at shineradio.uk/dogswithjobs Browse more dogs with interesting jobs.  © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2023See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Alfie, a super-fit fox-red Labrador whose owner Chris Green performs as the "Cornish countryman" at country shows. Water-fowling is hunting wild ducks or geese for the pot. It remains legal under the UK's Hunting Act to hunt particular species during the shooting season. It is both solitary and - it's fair to say - a minority sport. Both dog and human require patience and a high level of physical fitness. Chris has ornithologist levels of bird knowledge and the last piece in the puzzle is havng a well trained and talented retriever like Alfie for company.  Chris explains Alfie's job during a long day spent water-fowling, which starts long before dawn. Chris learned from his father the art of water-fowling, and practices it today on various estuaries throughout the South West of the UK. He gives an insight into this ancient practice as he chats to Dogs with Jobs presenter, Kate Fairweather, in a break from performing. This lively interview was recorded at the Country Sports Day 2023 at Bereleigh, East Meon.   Connected episodes You might also like other country show episodes:  How to spot the winning beagle at a hound show; Clover, the accidental gun dog; Meet the South Down Bloodhounds; and Meet the Sealyham terrier rat pack;  Do you work your dog or know someone else who might like to come on the show? Get in touch with Kate, via team@shineradio.uk. Find more dogs with interesting jobs.  © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2023  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Presenter Kate Fairweather dropped in on this year's National Sheepdog Trials 2023, which took place in August. With 150 dogs competing over three days for the privilege of representing England at the next stage, it's a jaw-dropping display of human/canine teamwork, precision herding and communication. While they respond to whistled commands, these dogs must work independently of their handlers, often out of sight.   Shepherd Cathy Cassie introduces Diva, who works a large Cumbrian flock of “heavy” sheep - an expression that, in the sheepdog world, is code for uncooperative and even aggressive… Cathy explains how the training required to compete in trails gives Diva an edge in her day job.  Trainer and past winner Stuart Walton explains the site layout and why sheepdogs need courage as well as intelligence.  Junior Vice President Richard Smith explains the context of competitive trailing. Recorded on location amid the wind whistling on a rather bleak hillside in Yorkshire, it's fascinating to hear about the astonishing level of precision demanded to compete at national level.  More information from the International Sheepdog Society. Connected Epsiodes:  Sheepdogs Max, Edie and Joe gear up for lambing at Rothercombe Farm Do you work your dog or dogs?  Please get in touch wtih Kate at katefairweather5@gmail.com if you'd be interested in talking about your working dog.  More photos etc at shineradio.uk/dogswithjobs Find more dogs with interesting jobs.  © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2023See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Louis the yellow labrador volunteers at Queen Alexandra (QA) Hospital, a large and busy hospital serving Portsmouth and the surrounding area. Today, Louis is joining a monthly session for those who serve or have served in the military. Led by Keith Malcolm, Armed Forces Covenant Lead Nurse, it is a welcoming space, just off the canteen, where people can relax with people who have experienc of and understand life in the services. The sessions are open to patients, relatives and carers.  Louis is just one of around 15 or so of the Pets as Therapy team of volunteers at QA, whose contribution to hospital life was recognised, uniquely, by the Volunteer Award at the Parliamentary NHS Awards 2023. They were the only non-human team shortlisted. In this rather gentle episode, we pad through the hospital with Louis on his way to work and get a sense of the impact of his presence on patients, relatives and carers through his interactions.  Other therapy dog episodes:  Sprout the care home visitor Phantom the secondary school support worker Millie the hospital visitor Patricia Bland on the qualities needed to volunteer as a therapy dog. More dogs with interesting jobs. Find out more about volunteering with Pets as Therapy. Do you work your dog or dog? If you'd like to come on the show, Kate loves to hear about dogs with interesting jobs! Get in touch with her on team@shineradio.uk.  © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2022See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet a working rat pack of Sealyham terriers, a Welsh breed, which is teetering on the edge of extinction. Recorded at the Game Fair 2023 at Ragley Hall, interviewee Harry Parsons is known by many for his work in keeping the Sealyham terrier breed viable.  