Sonja Heritage, Head Trainer at the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation drops by to talk with Marcie and Lovey about the work they are doing to rescue, train and partner shelter dogs with firefighters and other first responders to find people buried alive in the wreckage of disasters around the world. Sonja talks about their state-of-the-art national training facility. She also provides insightful details about how they screen shelter dogs for these intense, professional jobs and how they train and care for these canine heroes throughout their lifetime. Sonja’s passion and expertise is captivating!

Working Like Dogs - Episode 139 Canine Heroes Responding to National Disasters

Working LIke Dogs features pet podcasts about working animals. In this working animal podcast, we cover everything from how to get started as a trainer of working animals or how to acquire a working animal to how to take care of your animal companion. In these podcasts, you will learn what it means to work side by side with an animal. We cover working animals such as service dogs, guide dogs, hearing dogs, police dogs, search and rescue dogs, drug dogs, seizure dogs, military dogs, etc. In addition to dogs, we talk about working horses, elephants, pigeons, and the list goes on and on. We discuss topics such as equipment, grooming, nutrition, training, traveling with your working companion, veterinary issues, retirement, and behavior.





Our working animal podcasts include guests in every field of the working animal world. Trainers, handlers, veterinarians, working animal experts, and animal communicators give you the inside scoop on everything you’ve always wanted to know about working animals.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Health

Alternative Health

Self-Help

Sexuality

Fitness & Nutrition

Kids & Family

Steve Morris from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) visits with Marcie and Fenway about his office’s recent report focusing on the working conditions of Uncle Sam’s working dogs. Dozens of federal agencies employ working dogs to fulfill their missions, including Homeland Security and the Department of State. Dogs are deployed throughout the U.S. and abroad. Keeping these dogs healthy and ensuring their quality of life is paramount and this recent report suggests that federal agencies need to do a better job addressing the health and welfare of their working dogs.

Working Like Dogs - Episode 190 How Many Dogs Work for the United States (U.S.) Government?

Marcie and Fenway welcome Dr. Brennen McKenzie to the show to learn about his groundbreaking research with Loyal for Dogs on medical treatments that will potentially expand the lifespan of large breed dogs. The concept of doubling dogs’ current lifespan is no longer science fiction. It is becoming a scientific fact! Dr. McKenzie talks about the hormonal changes identified in large breed dogs and how lifechanging drugs may soon be available to address the accumulation of the harmful effects of aging and substantially extend our dogs’ lives. He shares information about what you can do right now to keep your dog healthy for longer. And, Dr. McKenzie discusses the clinical trials currently underway and how you and your dog might be able to participate.

Working Like Dogs - Episode 189 Extending the Lifespan of Our Dogs

Suzanne Elshult, K9 search and rescue professional volunteer, and her K9 Keb stop by to visit with Marcie and Fenway about their many intense search and rescue missions, adventures and new book, A Dog’s Devotion: True Adventures of a K9 Search and Rescue Team. Suzanne discusses the active crime scenes, wilderness, avalanches, mudslides, and other dangerous terrains she and her dogs traverse to find missing individuals or remains. She shares information about the different types of search and rescue trainings, including the fascinating historical training, that ensured her and her K9 search and rescue dogs’ success in the field. Suzanne graciously provides practical insights into how you too can become a sought-after search and rescue dog handler.

Working Like Dogs - Episode 188 A Dog’s Devotion: True Adventures of a K9 Search and Rescue Team

Executive Producers SQuire Rushnell and Louise Duart Rushnell stopped by to talk with Marcie and Fenway about their upcoming Netflix feature movie, Rescued by Ruby which tells the remarkable TRUE STORY of a shelter dog that was saved from being put down, made history by becoming the first shelter dog to earn a spot on the Rhode Island State Police K9 unit, and then went on to make a rescue so incredible, and unlikely, that it earned Ruby the honor of being named as the nation’s “Search and Rescue Dog of the Year.” You don’t want to miss one inspirational and heartwarming moment of this conversation!

Working Like Dogs - Episode 187 Rescued by Ruby

Dr. Philip Tedeschi, Director Emeritus and Founder of the University of Denver’s Institute for Human-Animal Connection and co-author of the new book Transforming Trauma Resilience and Healing Through Our Connections with Animals, visits with Marcie and Fenway and discusses the power of animal-assisted interventions. Dr. Tedeschi describes the pioneering and innovative ways canines support humans through trauma recovery, isolation, and loneliness.

Working Like Dogs - Episode 139 Canine Heroes Responding to National Disasters

Download our free app to listen on your phone