Dogs with Jobs

Petersfield's Shine Radio
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  • Bimonthly

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 at team@shineradio.uk or call 01730 555 500.

  1. 10h ago

    The hero dogs who find survivors in the rubble of disaster zones

    Jarvis the working cocker and Bailey the labrador are highly trained Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) dogs.  Along with veteran handler Graham Currie, the dogs are first responders to disaster scenes in the UK such as train crashes or collapsed buildings. Bailey is also an ISAR dog - working internationally as part of a search and rescue cooperation that came into being after the 9/11 attacks.  Their job is to find survivors among the rubble who may be buried or unconscious, so that they can receive medical help as fast as possible. They are part of the Technical Rescue and USAR Station at Essex Fire & Rescue Service. This interview is packed with practical insight into the dogs' training and the organisational and logistic support of the wider team. Graham describes their experiences together in the kind of life and death situations that few dogs or humans encounter.  Graham also talks compellingly about the team's volunteering as an International Search & Rescue (ISAR) team -  Bailey's most recent deployment was to Venezuela in the wake of its huge earthquake.  Urban search and rescue is a discipline that demands exceptional steadiness, where no two days are the same, and in which their success is the difference between life and death for survivors.  Graham and his dogs travel long distances when required, so must be at ease on boats, planes, being airlifted by a helicopter or swinging from a rope so once they arrive they are ready to work. Find out more: Dogs at the Essex Fire & Rescue Service Service Dogs UK Related episodes Rusty the Hampshire Search & Rescue dog Throwback: Lottie, the missing persons investigator Wessex Bloodhounds: hunting humans for fun Louis the Fire Investigator P.D. Albee, the cadaver dog P.D. Jaxx, the victim recovery dog  Mabel, emotional support worker in the fire service Do you work your dog or dogs? I love to meet and hear about working dogs of all kinds and LOVE introductions - so don't hold back. Find me, Kate Fairweather at team@shineradio.uk © & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2026 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The hero dogs who find survivors in the rubble of disaster zones

  2. Oct 1

    Romance and the Wessex Bloodhounds

    Bloodhounds have such an extraordinary nose, that they can distinguish - and track - the scent of individual human beings.  The Wessex Bloodhounds hunt “the clean boot” - which means that a pack of hounds hunt the scent of human runners, who set off with 20 minutes’ head start across the fields. The hounds hunt (track) the runners, and the riders follow the hounds. It's all the hue and cry of a traditional hunt, but none of the controversy. Senior Master, Sam Heighes (daughter of the highly respected bloodhound expert, Jeremy Whaley) and Jack Jennings, Master and Huntsman discuss the pack with Dogs with Jobs presenter, Kate Fairweather, and introduce star bloodhound, Romance. At a training meet in South Harting the next day, we witness the gentle start to the season.  Known as “tub” hunts, because everyone’s a little tubby from the summer holidays, these training meets feature short hunts and are very relaxed. The riders, horses, hounds and the human quarries start to get their fitness up in readiness for the proper season ahead.  You can find out more about the bloodhounds at wessexbloodhounds.com.  Connected episodes about sporting dogs: Ratting with the West Sussex Warreners rat pack (February 2026) Meet the Sealyham terrier rat pack , recorded at the Game Fair (August 2023) 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) Do you work your dog or dogs?  Kate is deeply obsessed and would love to hear from you - the more varied the better!   Get in touch via team@shineradio.uk . If you search Dogs with Jobs on your podcast app, you can hear almost 100 episodes - which cover assistance dogs, police dogs, gun dogs, conservation dogs and more.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Romance and the Wessex Bloodhounds

  3. Sep 1

    Meet the Flyball Buccaneers - a team of canine athletes

    Meet the Flyball Buccaneers, a Flyball team that we met at Dogs Day Out 2026 in May this year. 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. It's a lovely introduction to the exciting team sport that is flyball. Enjoy!  Find the Farnham based Buccaneers Flyball Club on Facebook at @Buccaneersflyballclub.  Connected Episodes The Odyssey Flyball Club at Goodwoof 2024  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 2026   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Meet the Flyball Buccaneers - a team of canine athletes

  4. Aug 3

    Dogs with Jobs takes a summer break

    Dogs with Jobs is taking a break over the summer. Back in September.  In the meantime, keep the introductions coming - we are always delighted to hear about dogs doing interesting jobs!  Get in touch via team@shineradio.uk. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dogs with Jobs takes a summer break

