Dogs with Jobs Petersfield's Shine Radio

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

 
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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, 2023
See 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, 2023
See 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, 2022
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.