He has a pack of 30 at home, and has dedicated the last several decades to this engaging, intelligent terrier. With fewer than 140 puppies born last year, the Sealyham terrier is well under the 300 puppies a year threshold for being designated a "vulnerable breed".  Harry talks to presenter Kate Fairweather about what he looks for in a terrier as well as the logistics of organising a rat hunt, which remains fully legal under the UK's Hunting Act. He explains that using terriers remains the only alternative to poison for keeping down vermin, particularly in agricultural settings. Clearly devoted to his Sealyhams, he explains how he keeps them from overheating or getting overexcited while working, and how he sees the breed's future.  Find out more about Harry's work with Sealyham terriers. Connected Episodes: Who's winning at the South of England Hound Show? (August 2023) Meet the South Down Bloodhounds (November 2022) Meet the Beagles! (October 2022) Debit and Dervish, the hunting hound pups (November 2021) An insight into the breeding of hounds (November 2021) Dogs with Jobs features the full range of working dogs, therapy dogs, military and service dogs, assistance dogs, bio detection dogs and other, random occupations such as truffle hunting, modelling and more. Browse more dogs with interesting jobs. Do you work your dog or dog?  Get in touch with Kate Fairweather if you're interested in coming on the show on team@shineradio.uk.  Kate will be at the Countryside Alliance country sports show and the Alresford Agricultural Show, both in September in Hampshire. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2023See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Champ is a six year old yellow Labrador retriever working full time as an engagement dog within the Australian police.  It's an office-based role, five days a week for Champ, who supports the police officers' wellbeing within the Victorian Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET), which falls under the aegis of the Victoria police, but which also works collaboratively with other agencies in child protection within the state and nationally. Like emotional support or well being dog programmes elsewhere, Champ's job wasn't necessarily part of a strategy at the start, but grew organically and, as the interview makes clear, was made possible thanks to the generosity of Tessa Stowe of K9Support.com.au. What is notable here is how Champ's role has been surveyed, monitored and embraced by the organisation as a whole. His welfare is as much part of the approach as that of the officers he supports, and it makes the model look sustainable over time.  Champ's role is not just a job - it's a prototype for how police and other emergency services could look at harnessing the emotional welfare benefits of canine company in the workplaces, in Australia and elsewhere. Connected episodes You might also like:  Keo the well being dog in the UK police; and Mabel the emotional support worker in the Fire Service Do you work your dog or know someone else who might like to come on the show? Get in touch with Kate, via team@shineradio.uk. Find more dogs with interesting jobs.  © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2023    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As country show season begins in the UK, this month on Dogs with Jobs, we're seeing some of the top working beagles.   Eleven packs are competing in the South of England Hound Show, which takes place in June each year under the auspices of the South of England Show near Ardingly. It's a timeless scene - show judges wear bowler hats and white coats and the event observes customs that have changed little in centuries. Lifelong beagle enthusiast Matthew Higgs chats to Dogs with Jobs presenter Kate Fairweather from a shady spot by the side of the show ring.   Matthew talks us through the classes. He explains what the judges look for and the qualities required to win a coveted winner's rosette. Matthew discovered beagles as a teenager and has never looked back. His entire family are involved in beagling, and they all “puppy walk”.  This means hosting two or more beagle puppies in much the same way as assistance dog pups spend time with a family to find themselves as individuals, before they start their working lives. Connected episodes  Meet the Beagles! Hear from a kennel huntsman on working - and essentially living with - 51 beagles, recorded at the Alresford Show.   Do you work your dog or dogs? Kate is always interested in dogs with interesting jobs. Get in touch via team@shineradio.uk  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever wondered what assistance dogs' lives are like before they start work?  This month we visit the charity, Medical Detection Dogs and meet the many young dogs in training for medical alert assistance work, who are working towards being placed with a  human partner. The working dogs all live with families and volunteer fosterers at night and for the weekend. In the morning, the various detection dogs are dropped off at work, and the trainee medical alert assistance dogs arrive for training.  