  5. Jul 4

    Peggy Sue, the veteran agility dog and an overview of agility as a sport

    Nine year old collie, Peggy Sue, is on her last agility season this year.  Owner, Rachel Williams took some time out from organising the Agility trials at Dogs Day Out in Hampshire to talk about the sport in general and Peggy Sue's career.  Rachel is interesting on the working urge in collies - Peggy Sue will retire from agility, but she has no plans to stop. She's also bringing on her younger puppy, Brie, whose parents are both working farm dogs. She also explains why this sport - seen at the highest levels at Crufts and international competitions - remains highly accessible to any dog and handler with a close relationship and a liking for activity.  It's accessible to all - from kids to really quite old (!), and all breeds can participate from toy poodles to malinois. Recorded at Dogs Day Out, 2026 in East Worldham, Hampshire. Photo by Sean Cameron.  Find out more about agility: Kennel Club website - list of approved trainers (positive reinforcement only) Agility4all.co.uk - UK based agility shows for all dogs (with diary) Agilitynet on Facebook for meet ups and classes near you Do you work your dog or dogs?  Please get in touch with Kate at team@shineradio.uk if you'd like to introduce a working dog to the show!    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Peggy Sue, the veteran agility dog and an overview of agility as a sport

  6. Jun 1

    Tweed, the UK's first digital asset detection dog

    Tweed, the springer spaniel has the distinction of being the UK's first digital asset detection dog.  Martin King of the Devon and Cornwall Police Dog Section tells the origin story of this vitally important search discipline in the UK. Known as electronic storage detection, digital asset detection and various other names, Tweed's skillset is firmly established as a key discipline for evidentiary purposes within the police. Back in 2015, a trainer in his force read an article about such detection work going on in Connecticut, U.S.A. The trainer, Graham Atwood, visited and brought back the knowhow to train the UK's first two dogs. Tweed won Service Dog of the Year 2025 and was shortlisted for Crufts Hero Dog of the Year 2026. Many thanks to Martin King for talking to us - it's a delight to have a little piece of working dog history on the show. Kate Fairweather interviewed Martin at Crufts 2026. 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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tweed, the UK's first digital asset detection dog

  7. May 17

    Service Dogs UK: Helping Veterans to train their own PTSD Service Dogs

    This is the origin story of the charity, Service Dogs UK, which supports veterans of the military and blue light services in training their own PTSD assistance dogs.  Hear its founder and operations director, Garry Botterill, on the various training models, and how his own lived experience in the military and police has informed the training model and contributed to the approach taken by Service Dogs UK. Find out more about assistance dogs supporting veterans Garry mentions all these organisations in this episode. As we say in the episode, there are many other organisations and charities - these are just some of them! Service Dogs UK and the Dogs Making a Difference Awards 2026 Paws for Purple Hearts (U.S.) Paws and Stripes (New Mexico, U.S.) Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services (PAALS) (South Carolina, U.S.) Warrior Canine Connection (Maryland, U.S.) Connected Dogs with Jobs episodes on assistance dogs Duke, the PTSD service dog, (also trained by Service Dogs UK)  Mika, the well being and trauma support dog in the Metropolitan Police  By your side: navigating life with a guide dog over time 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 Do you work your dog? Or perhaps you know someone else who does and might like to come on the show?  I love to hear about all and any working dogs - the more varied, the better!  Get in touch with me, Kate, via team@shineradio.uk. Find more dogs with interesting jobs.  © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2026 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Service Dogs UK: Helping Veterans to train their own PTSD Service Dogs

  8. May 1

    Rey, the one-eyed PTSD assistance dog

    Rey is a rescue dog who supports his human partner, Jack, with the challenges of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  What is striking is the reciprocity that defines this partnership, in which each is helping the other.  There are many practical tasks that a PTSD service dog is trained to help its owner with day to day life However, it's the psychological impact that we explore in this episode. Owner Jack Billington says that of all the therapies and help he has accessed for his PTSD, Rey has been by far the most effective. He shares some of the nuances of the partnership with Kate Fairweather.  A big thank you to Jack for coming onto the show and his openness in explaining the emotional and social aspects of his life, to which Rey has made such a difference. If you would like to know more about PTSD assistance dogs, Service Dogs UK is a great place to start.  Connected episodes on assistance dogs Duke, the PTSD service dog, (also trained by Service Dogs UK)  Mika, the well being and trauma support dog in the Metropolitan Police  By your side: navigating life with a guide dog over time 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 Do you work your dog? Or perhaps you know someone else who does and might like to come on the show?  I love to hear about all and any working dogs - the more varied, the better!  Get in touch with me, Kate, via team@shineradio.uk. Find more dogs with interesting jobs.  © & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2026 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Rey, the one-eyed PTSD assistance dog
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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 at team@shineradio.uk or call 01730 555 500.

Information

  • Creator
    Petersfield's Shine Radio
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Petersfield Community Radio Ltd
  • Show Website
    Dogs with Jobs

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