dogs in training
NSD Willow
Willow is currently with her puppy 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: October 6, 2023
Sire: LFCDG Calder
Dam: NSD Liberty
Litter: R Litter
Puppy Sponsor: The 2nd Annual Tim Silver Memorial Golf Tournament
Volunteer Team: Marilyn Nijboer, Emma Bluhm, Crystal Thomson
Fund My TrainingSponser Future NSD Puppies
Help Our Service Dogs Change Lives
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.
Willow's Updates
January 2024
Willow is a very sweet, energetic girl. She loves going for walks, playing fetch and cuddling. We have been working on all of our manners in public and she has been enjoying every minute of it – she is a very focused girl when she has her special jacket on. Willow is a quick little learner and tries her best every day. She is working hard to ignore distractions, settle quietly and walk along side of her handler. She has brought so much joy to our lives already and we cannot wait to watch her continue to grow.
April 2024
Willow is a very sweet and affectionate lady. She goes on daily adventures to the gym and retail stores – she has even accompanied her handler to longer, more challenging appointments like the dentist and salon (which she aced). She is very good at showing off all of her skills – she gets complimented on being a good girl every day. Willow is such a pleasure to train and a very quick learner. At home Willow enjoys playing tug with squeaky toys, cuddling in fuzzy blankets and having camp fires in the backyard with her foster family.
October 2024
I just turned one year old!!! I am also now in high school classes! 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.