Working Like Dogs - Service Dogs and Working Dogs - Pet Life Radio Original

Susannah Charleson dog trainer and author of The Possibility Dogs, talks with Marcie and Whistle about the tremendous potential abandoned dogs can have for service. Susannah is passionate about training these dogs to work beside individuals with different types of needs such as post-traumatic stress or mobility limitations. Learn about these dogs that go from tragedy to triumph as they serve both...

Renowned international artist and Retro Pets’ Top Dog, Krista Brooks drops in to visit with Marcie and Whistle about her incredible vintage-style doggie artwork. Krista talks about her artistic contributions to International Assistance Dog Week and how you can support IADW by purchasing one of her unique creations at www.cafepress.com/assistancedogweek. She also shares how you can submit your dog’...

Did you know that K-9 Comfort Dogs and their handlers respond to disasters and crisis situations throughout the United States? Tim Hetzner, President of K-9 Comfort Dogs Lutheran Church Charities, stops by to talk with Marcie and Whistle about the inspirational work these dogs and their handlers selflessly provide to the survivors of some our nation’s most devastating tragedies. Over 70 highly tra...

Do you think the ancient tradition of sheep herding is extinct? Think again! Shepherd, author, and photographer, Cat Urbigkit visits with Marcie and Whistle about the flock of sheep she keeps in the Green River basin area south of Yellowstone National Park with her amazing guardian dogs, Abe, Rant, Rena and Luv’s girl. You’ll want to listen in as Cat talks about some of the dangers these working d...

Have you ever wondered what your dog was thinking? Then you don’t want to miss a second of Marcie and Whistle’s enthralling interview with renowned animal cognition expert, Dr. Brian Hare. Dr. Hare talks about his latest book, The Genius of Dogs, which is revolutionizing how we interact with our beloved canine partners. Dr. Hare explains how we’ve learned more in the last 10 years about dog psycho...

Dr. Cindy Otto stops by to talk to Marcie and Whistle about her work with urban search and rescue dogs and the incredible new Penn Vet Working Dog Center). Dr. Otto discusses the work she did with the urban search and rescue dog teams after the 9/11 attacks. She also shares her excitement about the new, innovative Working Dog Center and their work training puppies to become future detection dogs b...

SV Wolf, experienced cadaver dog trainer, handler and author, talks with Marcie and Whistle about her lifelong passion of working with cadaver dogs and her new book, Death Scent. Wolf shares some personal insights into some of the most high profile cases she and her cadaver dogs, Titan and Smoke, have worked together and how she used those experiences to create Death Scent. Wolf also talks about s...

So, you've decided an assistance dog is right for you, you've decided you're going to train the dog yourself, or you're going to go with a service dog agency and you've finished that process. Now you have this amazing fine tuned athlete. But now what? You've brought this dog home, you're sitting looking at this dog, and now there's all these other things you have to think about. Today we're going...

John Moon, Director of Programs and Communications, for NEADS (Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans) stops by to talk with Marcie and Whistle about their incredible program. NEADS has been a leader in the assistance dog field for 40 years. You’ll hear all about how NEADS trains assistance dogs to help men, women, veterans and children with a variety of disabilities. Listen in as John talks about t...

Join Marcie and Whistle as they welcome Dr. Katherine Schneider retired clinical psychologist and veteran guide dog user, to the show. Dr. Schneider talks candidly with Marcie and Whistle about what happens when an assistance dog is retired and ultimately dies. You won’t want to miss a second of their frank, truthful conversation about how to deal with the loss of our beloved working dogs. Questio...

Kim Gabelein and Joe Worley from America’s VetDogs stop by to talk with Marcie and Whistle about the amazing impact America’s VetDogs are having on the lives of veterans with disabilities. Hear about Joe’s personal experience with his service dog, Benjamin and the incredible partnership between America’s VetDogs and Bil-Jac Super Premium Dog Food that led to the creation of America’s VetDogs Treat...

Best-selling author, Bruce Cameron, drops in to visit with Marcie and Whistle about his incredible writing career (www.brucecameron.com). He discusses his earlier books, and his New York Times Bestseller, A Dog's Purpose, which led to his latest book, A Dog’s Journey. You’ll love listening to Bruce’s insights about how he found the voice for his incredible canine characters Bailey and Buddy and th...

