Volunteer Opportunities
NSD would not exist without the hard work and dedication of our 500+ volunteers.
In 2018, 450,000 hours of volunteer time were donated to NSD.
“Hi! I am happy to see you are interested in getting involved with us, National Service Dogs! I am Lindsey, the Volunteer Coordinator. I am here to tell you all about who we are, what we do, and how you can join our journey of providing Service Dogs across Canada! I invite you all to attend one of our monthly Information Nights where I will tell you all there is to know about NSD and answer any questions you may have. This is the first step if you’d like to volunteer with us. To sign up for our Information Night, please click ‘Sign Up Here’. You will be redirected to MyImpactPage.com, where you can create your own profile and sign up for an Information Night. If you have any questions, please reach out to me, lindsey@nsd.on.ca. I am so excited to meet you!” – Lindsey, NSD’s Volunteer Coordinator
Volunteer Opportunities with Dogs in Training
Do you love dogs? There are a variety of ways to volunteer at National Service Dogs (NSD) and work with our life-changing puppies-in-training and dogs in Advanced Training! Did you know only about 10% of our service dogs’ training is done by our trainers, the rest is done by dedicated volunteers! Regardless of how you plan to volunteer, YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!
Breeder Caretaker
Breeder Caretaker volunteers play an important first step in the journey of our wonderful Service Dogs. In this volunteer role, the Breeder Caretaker welcomes our breeder dog into the home and provides a safe and loving environment. These volunteers get the dogs to all their appointments and care for the dog until retirement from the breeding program. For females, it is typically after 3 litters or age of 6.
For those who are Breeder Caretakers for female dogs, they also welcome the litter of puppies once successfully pregnant. Breeder Caretakers host the litter of puppies in their home for about 7 weeks. The volunteer cares for and helps to socialize the puppies until they are ready to start their training journey with Puppy Starters. Volunteers are responsible to keep the puppies’ area clean and stimulating. NSD offers a strong, supportive whelping program with a variety of enrichment activities for the puppies and their mom.
This role does require a volunteer with a very flexible schedule that can dedicate the majority of their time to the litter of puppies for 7 weeks.
Check out the complete volunteer requirements here.
Current Need: Application Closed – anticipated re-open date spring 2022.
Whelping Home
The Whelping Home is the first step of the journey for our wonderful Service Dogs. In this volunteer role, the Whelping Home welcomes the pregnant mama dogs into the home and provides a safe and calm environment to welcome the litter of puppies. For the next 7-8 weeks, the Whelping Home cares for and helps to socialize the puppies until they are ready to start their training journey with Puppy Starters. Whelping Homes are responsible for keeping the puppies’ area clean and stimulating. NSD offers a strong, supportive whelping program with a variety of enrichment activities for the puppies and their mom.
This role does require a volunteer with a very flexible schedule that can dedicate the majority of their time to the litter of puppies for 7 weeks.
Check out the complete volunteer requirements here.
Current Need: Application Closed – anticipated re-open date spring 2022.
Puppy Educator
Do you love puppies but not ready to bring one home? Puppy Educators are volunteers who assist in the training process with puppies 4 – 7 weeks old at the whelping home. These volunteers will be travelling to the volunteer whelping homes to help run specific exercises and exposure training with the puppies. Exercises and exposure activities include working on a leash, crate training, walking on new surfaces, practicing “follow me”, practicing sit and down, and providing one-on-one attention for puppies along with your observations. The program we use is a combination of Puppy Culture and best practices within the service dog industry.
Current Need: Application closed.
Puppy Starter
Not sure about full-time raising, but you just love the little 7 week old puppies? Well a Puppy Starter role might be the right position for you. Puppy Starters take home a pair of puppies when they are 7 weeks old before heading off to their puppy raiser. Puppy Starters get to teach the puppies house manners, crate training, potty training, socialization and have all the fun puppy kisses! Puppy Starters usually take care of the puppies for 3-5 weeks.
Check out the complete volunteer requirements here.
Current Need: Application Closed – anticipated re-open date summer 2021.
Puppy Raiser
Do you want to make a difference and you’re willing to commit to a purpose greater than yourself? Raise a Puppy! No experience needed, all you need is love and dedication.
Puppy Raising with NSD means having a furry friend by your side at work, school, and anywhere else you go in a day. The most important trait of a Puppy Raiser is dedication. Dedication to providing a puppy with daily care, training house manners, socialization with all different people, exposure to new places and situations, as well as attending NSD run training classes. Puppy raisers will have the NSD puppies from 12 weeks of age until they are 14 to 16 months old.
