Sprout, the care home visitor

May 25, 2021 | Audio stories, Dogs with Jobs

Meet Sprout.  Barrel-chested and muscular, he looks like the canine equivalent of a beefy nightclub bouncer. One to be wary of, perhaps. Sprout has the distinctive egg shaped head and triangular eyes of the English Bull terrier Yet Sprout is a much loved visitor...

The impressive work of the UK’s leading charity, Guide Dogs

Apr 27, 2021 | Audio stories, Dogs with Jobs

Did you know that the UK dog charity, Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Guide Dogs for short), is the largest dog breeding programme in the UK and trains nearly a quarter of the world’s guide dogs? Breck the Guide Dog in “working mode”, wearing his...

Breck, the guide dog

Apr 27, 2021 | Audio stories, Dogs with Jobs

Meet Breck, a talented golden retriever recently retired from an eight-year career in partnership with a highly experienced owner, whose job has entailed travelling all over the UK. Breck’s steadiness and adaptability proved to be essential qualities for success...

Max, Edie and Joe, the farm workers

Mar 23, 2021 | Audio stories, Dogs with Jobs

Meet Border Collies Max, Edie and Joe in this month’s episode of Dogs with Jobs. Together, they ensure a successful lambing operation on Rothercombe Farm. It’s the calm before the storm in Stroud, as sheep farmer Andrew Snow gears up for the busiest six...

Throwback: Lottie, the missing persons investigator

Mar 15, 2021 | Dogs with Jobs

A bonus episode of Dogs with Jobs! Working dog expert and retired handler Jim Noble has had a long and varied career handling sporting dogs, police dogs, sniffer dogs and other specialist working dogs. P.D. Lottie with Jim Noble and canine colleague P.D. Lock in 2003...

Didi, the police dog

Feb 23, 2021 | Audio stories, Dogs with Jobs

She’s intelligent, friendly and cuts an elegant figure. She’s also considerably smaller and lighter than many of her police dog colleagues, making her all too easy to underestimate. Meet Police Dog (P.D.) Didi. A Belgian Malinois, her speed and agility...

What qualities make a good therapy dog?

Jan 27, 2021 | Audio stories, Dogs with Jobs

Patricia Bland, regional coordinator for the Petersfield Area for Pets as Therapy, explains the qualities she looks when assessing a dog’s suitability for therapy work. Patricia’s own flat coat retrievers , Margaux (5) and Fleurie (8) both work as PAT dogs...

Acorn, the school reading assistant

Jan 27, 2021 | Audio stories, Dogs with Jobs

School can be daunting when you’re four, especially if you struggle with reading or are a bit shy. Sometimes all you need is some encouragement from a friend, who sits with you in the school library. In the first edition of our new series, Dogs with Jobs, meet...