Dogs with Jobs
Society & Culture
About
Celebrate the frontline workers of the canine world. Kate Fairweather comes face to face with a diverse cast of working dogs, perfectly equipped with the instincts, intelligence and training to handle everything their jobs throw at them. Humans and dogs have worked together for centuries - and still do today in our communities. Some work with handlers, drawing on their natural hunting, herding, or guarding instincts, or an exceptional sense of smell. Others perform caring roles, providing companionship and support to humans. Podcast of the Year at the Community Radio Awards 2022. Produced by volunteers at Petersfield's Shine Radio. Contact Kate...
Episodes
- Rey, the one-eyed PTSD assistance dog
This episode explores Rey, a one-eyed PTSD assistance dog, and his partnership with Jack. It delves into the psychological impact of service dogs on their owners, highlighting Rey's effectiveness in supporting Jack with his PTSD.
- Celebrating International Guide Dog Day 2026
This bonus episode of Dogs with Jobs celebrates International Guide Dog Day 2026. It features interviews from the International Guide Dog Federation, highlighting four human/guide dog partnerships from across the globe, exploring the emoti…
- River, the signal crayfish detection dog
This episode features River, a black spaniel trained as the UK's only conservation dog for detecting invasive signal crayfish. River's handler, Lucy Wilde, discusses River's specialized role and daily work. The discussion covers the threat…
- Ratting with the West Sussex Warreners
Kate Fairweather joins the West Sussex Warreners and 18 working dogs on a ratting excursion in Hampshire. The episode explores how different breeds instinctively work together to clear rats from a shooting estate as a humane alternative to…
- P.D. Albert, the cadaver dog
P.C. Matt Thompson of the West Midlands Police discusses the work of Albert, a young cocker spaniel training as a cadaver search dog. The episode explores the realities of victim recovery training and highlights variations in police dog wo…
- Dogs with Jobs Christmas Special 2025
In this Christmas and five-year anniversary special for Dogs with Jobs, hosts Kate Fairweather and John Welsman reflect on their favorite episodes from the past five years. They revisit segments featuring police dogs, guide dogs, allergen…
- Billy, the drugs detection drug with the West Midlands Police
This episode features Billy, a drugs detection dog with the West Midlands Police, and his handler Police Constable Paul King. It details Billy's training, the transition to operational work, and the significance of a dog's sense of smell i…
- Koa, the therapy dog working in Manhattan schools and hospitals
This episode of Dogs with Jobs features Koa, a Rhodesian Ridgeback therapy dog working in Manhattan schools and hospitals. His owner, Andy Honda, shares how Koa began his therapy work. The episode was recorded in New York City near Thanksg…
- Baloo, the injured police dog, forges an award-winning new career
Baloo, a Belgian Malinois, overcame a career-ending injury as a police dog to become a successful trauma support animal. Adopted by handler Mandy Chapman, Baloo now works with the OK9 organisation, supporting police personnel and the wider…
- The hidden working lives of Prison Dogs
Former prison officer and handler Simon Broadis discusses the demanding roles and decades-long evolution of prison dogs. This episode offers a rare glimpse into their working lives, recorded at the Dogs Making a Difference Awards 2025.
- Phil, the award-winning Medical Detection & Autism Assistance Dog
Phil, a rescue dog, is trained to alert his handler Felicity Brown to medical emergencies like loss of consciousness and to perform autism-related tasks. This dual-trained partnership is a first for charities Dogs for Autism and Medical De…
- Jez, of Little Nippers, the travelling show, visit South Downs Show
Jez, a saluki whippet and the youngest of the Little Nippers performing troupe, is featured on the Dogs with Jobs podcast. His owner/handler Phil Gibbon discusses their act at country shows, which demonstrates the banned sport of coursing…
- Duke, the PTSD service dog
Duke, a rescue cocker spaniel trained by Service Dogs UK, is a PTSD service dog for British army veteran Pete. The episode details how Duke provides practical and emotional support, enabling Pete to manage PTSD episodes and re-enter public…
- Oreo, the digital asset detection dog
Oreo, a Working Cocker Spaniel, is at the forefront of a new detection role with West Midlands Police, focusing on digital assets. His handler, P.C. David Croft, and instructor, Tony Brown, explain Oreo's function in collecting evidence of…
- From first steps to ultra marathon for Logan the spaniel
Sara McCarthy shares her experience with her Cocker Spaniel, Logan, in the sport of Canicross, detailing their journey from starting out to completing an ultra-marathon and highlighting the sport's physical and mental health benefits and c…
- What is Canicross? Team GB athletes explain this human/canine sport
This episode of Dogs with Jobs features Team GB athletes Sarah Gillam and Jen Davies explaining canicross, an off-road running sport where a dog and human run together, attached by a bungee line. They discuss the sport's origins, challenge…
- Veteran police dog trainer and Schutzhund champion on how training methods evolve over time
Bernhard Flinks, a police dog expert with over 40 years in the German police, discusses the evolution of working dog training, including the balance between positive reinforcement and negative correction. The conversation, held during the…
- The UK's National Police Dog Trials 2025
The UK National Police Dog Trials 2025 tested top police dogs and handlers on skills including courage, strength, agility, and tracking. Hosted by Kate Fairweather near Birmingham, the event showcased the capabilities of police dogs from a…
- Update on how bio detection dogs are working towards early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease
This episode of Dogs with Jobs provides an update on medical research using bio detection dogs to identify early bio-markers for Parkinson's disease. Interviewee Claire Guest OBE discusses the potential for earlier diagnosis and interventi…
- The transformation of Tay: from lockdown puppy to sheepdog star
Tay, a pet collie, transformed from a home-loving dog to an indispensable sheepdog on a busy farm, surprising his owner and trainer Martina Miradoli with his herding talents.
