Rescue dog Phil alerts his 22 year old handler, Felicity Brown to any impending collapse due to a rare disease that causes her to lose consciousness without warning. 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 team@shineradio.uk.

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 team@shineradio.uk.

© & ℗ 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 team@shineradio.uk.

Find more dogs with interesting jobs.

© & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2025

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.