Dogs with Jobs

Nine year old collie, Peggy Sue, is on her last agility season this year.
Owner, Rachel Williams took some time out from organising the Agility trials at Dogs Day Out in Hampshire to talk about the sport in general and Peggy Sue's career.
Rachel is interesting on the working urge in collies - Peggy Sue will retire from agility, but she has no plans to stop. She's also bringing on her younger puppy, Brie, whose parents are both working farm dogs.
She also explains why this sport - seen at the highest levels at Crufts and international competitions - remains highly accessible to any dog and handler with a close relationship and a liking for activity.
It's accessible to all - from kids to really quite old (!), and all breeds can participate from toy poodles to malinois.
Recorded at Dogs Day Out, 2026 in East Worldham, Hampshire.
Photo by Sean Cameron.
Find out more about agility:
Kennel Club website - list of approved trainers (positive reinforcement only)
Agility4all.co.uk - UK based agility shows for all dogs (with diary)
Agilitynet on Facebook for meet ups and classes near you
Do you work your dog or dogs?
Please get in touch with Kate at team@shineradio.uk if you'd like to introduce a working dog to the show!

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Tweed, the springer spaniel has the distinction of being the UK's first digital asset detection dog.
Martin King of the Devon and Cornwall Police Dog Section tells the origin story of this vitally important search discipline in the UK.
Known as electronic storage detection, digital asset detection and various other names, Tweed's skillset is firmly established as a key discipline for evidentiary purposes within the police.
Back in 2015, a trainer in his force read an article about such detection work going on in Connecticut, U.S.A. The trainer, Graham Atwood, visited and brought back the knowhow to train the UK's first two dogs.
Tweed won Service Dog of the Year 2025 and was shortlisted for Crufts Hero Dog of the Year 2026.
Many thanks to Martin King for talking to us - it's a delight to have a little piece of working dog history on the show.
Kate Fairweather interviewed Martin at Crufts 2026.
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
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This is the origin story of the charity, Service Dogs UK, which supports veterans of the military and blue light services in training their own PTSD assistance dogs.
Hear its founder and operations director, Garry Botterill, on the various training models, and how his own lived experience in the military and police has informed the training model and contributed to the approach taken by Service Dogs UK.
Find out more about assistance dogs supporting veterans
Garry mentions all these organisations in this episode. As we say in the episode, there are many other organisations and charities - these are just some of them!
Service Dogs UK and the Dogs Making a Difference Awards 2026
Paws for Purple Hearts (U.S.)
Paws and Stripes (New Mexico, U.S.)
Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services (PAALS) (South Carolina, U.S.)
Warrior Canine Connection (Maryland, U.S.)
Connected Dogs with Jobs episodes on assistance dogs
Duke, the PTSD service dog, (also trained by Service Dogs UK)
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 does and might like to come on the show? I love to hear about all and any working dogs - the more varied, the better!
Get in touch with me, Kate, via team@shineradio.uk.
Find more dogs with interesting jobs.
© & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2026
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rey is a rescue dog who supports his human partner, Jack, with the challenges of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
What is striking is the reciprocity that defines this partnership, in which each is helping the other.
There are many practical tasks that a PTSD service dog is trained to help its owner with day to day life However, it's the psychological impact that we explore in this episode.
Owner Jack Billington says that of all the therapies and help he has accessed for his PTSD, Rey has been by far the most effective. He shares some of the nuances of the partnership with Kate Fairweather.
A big thank you to Jack for coming onto the show and his openness in explaining the emotional and social aspects of his life, to which Rey has made such a difference.
If you would like to know more about PTSD assistance dogs, Service Dogs UK is a great place to start.
Connected episodes on assistance dogs
Duke, the PTSD service dog, (also trained by Service Dogs UK)
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 does and might like to come on the show? I love to hear about all and any working dogs - the more varied, the better!
Get in touch with me, Kate, via team@shineradio.uk.
Find more dogs with interesting jobs.
© & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2026
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A bonus edition of Dogs with Jobs.
We're sharing a wonderful interview created by the International Guide Dog Federation to celebrate International Guide Dog Day 2026.
It features four very different human/guide dog partnerships from all over the world. The interviews go beyond the mechanics of guiding and training, and explore the emotional and social aspects of the relationship.
You may recognise the voice of the host, John Welsman, who co-produces Dogs with Jobs, from our Christmas episode.
We also hear from Jason Denton from Brisbane, Australia; Kirsten French from Washington state, USA, Pauline Eliers from Brussels, Belgium; and Nathan Foy from the UK.
Huge thanks to the International Guide Dog Federation for sharing the interviews with Dogs with Jobs.
Happy International Guide Dog Day for the 29th April, 2026!
Other episodes on guide dogs and assistance dogs
Navigating life over decades with a guide dog at your side
Benjy, the trainee guide dog‘s first five weeks on the job
Breck, the retired guide dog
Ralph, the owner-trained, multi-tasking assistance dog – perfect for a Rogate teenager
Darcey, the Canine Partner: an assistance dog relationship in full bloom
Daisy, the autism assistance dog – practical, psychological and emotional support

About the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF)
IGDF is the global charity responsible for defining and maintaining international standards for the training of guide dogs. Throughthis work, IGDF helps to ensure the quality, safety, and consistency of guide dog services worldwide for people who are blind or have low vision. Founded in 1987 by representatives from 15 guide dog organisations across 10 countries, IGDF has grown substantially. Today, it comprises 100 member organisations in 33 countries. Collectively, these organisations support more than 20,000 people who are blind or have low vision to travel safely and independently with the support of a guide dog.
Find IDGF online: @IDGFSocial; Facebook: LinkedIn.
Do you work your dog or dogs?
Kate is generally obsessed with working dogs and loves to hear about them – the more varied the better! Keep the introductions coming!
If you, or someone you know works their dog or dogs, and would consider being interviewed on Dogs with Jobs, please get in touch with Kate via team@shineradio.uk.
© & ℗ Kate Fairweather 2026
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.