Veteran police dog expert, Bernhard Flinks, talks to Kate Fairweather during a break at the UK's National Police Dog Trials 2025.

A wide-ranging conversation with Bernhard, who spent over 40 years in the German police force.

Bernhard has been hugely successful in the uniquely German sport, "Schutzhund" (German for Protection Dog), also known as IGP. This is something of a triathlon for working dogs (tracking, obedience, protection)or working trials for protective breeds - notably German Shepherds but also the other main protection dog breeds. Schutzhund was given Intangible Cultural Heritage status by UNESCO in 2025.

Bernhard discusses cultural differences between training regimes in Germany and the UK. Also how approaches to training working dogs have evolved, particularly the balance between negative correction and positive reinforcement techniques.

More information from www.flinks.de.

Photo: photo of Bernanrd Flinks (www.Flinks.de).

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Hear the UK's top police dogs demonstrate the skills and qualities needed to operate at the very highest level. Courage, physical strength and agility, tracking ability, steadiness, precision and responsiveness are all tested during the UK trials. For the handlers, too, the pressure is on: competing against the best, being watched and judged by their peers.

Join Kate Fairweather at the National Police Dog Trials 2025, which took place in May at the Tally Ho training grounds, outside Birmingham.

Bringing together police dogs and their handlers - from Scotland to Cornwall, this is a remarkable display of what the UK’s police dogs can do in a competitive trial.

Thanks to the West Midlands Police Dog Section for having Dogs with Jobs along. Also to P.C. Demo Smart, (you may recall his explosives detection dog, Ted from an earlier episode), Sergeant Hayley Phillips as well as veteran competitor and judge, Sergeant Nick Dalrymple and P.C. Rachel Bower.

You may also enjoy these connected episodes:

• 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
• Keo the well being dog in the UK police; and
• Mabel the emotional support worker in the Fire Service

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

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A short but uplifting episode, with a timely update on an important medical research project that seeks to isolate and establish what is hoped will prove to be unique bio-markers for Parkinson's disease.

Our interiewee is Claire Guest OBE, whose charity, Medical Detection Dogs has been at the forefront of some remarkable breakthroughs using bio detection dogs.

When Dogs with Jobs visited in 2023, the charity was just starting to consider whether its work could extend into Parkinsons - which is hard to diagnose currently. The classic sympoms of Parkinsons, such as tremors, become obvious only late on. So any contribution towards earlier diagnosis could bring a huge benefit to patients and allow earlier intervention.

Kate Fairweather grabs an update, before Claire disappears to the Literary Corner to read aloud from her book at Goodwoof 2025.

Recorded at Goodwoof 2025.

Connected episodes

• lorin, Iggy and Asher, bio detection dogs and owner, Dr. Claire Guest OBE
• Hear E-Coli detection dog Plum at work at the charity's training centre.
• Medical Alert dogs

Do you work your dog or know someone else who might like to come on the show? Get in touch with Kate, via team@shineradio.uk.

Find more dogs with interesting jobs.

© & ℗ Kate Fairweather, 2025

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.