Gemma Butlin of Medical Detection Dogs explains to Dogs with Jobs presenter Kate Fairweather how the charity keeps its many dogs relaxed and happy during their training, and what a typical day looks like for the charity's trainee medical alert assistance dogs.   We hear from "puppy picker" Chris, who explains the qualities he looks for in very small puppies, and how they will be gently introduced to a range of stimuli - from hairdryers to tractors.   A varied and exciting puppyhood is a key factor in developing the steadfastiness that will be required of the dogs once they start work with their human partners. Connected episodes: Hear Plum the e-coli detection dog at work at the charity's training centre Meet Dr. Claire Guest and her three bio detection dogs as she describes how labrador Daisy detected her breast cancer, and inspired  the charity, Medical Detection Dogs Hear Simone Brainch of the charity Medical Detection Dogs on medical alert dogs Browse more dogs with interesting jobs. Do you work your dog or dogs? If you would be interested in coming on the show, please get in touch with Kate at team@shineradio.uk or call 10730 555 500.  © & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2022See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the second of the Medical Detection Dogs series, we hear black Labrador retriever Plum at work. Her job is to detect E-coli samples at the Medical Detection Dogs charity's training centre. It's important work! Her trainer, Mark, explains what she does, how long it takes and how they ensure that Plum is rested and ready for work.  Plum is being trained and working in parallel with four other dogs in this area.  All are doing well so far.    Kate Fairweather hears from the scientific supervisor, Sophie, who sets up the working samples and explains how they get the best performance from the dogs.  The training centre is a curious combination of hospital grade cleanliness with dog treats and toys for break-time!  Hear Medical Detection Dogs CEO Dr. Claire Guest explain the charity's work and introduce her own three bio detection dogs - Florin the cancer detection dog, Iggy the trainee and Asher rescue turned super sniffer. Find more dogs with interesting jobs.  Do you work your dog or know someone else who might like to come on the show? Get in touch with Kate via team@shineradio.uk or 01730 555500. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2023See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the first of a two part series, this month, Dogs with Jobs presenter Kate Fairweather visits the charity, Medical Detection Dogs and hears from its CEO, Dr. Claire Guest. Claire led the team responsible for the world's first study of canine detection of bladder cancer, which was published in the BMJ in September 2004. She founded the charity on little more than anecdotes and what was at the time - despite being published in the BMJ -  considered to be an eccentric conviction that dogs' olfactory superpowers could bring something new to the table in cancer research. In a wide ranging conversation, Claire talks candidly about how her first dog, Daisy, detected her own breast cancer. She explains the charity's work in the key area of bio detection (the other is medical alert assistance dogs, which is the subject of a separate  episode).  We are introduced to Claire's three pet dogs, who work as detection dogs at the charity's headquarters. Florin is a red Labrador, whose detection work data is being shared with a research team at M.I.T. in Boston to help them understand and ‘map' how a dog perceives “bio markers” - which means the subtle changes in scent that indicate the changes in a human body caused by cancer or other disease. The data is feeding into the creation of an effective artificial intelligence algorithm for prostate cancer detection. Iggy and Asher are rescue dogs, for whom life as a pet didn't work out and who have settled since being given a job. Superstar Asher started on malaria and moved onto Covid-19. (It is unusual it is rare to be redeployed in this line of work and bio detection dogs tend to specialise for their whole career.  Update: in the King's Birthday Honours in June 2023, Claire was recognised for her work with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Medical Knowledge, Public Health and Wellbeing. As we note in this episode, she started the charity 15 years ago based on little more than a hunch that dogs had plenty to teach us about scent. What a long way it's come since then. Similar or connected episodes Hear E-Coli detection dog Plum at work at the charity's training centre.  Do you work your dog or know someone else who might like to come on the show? Get in touch with Kate, via team@shineradio.uk. Find more dogs with interesting jobs.  © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2023  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A bonus edition of Dogs with Jobs - from the Big Apple! Presenter Kate Fairweather was in New York in April and ran into Caboose, unobtrusively doing his job at Manhattan's Staten Island Ferry Terminal. Meet Caboose, a yellow Labrador as he works the late shift with his owner Michael from 9pm to 5am the next morning. Working with at least two other canine colleagues at any one time, he makes sure that any luggage, panniers or backpacks passing through this important transport hub are clear of explosives. Like many professional dog handlers working in law enforcement, Caboose's handler was formerly a dog handler in the U.S. marines. He talks about what a working day looks like for Caboose. The partners work through an agency and so can be deployed anywhere, but Caboose and Michael's regular patrol patch is the ferry terminal, where there are at least three dogs patrolling at any one time. Do you work your dog or dogs? If you'd be interested in talking about it on the show, please get in touch with Kate at team@shineradio.uk. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Labradors Bess and Buster, trained by police in the UK for detection work in the fight against illegal wildlife trade in Thailand. Bess and Buster will be combating the trafficking of the Critically Endangered pangolin, the worlds only scaly mammal. Thailand is a key trafficking route for both alive and dead pangolins to China and Vietnam, where there is a ready market for their scales and meat.  Grant Miller of ZSL talks to Dogs with Jobs presenter Kate Fairweather about the conservation context and why pangolins matter.  He describes what lies ahead for Buster and Bess, who will join the conservation charity's team of experts in Thailand and work alongside conservationists, border force operatives and Thailand's own police and law enforcement. International collaboration The pair are just one element of a multi-prong approach orchestrated by the conservation charity, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). It is an excitingly collaborative effort, involving the dog training instruction team at the UK's Metropolitan Police, ZSL and Thailand's own law enforcement. Grant explains the knowledge transfer going on, with modern dog training best practices being shared with local conservation workers.  The dogs' initial training in the UK - which both passed with flying colours - will be completed in Thailand, where the scents they've been training with will be mixed with pangolin scales and eventually be withdrawn entirely. At this stage, Bess and Buster will be ready to work in the field with expert local handlers to detect the scent of pangolins being smuggled at airports, ports and roads, so the pangolins can be rescued and released back into the wild.   Why Pangolins?  All eight species of pangolin are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and considered threatened with extinction. Although a total ban on commercial trade in pangolins was introduced in 2017, the world's only scaly mammal is victim to highly unsustainable levels of poaching and illegal trade for their meat, scales and other body parts – with 200,000 pangolins believed to be trafficked every year.  Find out more about ZSL's conservation work.  Browse Dogs with Jobs for more dogs with interesting jobs! Do you work your dog or dogs? If you work your dog or dogs and would be interested in coming on the show, please get in touch with Kate at team@shineradio.uk. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2023See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keo works as an OK9 dog through the police wellbeing charity, Oscar Kilo.  Keo was smuggled to the UK during the lockdown in 2020 - a time when the price of puppies was soaring, and a black market in puppies flourishing. He was rescued by the police, and was eventually adopted by IT specialist Scott Parker, who works for the Gloucester Constabulary. Scott has had his own mental health journey, and he and Keo (who still dislikes lorries) have developed a remarkable bond, which has benefited them both.  Scott is fully trained as a mental health support worker within the police force and Keo trots by his side as a well-being support dog. We hear the various scenarios they attend typically in this interview. Keo's individual story is one of triumph over adversity, helped by and helping his owner, Scott, and sharing the health benefit more widely within the police force.   We hope to capture the big picture too, and profile the work of the OK9 charity over the coming months.  You can find more information on Keo, photos etc on the episode webpage shineradio.uk/dogswithjobs. Similar or connected episodes: Meet Mabel, emotional support worker in the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire Service, from her owner, the Chief Fire Officer. Browse Dogs with Jobs for more dogs with interesting jobs! Do you work your dog or dogs? If you work your dog or dogs and would be interested in coming on the show, please get in touch with Kate at team@shineradio.uk. © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2023  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.