dogs in training
NSD Nancy
Nancy is currently with her adult raiser. She is being taught a foundation of house manners and cues, for becoming a well-socialized part of the community.
Woof! Woof!
(Hello!)
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Gender: Female
Date of Birth: April 28, 2023
Sire: PADS Zegen
Dam: NSD Chip
Litter: N Litter
Puppy Sponsor: Phoebe Montgomery and Chris’ Home Childcare
Volunteer Team: Morgan Ellis & Trey Larue, Carol Dickson, Nancy and Greg Murdoch
Fund My TrainingSponser Future NSD Puppies
Help Our Service Dogs Change Lives
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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.
Nancy's Updates
August 2023
Nancy has been in our home for over a month. She is very sweet, smart and sassy. She loves the kibble ball and dog puzzles. She’s working on her commands and was a great little walker until we went to the cottage last week and we weren’t able to keep it up due to monster mosquitoes. This past week Nancy visited a hospital, outdoor patio restaurant, grocery store and triathlon. She did very well. She was also swimming in a lake as well as a pool this week. Lots more adventures to come!
October 2023
Nancy is a super sweet sassy pup. She’s learns very quickly and is always eager to show you what she’s learned. She also loves a belly rub whenever she can get one. Nancy also loves to communicate with us.
February 2024
Nancy is an extremely smart and confident pup who loves a belly rub and someone to hold onto her bone while she chews on it. Her loose leash walking is amazing and she has the near command nailed. Her demand barking also seems to have stopped. We’re currently working on keeping her from jumping up by reassuring her we can give her attention while she sits or lays down. It amazes me how she’s always willing and eager to learn.
April 2024
I honestly can’t believe that Nancy will be 1 year old at the end of April. We have both learned so much during our time together. Nancy is a very sweet fun girl who loves to learn. She amazes me every time we have a new skill to learn. She loves our trail walks, watching the wildlife in our backyard, playing fetch and snuggling. She is the most amazing sleeper in her kennel at night but hadn’t been during the day. She has done so well being left out in the house for several hours now without any issues. Nancy is a great traveller and great when we go out to stores. We’re currently working on not eating the mulch in the backyard as well as settling.
October 2024
I am now in high school classes and getting ready for my next adventure in NSD University! I’m really starting to get the hang of this service dog thing, so my puppy raiser takes me to lots of new and exciting places to practice. I am also learning new advanced skills such as 'back,' 'touch,' 'chin,' and stepping on the perch pot. In class, I practice stairs and different under-footings and work for new and different handlers. This is an important step in preparing me for the next phase of my training. At home, I am polishing up my manners around meal times, guests, and outdoor walks. Now that I have more impulse control, I get to have more freedom around the house and get to sleep out of my crate some nights.
Everything You Need to Know
Training
Volunteer
Apply
The flow of dogs through NSD’s Programs takes 0-2 years as follows:
- Step 1: Breeding Program
- Step 2: Volunteer Raiser Programs
- Step 3: Behavioural Assessments
- Step 4: University/College
- Step 5: Placement
The tireless efforts of our clients, staff, and volunteers allow our dogs in training to succeed, with social workers and mental health professionals present to ensure our entire process stays people-centric. After about 2 years of training and assessment, our NSD graduates are successfully placed in a client’s home.
Become a Puppy Raiser
Help raise a puppy into a life-changing Service Dog by providing love, training, and socialization until they are 14-16 months old.
Become an Adult Raiser
Help facilitate training and care for a Service Dog until they find their forever family. Polish the dog’s current skills and manners and test their abilities with a new handler as they enter a new environment.
Become a Carpool Driver
Transport Service Dogs with your car to their weekday training sessions. This volunteer role involves picking up NSD University/College dogs from their Adult Raiser’s home and bringing them to training in Kitchener/Cambridge.
Several factors determine the cost of a Service Dog.
Over their eight to ten year working life, Service Dogs are valued up to $50,000. However, each dog is provided free of charge to approved clients. All food and veterinary costs are borne by the client once the dog has been placed.
NSD receives no government funding and relies entirely on donations from the general public, corporate sponsors, fundraising events, and community supporters. We also host third-party fundraisers in support of our working dog teams.
Applications are on a referral basis. Please visit our program pages for more information.