Host Meg Grier interviews Dennis Blocker, a military war dog trainer and handler with experience in Iraq and Afghanistan and author of three books. Dennis shares a story from his time guarding the US Embassy construction site in Baghdad along the Tigris River. He explains how he and his German shepherd Taurus identified a suspicious motorcyclist with explosive residue on his hands — using the concepts of "JND" (Just Noticeable Difference) and "COB" (Change of Behavior) in dog handling.

He draws a parallel to faith: just as a handler must spend time with their dog to recognize subtle behavioral cues, we must spend consistent time with God to recognize when He's communicating with us. The episode closes with a reflection on relying on God the way dogs rely on their owners.

0:00     Show intro — "God and Our Dogs" on Bernie Radio

0:07     Mission statement & show overview

0:38     Guest intro — Dennis Blocker, war dog trainer & author

1:10     Welcome & conversation begins; favorite stories from three books

1:56     Dennis introduces the theme of trust — in God and in your dog

2:21     Reading dog body language — how dogs communicate through movement

3:22     Explains JND (Just Noticeable Difference) and COB (Change of Behavior)

4:22     Connects JND/COB to recognizing when God is speaking to us

5:07     Story begins — Checkpoint Miami, guarding the US Embassy in Baghdad

5:58     Suspicious motorcyclist arrives; Taurus begins growling

6:34     Dennis positions Taurus downwind; reads the dog's cues

7:28     Taurus alerts on handle grips — explosive odor detected

8:09     Suspect's hands test positive for multiple explosive residues

8:56     Meg draws the spiritual lesson — time with God = recognizing His signs

9:36     Discussion on growing closer to God over time

9:51     Book three update — Dennis's son handles publishing to Amazon

10:33  How to contact Dennis & find his books (DogsOf2Wars@yahoo.com)

10:59  Closing thought: "PAWND-ER" — how is your dog relying on you today?

11:24  Sign-off, show info, and how to find Bernie Radio

Host:  Meg Grier - Stories@GodAndOurDogs.com

Website:  www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072683640098

God and Our Dogs airs every Saturday at 11:15am on Boerne Radio 103.9FM - www.boerneradio.com.

Air Date:  05/30/26

Host Meg Grier interviews Dennis Blocker, a military war dog trainer and handler with experience in Iraq and Afghanistan and author of three books. Dennis shares a story from his time guarding the US Embassy construction site in Baghdad along the Tigris River. He explains how he and his German shepherd Taurus identified a suspicious motorcyclist with explosive residue on his hands &mdash; using the concepts of "JND" (Just Noticeable Difference) and "COB" (Change of Behavior) in dog handling.
He draws a parallel to faith: just as a handler must spend time with their dog to recognize subtle behavioral cues, we must spend consistent time with God to recognize when He's communicating with us. The episode closes with a reflection on relying on God the way dogs rely on their owners.
0:00&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Show intro &mdash; "God and Our Dogs" on Bernie Radio
0:07&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mission statement &amp; show overview
0:38&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Guest intro &mdash; Dennis Blocker, war dog trainer &amp; author
1:10&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Welcome &amp; conversation begins; favorite stories from three books
1:56&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dennis introduces the theme of trust &mdash; in God and in your dog
2:21&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Reading dog body language &mdash; how dogs communicate through movement
3:22&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Explains JND (Just Noticeable Difference) and COB (Change of Behavior)
4:22&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Connects JND/COB to recognizing when God is speaking to us
5:07&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Story begins &mdash; Checkpoint Miami, guarding the US Embassy in Baghdad
5:58&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Suspicious motorcyclist arrives; Taurus begins growling
6:34&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dennis positions Taurus downwind; reads the dog's cues
7:28&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Taurus alerts on handle grips &mdash; explosive odor detected
8:09&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Suspect's hands test positive for multiple explosive residues
8:56&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Meg draws the spiritual lesson &mdash; time with God = recognizing His signs
9:36&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Discussion on growing closer to God over time
9:51&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Book three update &mdash; Dennis's son handles publishing to Amazon
10:33&nbsp; How to contact Dennis &amp; find his books (DogsOf2Wars@yahoo.com)
10:59&nbsp; Closing thought: "PAWND-ER" &mdash; how is your dog relying on you today?
11:24&nbsp; Sign-off, show info, and how to find Bernie Radio
Host:&nbsp; Meg Grier - Stories@GodAndOurDogs.com
Website:&nbsp; www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072683640098
God and Our Dogs airs every Saturday at 11:15am on Boerne Radio 103.9FM - www.boerneradio.com.
Air Date:&nbsp; 05/30/26

Meg Grier talks with people just like you to discover a new perspective by relying on God the way our dogs rely on us.  Sign up for more content and contests at www.GodAndOurDogs.com 

God and Our Dogs airs every Saturday Morning at 9am on Boerne Radio 103.9FM - www.BoerneRadio.com.

Meg Grier talks with people just like you to discover a new perspective by relying on God the way our dogs rely on us.&nbsp; Sign up for more content and contests at <a href="http://www.GodAndOurDogs.com">www.GodAndOurDogs.com</a>&nbsp;
God and Our Dogs airs every Saturday Morning at 9am on Boerne Radio 103.9FM - www.BoerneRadio.com.