We're continuing with our series about giving a lot of information about assistance dogs. and we've been talking about all the tasks that assistance dogs can do for individuals with disabilities, and we're going to continue talking about that. Today we're going to focus on is an assistance dog right for you, and how do you know if it's right for you? We're going to talk about what it means and wha...

Ellen Torop, Canine Companions for Independence (www.cci.org) Northeast Regional Manager, joins Marcie and Whistle for a 'nose to tail' conversation about service dogs. Ellen shares her 25 years of dog training experiences and insights with CCI (1-800-572-BARK) from breeding dogs to puppy raising, to advanced training and placement. If you’re interested in getting a service dog, training a service...

Best-selling author, Susan Orlean, stops by to talk with Marcie and Whistle about her latest book, Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend. Rin Tin Tin might be considered one of the most famous and heroic working dogs in the history of movies and television. Susan Orlean talks about Rin Tin Tin’s glorious career and the caring relationship between owner Lee Duncan and his beloved German Shepherd. Or...

Bill Glicker from the United States Postal Service and John Thompson, Stamp Artist join Marcie and Whistle in a lively discussion about how the Postal Service developed the 'Dogs At Work' series (www.beyondtheperf.com) of 65 cent stamps. The stamps feature original paintings by John Thompson of a guide dog, therapy dog, military dog, and a search-and-rescue dog. You will love learning about this f...

Bob Weatherwax (www.weatherwaxtraineddogs.com) stops by to visit with Marcie and Whistle about his remarkable 42-year career training some of Hollywood’s most famous dogs, including one of our favorites, Lassie. Bob's incredible stories and firsthand experiences will captivate you as he describes working with some of the movies' greatest legends that we all know and love. Plus, he talks about some...

Darlene Sullivan and Matt Groseclose of Canine Partners for Life (www.k94life.org) join Marcie and Whistle to talk about their assistance dog program. Darlene enthusiastically talks about how she knew as an elementary student that her life would be devoted to assistance dogs. And, as the founder of Canine Partners, she also shares how, ironically, years after the organization’s inception, she deve...

Jennifer Arnold, New York Times best-selling author and Executive Director of Canine Assistants, sees directly into a dog’s heart. She stops by to talk with Marcie and Whistle about her new book, ‘In A Dog’s Heart.’ Jennifer passionately shares her insights about what she believes dogs need and how we can give it to them. The book is a prescriptive for everything dog lovers want to know about how...

Wilma Melville, Founder and Director of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, visits with Marcie and Whistle to discuss her organization’s mission--to rescue dogs from local shelters and partner them with firefighters and other first responders. Wilma relates how she established the organization after the tragic Oklahoma City bombing. She also talks about the monumental National Training Ce...

Bob Vogel, journalist, photographer and Senior Correspondent for New Mobility (NM) magazine, drops in to visit with Marcie and Whistle. Bob talks candidly about his decision to train his first service dog, Yeager, and the choices he made when it was time to get his second and current German shepherd service dog, Schatzie. He also talks about his popular article, "Service Dogs: Training, Rights &am...

Charmaine Hammond, author (www.ontobysterms.com) and President of Hammond International, talks with Marcie and Whistle about the life-changing discoveries she and her husband, Christopher, made after adopting Toby--a five-year-old, seemingly disastrous, Chesapeake Bay retriever. Learn how Charmaine and Christopher helped Toby find his purpose in order to become the dog he needed to be. You won't w...

Assistance dogs go to work every day in workplaces throughout the country. In recognition of the 2011 International Assistance Dog Week (IADW), the U.S. Department of Labor (www.dol.gov/odep) recognized these hardworking dogs! Join Marcie and Whistle as Day Al-Mohamed, Senior Policy Advisor and her guide dog, Vinny, stop by to talk about the innovative way the Department of Labor honored assistanc...

Leigh Brill, author and service dog enthusiast, visits with Marcie and Whistle about her current and former assistance dogs and how they changed her life. As a woman living with cerebral palsy, Leigh talks about living with a disability and how Slugger gave her a clear sense of purpose -- physically, emotionally and spiritually. Leigh also talks about her book, A Dog Named Slugger, and her newest...

Ernie Sloane, Editor of Dog Fancy, the world’s most widely read dog magazine, stops by to visit with Marcie and Whistle about Dog Fancy’s salute to three top police, military, and search and rescue dog teams as winners of its Working Canine Hero of the Year contest, sponsored by Natural Balance Pet Foods Ernie shares his personal insights about the contest and how he and his staff actually partici...