Dogs with Jobs

• Billy, the drugs detection drug with the West Midlands Police

  A window into the working life of Billy, a young spaniel with a promising career ahead of him as a drugs detection dog. Billy’s handler, Police Constable Paul King describes Billy’s training and how they navigate the leap into operational work. There's plenty of detail along the way - the difference between proactive and passive drug scanning. Drugs detection work is a great game in some ways - criminals extend themselves to come up with ever more ingenious ways of hiding them and use decoy smells so Paul is alive to any opportunity to keep Billy’s skills evolving, too. Paul explains why the greatest tool in the police toolbox is a dog's nose. Recorded in the back of a police van at Crufts, the UK's largest dog show, in March 2025. (I forgot to photograph Billy, hence going with the stock photo...I will replace it! ) You may also enjoy these connected episodes about the many disciplines within the police: Oreo, the digital asset dog 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, 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• Koa, the therapy dog working in Manhattan schools and hospitals

  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.

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• Injured police dog forges award-winning new career

  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, 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• The hidden working lives of Prison Dogs

  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, 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• Phil, the award-winning Medical Detection & Autism Assistance Dog

  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.

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