Short but sweet, this episode of Dogs with Jobs was recorded in New York City, on the run up to Thanksgiving holiday.

Koa is a Rhodesian Ridgeback - not a breed you see in therapy work too often.

His owner, Andy Honda, is a Rhodesian Ridgeback fan, and chose Koa as a future running partner. They live a couple of blocks from Central Park in Manhattan, New York City.

Andy explains how Koa ended up working in the therapy field with Dogs with Jobs presenter, Kate Fairweather.

More about Koa's life and the book Andy mentions on Christmas in New York here.

Other therapy and wellbeing dog stories:

• Baloo, the injured police dog turned award-winning wellbeing dog
• Champ, the engagement dog working in child protection in the Victoria police in Australia
• Sprout, the care home visitor
• Mika, the support dog working in the UK's Metropolitan Police
• Louis the hospital volunteer attends a veterans' support session
• Mabel, emotional support worker in the fire service
• Phantom, the secondary school reading assistant

Interested in therapy work with your dog?

These are just some of the orgnaisations – there are many others so please do research this wherever you are based.

• Koa and Andy volunteer in New York City: The Good Dog Foundation
• Therapy Dog organisations in the UK: Pets as Therapy, Therapy Dogs Nationwide
• Patricia Bland of Pets as Therapy, the UK charity, explains what qualities she looks for in a therapy dog

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 come on the show. 

Get in touch with me, Kate, via [email protected].

Find more dogs with interesting jobs. 

© & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2025

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Baloo, a charismatic Belgian Malinois whose promising police career was cut short when she was hit by a suspect's car, leaving her for dead at a crime scene in 2018. 

Baloo came out of emergency surgery full of metal bolts and without her front right leg. As an amputee, she was forced into medical retirement. Baloo was adopted by retired police dog handler, Mandy Chapman, who sensed the potential for a new career direction: trauma support.

It's been a hugely successful partnership, culminating in Baloo winning Hero Dog of the Year at Crufts 2025. 

The pair support police officers, staff and their families through the wellbeing charity Oscar Kilo's dog charity, the "OK9" organisation. Their work goes beyond the police force, and includes visiting nursing homes and schools in support of the wider community. 

Mandy Chapman talks to Dogs with Jobs presenter, Kate Fairweather from the Dogs Making a Difference Awards organised by the charity, Service Dogs UK  - where Baloo took yet another award for his support work. 

Fellow award nominees included  Mika, the well being and trauma support dog in the Metropolitan Police, who came on the show back in 2023, and Phil, the dual qualified medical alert and autism assistance dog, who came away with an award, too.

Other police dog career stories:

• Champ, the engagement dog working in child protection in the Victoria police
• 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

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 come on the show. 

Get in touch with me, Kate, via [email protected].

Find more dogs with interesting jobs. 

© & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2025

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former prison officer and highly experienced prison dog handler, Simon Broadis, describes the demands on prison dogs and how they have evolved over several decades in the prison service.

A rare window into the working lives of prison dogs. 

Recorded at the Dogs Making a Difference Awards 2025, organised by the charity, Service Dogs UK. 

Find other dogs with interesting jobs. 

Do you work your dog or dogs? Please get in touch with Kate Fairweather if you would be interested in being on the podcast by emailing [email protected].

© & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2025

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rescue dog Phil alerts his 22 year old handler, Felicity Brown, to impending collapse or sudden loss of consciousness.  His alerts give her time to sit, lie down or seek support. He is also trained to perform autism related tasks such as deep pressure therapy, locating named people or safe exits, and helping her avoid emotional dysregulation.

Phil and Felicity are the first dual trained partnership collaboration between the assistance dog charities, Dogs for Autism and Medical Detection Dogs. 

Felicity and her family trained and graduated Phil through the owner-trainer programme at Pawsable Assistance Dogs CI, and then applied for the owner trainer programme at Medical Detection Dogs, giving another dimension to Phil's skillset.  So a lot of firsts! 

A big thank you to Felicity and her mum for talking to Dogs with Jobs.  And congratulations to the team on winning the Rescue Dog Medal of Honour at the the Dogs Making a Difference Awards in September 2025, organised by the excellent charity, Service Dogs UK.

Connected episodes on assistance dogs

• Duke, the PTSD assistance dog
• 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
• Medical Alert dogs in training: life before they start work
• Plum the e-coli detection dog at work at the charity's training centre
• 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

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 [email protected].

Find more dogs with interesting jobs. 

© & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2025

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A short but sweet mid-month catch up with Jez and his owner/handler, Phil Gibbon. 

Jez is a saluki whippet and the youngest of a team of sighthounds that together work under the stage name "Little Nippers", as a performing troupe of terriers and lurchers at country shows all over the UK.

Their entertaining performance at country shows educates the public and demonstrates the lost sport of coursing, using an electric lure.  Coursing is the hunting of game such as hares with greyhounds, which use sight rather than scent, and has been banned in the UK since 2004.

You may recall we met Phil Gibbon a few years back and talked about life as a travelling showman with his pack of dogs and birds of prey to Dogs with Jobs presenter Kate Fairweather. His beloved dogs travel in comfort, like the performers they are, but are also family pets, many names after members of the family. 

Find other dogs with interesting jobs. 

Do you work your dog or dogs? Please get in touch with Kate Fairweather if you would be interested in being on the podcast by emailing [email protected].

© & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2025

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duke is a working cocker spaniel.  A rescue dog, who has, thanks to the training expertise of Service Dogs UK, forged a surprise career as a fully trained PTSD service dog with British army veteran, Pete.

Spending Saturday at a busy country show in itself demonstrates the impact Duke has had on the life of his owner and handler. Before his partnership with Duke, Pete couldn't go into a shop. He explains how Duke helps him when he’s at risk of an PTSD episode and the practical and emotional support he provides. 

Dogs with Jobs presenter, Kate Fairweather, met Duke and Pete at the South Downs Show in August (and was so transfixed by Duke and Pete that she forgot to take a photo!)...

A big thank you to Pete for talking to Dogs with Jobs and giving an insight into how Duke has transformed his life and become part of his wider family.  

Connected episodes on assistance dogs

• 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 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 [email protected].

Find more dogs with interesting jobs. 

© & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2025

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Working Cocker Spaniel, Oreo, is in the vanguard of an evolving detection discipline within the West Midlands Police dog section.

Oreo's handler, P.C.  David Croft and instructor, Tony Brown talk to Kate Fairweather about what Oreo does and why it is a crucial element in gathering evidence of criminal activity. 

Recorded in the back of a police van at Crufts, the UK's largest dog show, in March 2025. 

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

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 [email protected].

Find more dogs with interesting jobs. 

© & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2025

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sara McCarthy took her Working Cocker Spaniel, Logan, to her local Canicross club a few years ago, to get outside a bit more. 

She and Logan have gained so much more from the exhilarating sport of Canicross. Indeed, they love the sport so much that they recently joined the elite group of canine and human athletes that have completed an ultra-marathon.

Sara explains the joys of Canicross, the warmth of the Canicross community and the significant physical and mental health benefits of this burgeoning sport.  

A joyful and powerful advocate for the sport, she also explains what's next for the duo... the Canicross  triathlon - open water swimming, cycling and running with your dog. 

Connected Episodes

• Canicross Team GB explain the origins of Canicross, and the world of international competition

The interview was recorded by Dogs with Jobs presenter, Kate Fairweather at Goodwoof 2025, the dog-centric event on the Sussex estate, Goodwood.

Do you work your dog or dogs?  

Kate is always fascinated to hear about dogs with interesting jobs -including athletes!  Get in touch to recommend anyone or if you are interested in coming on the show -just email Kate Fairweather at [email protected]. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is canicross? Team GB athletes, Sarah Gillam and Jen Davies, explain the challenges and joys of this ultimate team sport for two athletes running together - one canine, one human.

Canicross UK describes it as "...off-road running with your dog. Your dog wears a harness specifically designed to allow them to pull, you wear a belt/harness which allows hands-free running and you are attached to your dog with a bungee line."

Canicross' origins lie in Scandinavia and Northern Europe, developed as a means of keeping "mushing" dogs fit during the summer - in peak condition for the winter season.

Sarah Gillam and Jen Davies are leading canicross athletes who compete internationally, representing the UK. They give a great overview of canicross in this episode, and explain how they look after the well-being and safety of their dogs in this exciting sport. 

The interview was recorded by presenter, Kate Fairweather at Goodwoof 2025, the dog-centric event on the Sussex estate, Goodwood.

Do you work your dog or dogs?  

Kate is always fascinated to hear about dogs with interesting jobs -including athletes!  Get in touch to recommend anyone or if you are interested in coming on the show -just email Kate Fairweather at [email protected]. 

Photo credit: Jen Davies

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 [email protected].

Find more dogs with interesting jobs. 

© & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2025

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.