Support NSD today and make a forever impact on those in need of a life-changing partnership.
Our Programs
Our NSD Labrador and Golden Retrievers assist Autistic children and their families by increasing safety levels, improving socialization, and suppressing behavioural outbursts.
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Our NSD dogs help Veterans and First Responders with PTSD by promoting integration and activity, suppressing hypervigilance, and providing reality affirmation and redirection.
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Our CAI Dogs are matched with various treatment professionals to work as partners in therapy, addressing health and wellness in communities across Ontario.
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Our Skilled Companion Dogs are placed with children with various disabilities. Their training emulates our service dog programs, helping children overcome daily challenges at home.
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Our VIPs are adopted when the decision to transition a dog into a pet is made. As they are not made for the working life, NSD looks for internal placements or waiting list for these Very Important Pets.
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Dogs Placed
39,384
Lives Empowered
335,468
Annual Volunteer Hours
Our Process
Step 1: Breeding Program
Access to healthy, temperamentally-sound puppies that will have a long working career as service dogs starts with breeding. This program is the heart of our dog development. NSD standards ensure we accept the best breeders who are held to high health and temperament requirements.
Step 2: Volunteer Raisers
Our puppies are confidently sent from NSD’s Breeding Program to our amazing Volunteer Raiser Programs. Here, our Puppy Raisers and Adult Raisers provide them with care, training, house manners, socialization, and exposure to new people, places, and experiences.
Step 3: Behavioural Assessments
Evaluating an NSD puppy’s reactions to its environment is important for creating a plan for its future. At this stage, the dogs are assessed for their responses to interactions with people and various stimuli such as physical contact, noises, and objects.
Step 4: Customized Skills Training
Dogs who are deemed suitable are admitted to a full-time training program with NSD trainers, Monday through Friday. Here, they are trained and evaluated to see what program they are best suited for: Autism, PTSD, CAI, Skilled Companion, or VIP.
Step 5: Placement
The tireless efforts of our staff, and volunteers allow our dogs in training to succeed, with social workers and mental health professionals present to ensure our process stays people-centric. After about 2 years of training and assessment, our NSD graduates are successfully partnered with a client.
Dogs in Training
NeoLife means “New Life”. This Labrador Retriever was named by her currently puppy raiser, who she is now with. She is being taught essential cues and house manners that will enable her to adapt to any social situation with ease and confidence.
All of the training and care provided to each dog would not be possible without the support of generous volunteers and donors.
Meet Our Service DogsGet Involved
Donate
At NSD, we do not receive any government funding to support our mission. Instead, we rely entirely on the generous support of individual donors, community partners, corporate sponsors, service clubs, and through annual fundraising events.
Help us empower people to achieve their full potential. Show your support and donate today.
Volunteer
NSD would not exist without the tireless efforts of our dedicated volunteers. Their commitment to our mission and the individuals we serve is truly inspiring, and we are honoured to have them as part of our family.
If you are interested in joining our outstanding team of volunteers, we encourage you to submit an application.
SUCCESS STORIES
I Feel A True Happiness That I Never Believed I Would Ever Feel Again
To say that NSD Lynx has been a life saver seems like a tremendous understatement; my life and my whole family’s life has changed so much.
I have a new, manageable life with my wife and my son that I never dreamed would be possible, let alone dared to imagine, before receiving this wonderful gift. Today with the help of NSD Lynx, my family and I “LIVE” with PTSD, we no longer “SUFFER” from it.
Lawrence
PTSD Service Dogs
SUCCESS STORIES
So Many New Firsts Experienced, I Can Hardly Keep Track!
NSD Clover has changed our life and the entire way Kyle functions in only 7 short months. The happiness, self confidence, courage, social, language and communication strides she has helped Kyle make are truly immeasurable. He has EXPLODED in his development as of late.
We are forever grateful for the compassion, empathy and guardianship NSD Clover loves and shares with Kyle. She is truly magic in a dog! We could not imagine living life without her. She is truly a beloved member of our family.
The Jenkinson Family
Autism Service Dogs
SUCCESS STORIES
He Has Had An Impact From Day One
NSD Uno is brilliant! He has settled in wonderfully to his job with me, and is also happily adjusted to our home life. He’s out working daily with a variety of students. If I could tell you how positive an effect Uno is having, it would take up a lifetime.
Including CAI Dogs in therapy provides patients with the ability to open up and speak out and participate in ways they were not able to when the dog was not present.
Liisa, SEED Education Strategies & Solutions
CAI Facility Dogs
SUCCESS STORIES
A Dog With A Heart That Connects Beyond Words
Sammy is an amazing beautiful dog with a heart that connects beyond words. Last night was the easiest night I have ever had to put my boys to sleep. Usually, it can take up to 2 hours before they can settle enough to sleep (it has taken me 3 hours when they were younger!), and that is already after being in their bedroom!
Yesterday they were under their blankets, and Sammy was right between them, giving love! With joy in all our hearts, we started saying goodnight, then goodnight moon (from the book), “goodnight Sammy,” then sleep and quiet snoring!
Ose
Skilled Companion DogsStay Informed
November 22, 2024
Twelve puppies in the region are about to begin the journey to become life-changing service dogs. The Cambridge-based organization National Service Dogs was in Kitchener on Wednesday to educate the…
November 20, 2024
People who love dogs have an opportunity to take care of a puppy for free, while also making a difference in someone else’s life. National Service Dogs is looking for…
November 4, 2024
At NSD, our mission is to empower people to achieve their full potential with Certified Service Dogs as catalysts for restorative change. Each day, we witness firsthand the profound impact…
Mark Your Calendars
Nov 16, 2024
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Nov 23, 2024
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Dec 03, 2024
12:00 am - 11:00 pm
Giving Tuesday is around the corner! We operate without any government funding and rely solely on the generosity of individuals,…