- Viper, the Firearms Support Dog
This episode features Viper, a retiring German Shepherd Firearms Support Dog from West Midlands Police, and his handler PC Dave Short. They discuss their evolving relationship and introduce Loki, a six-month-old German Shepherd puppy who w…
- Harley the peanut allergen detection dog
This episode features Harley, a golden retriever trained in peanut allergen detection, and handler Natalie Rice. It explores the human element of this work, its impact on those with life-threatening allergies, and Harley's role as both a l…
- Police Dog Chase and his last few months on duty with handler, P.C. Sue Cheek
On International Women's Day, Police Constable Sue Cheek, the first woman instructor in the West Midlands Police Dog Unit, speaks about her career and the upcoming retirement of her police dog, Chase, and explosives dog, Trev.
- Herbie, the golf ball detection dog
Herbie, a labrador retriever, works as a golf ball detection dog. His owner, Roger Hetherington, discusses Herbie's background, his fundraising contributions to Macmillan Cancer Support, and potential dangers on golf courses.
- By your side: navigating life over decades with a guide dog, and how the partnership evolves over time
Nathan Foy shares his decades-long experience with guide dogs, highlighting the deep emotional bond and the evolution of non-verbal communication between human and dog. He recounts how his different guide dogs, Hughie, Bessie, Mason, and J…
- A breakfast date with a pack of trail hunting hounds
Dogs with Jobs visits the Hursley Hambledon English Foxhounds, where Kennel huntsman Keiran details their complex social structure and how scenting skills are passed through generations. A small terrier named Poppy is surprisingly the pack…
- Dogs with Jobs Christmas special marks four years of the show
The Dogs with Jobs podcast celebrates its fourth anniversary and Christmas with a special episode. Creators Kate Fairweather and John Welsman reflect on the show's growth since its 2021 lockdown origins, highlighting its success, including…
- The Hampshire Gundog Show: an overview of working breeds
This episode of Dogs with Jobs covers the Hampshire Gun Dog Show, featuring around 30 breeds. Joy Venturi Rose discusses working breed standards and provides advice on keeping working dogs stimulated.
- Update: Reid the biosecurity dog in the Scottish islands, six months on
Presenter Kate Fairweather speaks with conservationist Rachel Cripps about the progress of Reid, a biosecurity dog trained to detect invasive species on Scottish islands. The update covers Reid's work over the past five months, challenges…
- Ralph, the owner trained, multi-tasking assistance dog
Ella Walker trained her own autism assistance dog, Ralph, who also performs medical alert tasks. She discusses his training and future milestones.
- Gun dogs galore at Hampshire Countryside Sports Day
Dogs were the stars at the Hampshire Country Sports Day, significantly outnumbering people. The event featured a demonstration by gun dog trainer Graham Watkins, who showcased the diverse roles spaniels play in shoots, sharing insights gai…
- Echo, Delta and Polar the gun dog trio
Echo, Delta, and Polar are Black Labradors trained by handler Kevin Warburton for shooting seasons and competitive events. Recorded at the South Downs Show, the episode discusses their fitness, training, and happiness.
