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
44,436
Lives Empowered
229,988
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
Such an amazing animal who's only goal is to love.
Maverick has continuously amazed and astounded me with her intelligence and abilities. It is truly amazing to be on the receiving end and see first-hand the capabilities of these amazing creatures.
It is not lost on me the amount of time, people and resources it takes to achieve this level of excellence, discipline and love these dogs exhibited on a daily basis, it truly is an honor. I hope you understand what these dogs do for us and the gratitude I'm sure everyone who has received an NSD service dog feels toward all the unsung heroes in the background making everything come together to create such an amazing animal who's only goal is to love and help you.
Jim and NSD Maverick
PTSD Service Dogs
SUCCESS STORIES
Your support means more than words can express
There are truly no words to express how grateful I am to have NSD Harley by my side in this work. I’m so excited to see the continued impact she will have in helping reduce trauma for the children and youth we support through the criminal justice system. She’s already shown that she’s going to be an incredible court support dog. Your support means more than words can express - thank you!
P.S. Harley now has her own Instagram account! You can follow along with her journey at Boost here: @boostforkidsharley
NSD Harley- and Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre
CAI Service Dogs
SUCCESS STORIES
She is a delight, and truly one of the greatest lights of my life.
Having a National Service Dog to me means I have a dog that is the ‘cream of the crop’. I’m on my second, and the compliments I have on my first are astounding. She is a delight, and truly one of the greatest lights of my life.
Amanda and NSD Ursula
Skilled Companion Service Dogs
SUCCESS STORIES
The connection between them is incredible
In just a few days, my son‘s autism service dog has already changed his world. I’ve seen him smile more, calm down faster and face situations that used to overwhelm him. The connection between them is incredible. It’s like his dog understands him in a way no one else can. Watching them together gives me so much hope for an amazing future.
Team NSD Medric
Autism Service DogsStay Informed
May 16, 2026
Big news, NSD supporters… Our brand new online store is officially LIVE! Shop now: https://national-service-dogs-2.myshopify.com/ Now you can shop exclusive NSD apparel, accessories, gifts, and more — all while helping…
May 12, 2026
KITCHENER, ON – May 12, 2026 – When a litter of yellow Labrador puppies was born into the National Service Dog (NSD) program on February 1, 2025, no one could…
February 20, 2026
February 19, 2026 – CTV News Kitchener “Future service dogs got an important lesson on good behaviour during a rehearsal of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.” View the Full Story on CTV:…
Mark Your Calendars
Jun 06, 2026
8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Join us for a day of great finds, community fun, and giving back! Our Community Garage Sale, Raffle & BBQ…
Jun 13, 2026
1:00 pm - 7:00 pm
📅 Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026📍 Location: Beaverdale Golf and Country Club ⏰ Schedule: Registration – 11:00 AM Lunch –…
Nov 29, 2025
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Join National Service Dogs (NSD) and Cohen Photography on Saturday, November 29, 2025, for our Annual Holiday Photoshoot Fundraiser at the beautiful Rockway Gardens in Kitchener. Your Photoshoot…