Working Like Dogs

🎙️ New Episode: Sgt. Bo Reporting for Duty! 🎙️

What happens when a stray dog becomes a police department's most compassionate officer and wins the 2025 American Humane Hero Dog Award? You get Sgt. Bo and one of the most heartwarming episodes of Working Like Dogs we have ever recorded!

In Episode 209, host Marcie Davis sits down with Faye Okert, the devoted handler behind this four-legged phenomenon, and Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of American Humane. They share Sgt. Bo’s breathtaking journey from the streets of Nashville to comforting children in the aftermath of tragedy.

Robin also pulls back the curtain on the Hero Dog Awards and the urgent issues American Humane is fighting for right now.

🐾 Sgt. Bo's story is living proof that the dogs who need saving the most are often the ones who end up saving us. This is the perfect episode to share with every dog lover in your life!

👉 Listen to Episode 209 here: https://www.petliferadio.com/workingdogs.html

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1E7GzjgV55/

A great reminder to share.

Oh, my goodness... I am sitting here with the biggest smile on my face, and maybe a few happy tears, too.
🥰
I am so incredibly touched and honored to share that Working Like Dogs has won the 2026 Women Podcaster Award for Best Pets & Animals Podcast!

When I first started this podcast, my goal was simply to share the beautiful, life-changing stories of the human-animal bond, and to shine a light on the dedicated animals and handlers who inspire us every day. To receive this kind of recognition from our community is more meaningful than words can fully say.

This award doesn't just belong to me. It belongs to our wonderful guests who share their hearts with us, to the incredible trainers like Christina Fleming who help mold these amazing animals, and most of all, to you.

Whether you have been listening since Episode #1, voted for us over the last few weeks, or just recently joined our little community to hear about 🐎 Beignet, Romeo, and the pack, thank you.

I am so grateful for each and every one of you. Here is to many more stories, many more lessons, and celebrating the animals that make our world a brighter place.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for listening and supporting the show. 🐾❤️

The work we’re doing with our two minis, Beignet and Romeo, is focused on something incredibly powerful: Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT).

🐴Miniature horses visiting extended care facilities is a well-established form of equine-assisted activity, like therapy dog visitations, and the research is genuinely moving. PubMed Central

🐎Why miniature horses are exceptional therapy partners:
Horses provide a non-judgmental and calming environment that can be deeply comforting. They are sensitive animals who can mirror human emotions, offering immediate feedback that helps people open up emotionally and build confidence.

Equine-assisted activities have been shown to support companionship, socialization, self-esteem, and improvements in emotional connection and personal boundaries. BetterHelpPubMed Central

In a 2021 study on equine-assisted therapy for PTSD among military veterans, more than half of participants showed a clinically significant improvement in their symptoms — and miniature horses are increasingly part of that healing landscape. VA News

Watching Beignet and Romeo's intelligence and intuition firsthand makes it so clear why they are such profound partners in this work. Working with these little guys has been one of the most inspirational experiences of my life. These two remarkable minis, especially Romeo, took to my wheelchair without even a second glance, and the relationship we are building together brings me pure joy! 🥰

🎙️ Want to go deeper?
I'm thrilled to share a special conversation in Episode #207 Where Vulnerability Meets Trust: Working with Horses. I'm joined by Christina Fleming, the expert trainer working with me and our minis. We talk about the unique bond required for this work and what makes horses such profound partners.

👉 Listen here: https://www.petliferadio.com/workingdogsep207.html

I am currently planning our next round of episodes for Working Like Dogs, and I want to hear from YOU. This show is all about the incredible bond between humans and their canine (and equine!) partners, and I want to make sure we are covering the stories and topics you care about most.

What should we dive into next?

🐾 Deep Dives: Specific training tips or behavior science?
🌟 Inspiration: More interviews with handlers and their hero dogs?
🐴 Pony Power: More behind-the-scenes with our miniature therapy horses?
🏛️ History: More legendary stories like Sgt. Stubby?

Drop a comment below with your ideas, or let me know if there is a specific guest you think I should interview! I can’t wait to see what you’re curious about.

In the meantime, you can catch up on all our recent episodes here:
👉 https://www.petliferadio.com/workingdogs.html

🐴 More Than Just Cute: Miniature Horses as Therapy Animals

Did you know that miniature horses have an extraordinary gift for healing? These incredible equines are making a real difference in hospitals, care facilities, schools, and therapeutic settings — and I'm so excited to be part of this world!

Here's something important to understand: under the ADA, miniature horses are not included in the formal definition of a "service animal" — that term is legally limited to dogs. However, the ADA does contain a separate, specific provision recognizing miniature horses, requiring businesses and public entities to make reasonable modifications to accommodate them when they are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities, typically ranging from 24 to 34 inches at the shoulder and weighing between 70 and 100 pounds.

Why they are exceptional partners:
Longevity: A 25–30 year lifespan means long, consistent therapeutic relationships.
Calm Nature: They have a naturally steady temperament with no social hyperactivity.
Awareness: A nearly 350-degree field of vision makes them uniquely perceptive.
Adaptability: They are easy to house train and require very little outdoor space compared to full-sized horses.

Whether they are providing stability or acting as a calming presence, these animals are proof that big things come in s

https://adata.org/faq/i-heard-miniature-horses-are-considered-be-service-animals-ada-true

It is so exciting to see Humphrey’s world expanding! Whether you are a fan of the books or just love a catchy tune with a great message, you can now listen to the music that goes along with his adventures.

The first book in the series, Humphrey the Hopeful Helper, is available as a song text on all your favorite streaming platforms like iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and Tidal. You can also listen to first song here:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC9EnAHbRcE

Even better news, the second book's companion song, Humphrey the Hopeful Helper has a Health Crisis, is out now too! You can check out the newest song and follow along with Humphrey’s latest journey right here:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vSQMn_LZ9Y

A huge thank you to the talented producer and composer Christina Fleming, for bringing Humphrey’s stories to life in such a fun way.

Happy listening! 🐾

🦮 Happy International Guide Dog Day!
Today is all about celebrating the absolute legends of the working dog world! International Guide Dog Day is the perfect time to honor the life-changing independence, safety, and companionship these very good boys and girls provide every single day.

Whether they are navigating busy city streets or simply being a constant, loyal partner, guide dogs truly represent the pinnacle of the human-animal bond. It takes a lot of intelligence and heart to do what they do, and we think they deserve all the extra treats today!

Speaking of support... We are officially in the last 24 hours of voting for the 2026 Women Podcaster Awards! If you love hearing stories about amazing animals like these, please consider tossing a final vote for Working Like Dogs under the Pets & Animals Podcasts category:

👉 https://www.womenpodcasters.com/awards-voting

And if you want to dive into more stories about the incredible work our canine partners do, you can find all our episodes right here:

👉 https://www.petliferadio.com/workingdogs.html

Thank you for celebrating with us and for all your support this month! 🐾

We are officially down to the final two days of voting for the 2026 Women Podcaster Awards! If you have a spare minute today or tomorrow, I would be so happy if you could head over and cast a vote for Working Like Dogs.

You can find us listed under the Pets & Animals Podcasts category right here:
👉 https://www.womenpodcasters.com/awards-voting

If you are new here or haven't had a chance to listen to the show yet, come hang out with us! You can check out all of our episodes and hear some incredible stories about our favorite four-legged partners here:
👉 https://www.petliferadio.com/workingdogs.html

A huge thank you to everyone who has already voted and supported the show this month. 🐾