- Daisie, ambassador and demo dog for Canine Partners, the assistance dog charity
This episode features Daisie, an assistance dog for Canine Partners, and her handler Ellie Chadwick. They volunteer at events to showcase how assistance dogs help disabled handlers, following a previous episode on the partnership between a…
- Darcey, the Canine Partner support dog
Wren Rawlings discusses his six-year partnership with Darcey, a Canine Partners support dog, detailing how Darcey has aided him since becoming disabled during university. The episode highlights Wren
- Mika the wellbeing and trauma support dog, who works within London's Metropolitan Police
Mika, a chocolate Labrador, is one of two wellbeing and trauma support dogs in London's Metropolitan Police, assisting officers with trauma and emotional challenges. PC Morgan Heath explains Mika's role and origin story, which began during…
- Rambo, the forensic police dog
PC Clyde Charlesworth shares insights into the role of forensic police dogs within the Metropolitan Police, highlighting their importance in finding evidence for criminal convictions. The episode features Rambo, a forensic spaniel speciali…
- Skye, the stoat detection dog working on the Orkney Native Wildlife Project
Skye, an English springer spaniel, is part of a team of ten stoat detection dogs working on the Orkney Native Wildlife Project to control the invasive stoat population. Since 2010, the project has trapped over 6,000 stoats, with dogs now c…
- Marble and the Odyssey Flyball Club team perform at Goodwoof
Flyball handler Hilary Larkham explains the fast-paced, obstacle relay dog race to Dogs with Jobs presenter Kate Fairweather, detailing its UK introduction and the critical role of precise timing.
- Ninja, the barkour dog
This episode features Ninja, a six-year-old dog famous for barkour, and his owner Dominik Arend. They discuss their career in parkour for dogs, its origins, and their shared professional life, which has gained them nearly half a million In…
- Police Dog Meika, who searches for London criminals' firearms, drugs and cash
Police Constable Emma Robling introduces Police Dog Meika, a Springer spaniel trained in detecting drugs, firearms, and cash. Meika works with the London Metropolitan Police Dog Section, which has its own breeding program and is the UK's l…
- Reid, the biosecurity detection dog, who patrols the Scottish islands
Reid, a biosecurity detection dog, helps conserve seabirds on Scottish islands by detecting rodent incursions. His handler, Rachel Cripps, discusses his vital work with presenter Kate Fairweather.
- A Harvard study into how working dogs' brains have evolved for their function
This episode discusses the Working Breed Study by the Canine Brains Project at Harvard, investigating how working dog brains differ based on their function and exploring the role of personality. The research aims to improve breeding and tr…
- Police Dog Ted, the explosives detection dog
Dogs with Jobs features Police Dog Ted, an explosives detection dog from West Midlands Police, and his handler PC Damo Smart. They discuss the high-stakes discipline, handler requirements, and training necessary for explosive detection wor…
- Bakersfield and Strike perform heelwork to music at Crufts, 2024
Bakersfield and Strike, two collies, competed in the Heelwork to Music competition at Crufts 2024. Their handlers, Lucy Creek and Lucy Heath, discussed the sport, training, and performance strategies, with Strike and Lucy Heath performing…
- Police Dog Jax, the victim recovery dog
Police Constable Felicity Thomas discusses the specialized work of Jax, a victim recovery dog who finds human remains or evidence for forensic analysis. This role helps identify evidence for criminal prosecutions and can offer closure to f…
- Bonnie the bedbug detection dog
This episode features Bonnie, a springer spaniel trained as a bedbug detection dog for hotels. Handler Simon Chapman discusses how he keeps Bonnie motivated and explains the various ways her services are utilized by clients, including disc…
- Five detection dogs survey the Isle of May - a seabird conservation project
Five detection dogs, including spaniels and a Belgian Shepherd, participated in the UK's first seabird conservation project on Scotland's Isle of May. Their task was to survey a new storm petrel colony, with a pet dog trained as backup. Th…
- Nica, Nettle and Phoenix, the Japanese Knotweed detection dog trio
The podcast features Nica, Nettle, and Phoenix, three dogs specializing in detecting Japanese Knotweed. Their handler, Kat Janczur, explains their methods for identifying the invasive plant, which is difficult to eradicate, and how she mai…
- Barley the conservation detection dog and his work in the U.S. and Latin America
This episode features Barley, a 10-year-old Border Collie conservation detection dog, and his owner/handler Kayla Fratt. Barley works on conservation projects in the U.S. and Latin America, detecting 16 different animal and plant scents. F…
- Buddy dogs, guide dogs, ambassadogs and more at the Guide Dogs Christmas Brunch
The Dogs with Jobs podcast visited the Guide Dogs charity's Christmas Brunch in London, showcasing various working dogs like guide dogs, a buddy dog named Zack, and an ambassadog named Upton. The event also highlighted puppy walking and th…