Dogs with Incredible Jobs

From truffle hunters and bedbug detectors to emotional support dogs and penguin protectors, follow four-legged experts at work.

A group of puppies works to help college students cope with stress, while a band of family pets step into the circus arena to show off their spectacular home-taught tricks. The programme also examines how play can develop useful working skills for farm dogs, whether tracking down mice or taking care of chickens.

Featuring a dog that helps children with their kindergarten education, as well as others that are playing a vital role in medical research into dementia. The programme also covers how dogs can be useful in grief counselling and therapy, while an animal rescue worker in America reveals how the dogs she helped were able to support her through her bulimia.

A look at a dog that is the taste tester at an innovative pet food company in San Diego, and Malamutes pulling sleds of tourists on a ride through New Zealand's South Island - all without a hint of snow. Plus, Border collie-Belgian shepherd cross that keeps enthusiasm high at each training session of the Australian national rowing team.

Featuring a rescue schnauzer cross that was trained to drive a car, and detector dogs that patrol New Zealand's islands for rats or mice that pose a threat to endangered species. In a minimum security prison, dogs from a rescue shelter play a vital role in helping prisoners preparing to transition back into society to work on their socialisation skills, while volunteers and their dogs pay visits to people with dementia and palliative care centres.

Featuring dogs that help children to gain confidence with their reading, and guard dogs who patrol an open range zoo in Australia to protect the endangered resident Eastern barred bandicoots. The programme also visits a specialist bakery for dogs and meets the lucky golden retriever who gets to carry out the taste tests, and discovers how an organisation that rehomes abandoned dogs allows prospective owners to meet potential pets for a cafe date before committing.

The final programme in the current series features a labrador whose job is to help children to feel safe while giving evidence in court, a dog with an instinct for detecting supernatural activity, and assistance dogs for people suffering from diabetes. Plus, why maremmas are uniquely well equipped for looking after penguins.