Puppy Raisers are surrounded by a supportive team. We teach you step by step how to raise a future service dog. You’ll learn new skills and make friends at puppy classes. Best of all, anytime you need a break Puppy Sitters are here to give you a day, a weekend, or a week off from Puppy Raising. This journey will provide you with the opportunity to create extraordinary dogs that will help transform lives!
Check out the complete volunteer requirements here.
Current Need: Application Open – anticipated start date summer/fall 2021.
If you are interested in learning more about this role Sign Up Here
Puppy Sitter
Not sure full-time raising is for you? Volunteer as a Puppy Sitter and support the dogs along their journey. Puppy Sitting is when you fill in for the Puppy Raisers/Adult Raiser who are on vacation or in need of a helping hand. You will be responsible for keeping up on their training and taking them into public with their “puppy in training” jacket. Volunteer Sitters are approved handlers who help the puppies and dogs improve and maintain their skills and training. The puppies will range from 12 weeks old to 2 years old. As a sitter, we’ll equip you with everything you need to step in for the short-term and puppy kisses are included! This opportunity works around your availability and is a great introduction for other volunteer opportunities!
Check out the complete volunteer requirements here.
Current Need: Application Closed – anticipated re-open date fall 2021.
Adult Raiser
Want to help train a Service Dog but you’re not sure about a puppy. Adult Raising is the opportunity for you! Adult Raiser volunteers take on a dog aged 14-16 months for their final stage of training until they find their forever family. Adult Raisers play a valuable role in the dog’s success as it allows them to polish their skills and manners in a new environment, with a new handler. At some point during the dogs’ final stage of training, they will be completing University Training while still spending evenings and weekends with their Adult Raiser.
Check out the complete volunteer requirements here.
Current Need: Application Open – anticipated start date spring 2021.
If you are interested in learning more about this role Sign Up Here
Doggy Carpool Driver
Do you love dogs and driving? We have the perfect opportunity as a Doggy Carpool Driver. This role involves picking up NSD University dogs from their Adult Raiser’s home and bringing them to NSD University in Cambridge. Driving is done on weekdays in the morning from about 7-8am and in the evening from about 4-5pm.
Check out the complete volunteer requirements here.
Current Need: Application Open – anticipated start date spring 2021.
If you are interested in learning more about this role Sign Up Here
Opportunities within the Organization
Making an impact doesn’t always happen on the other end of a leash; being behind a desk is just as crucial to producing our life-changing dogs. Volunteers’ knowledge and expertise within organizational roles are essential. Regardless of how you plan to volunteer, YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!
Events and Fundraising
Events and Fundraising volunteers help us engage with our community. NSD hosts and supports a number of fundraising and event initiatives within the community to spread awareness of what NSD does and raise funds to help us continue to provide Certified Service Dogs to our community. Tasks may also include interacting with the public, helping with event registration, advocating for NSD and supporting the participants and dogs who attend our events.
Some events are based out of the NSD office in Cambridge, Ontario however we host events all across the province and Canada. For example, our annual Easter Egg Hunt for Dogs (on Good Friday) is hosted in the following cities: Kitchener, Guelph, Oakville, St. Catharines, Windsor, London, Toronto, and Calgary, Alberta. Our annual Motorcycle Ride (July) is held in Waterloo.
Current Need: Application open.
If you are interested in learning more about this role Sign Up Here
Office Administration Assistance
Whether behind a desk or behind a leash, all our volunteers are making an impact. NSD has many opportunities to support the NSD Dogs in their training journey however, to be able to do what we do we rely on our office support volunteers. There are a number of opportunities such as filing, database entry, mail-outs, event preparation, and more!
Current Need: Application closed.
Maintenance of Property (Indoor and Outdoor)
Whether behind a lawn mower or behind a leash, all our volunteers are making an impact. NSD has a large property where we train, house dogs, and have office space. We look for volunteers to support us in maintaining the property from cutting the grass and picking up sticks/leaves, to cleaning the inside of the building. These volunteer opportunities are all based out of our property at 1286 Cedar Creek Rd, Cambridge.
Current Need: Application closed.
Board of Directors
National Service Dogs is currently inviting applications for Directors to join our volunteer Board of Directors. We are seeking interested individuals that have an interest in National Service Dogs, especially individuals that may have past board governance and/or project and capital development experience.Board Members for National Service Dogs serve a two- year term, appointed at the Annual General Meeting in June. Board Members typically are required for 10 to 15 hours a month, that includes attending bi-monthly NSD Board Meetings, and sitting on 2 of 3 Committees, either in person or by teleconference. Board members are encouraged to attend NSD functions when possible.
If you are interested in joining this innovative, dynamic and industry-leading team, please contact Danielle Forbes, Executive Director of National Service Dogs at 519-623-4188 extension 12 or dani@nsd.on.ca.
NSD’s Accreditations
