dogs in training
NSD Baxter
Baxter is currently with his adult raiser. He has started University and goes to NSD for training 5 days a week. When not at NSD, he learns how to settle, cuddle and continue to be a welcomed member of the community. This training will help prepare him to be matched with his client.
Woof! Woof!
(Hello!)
Breed: Lab x Golden Retriever
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: November 5, 2022
Sire: NSD Echo
Dam: NSD Euchre
Litter: I Litter
Puppy Sponsor: Sponsored by friends of NSD at Provincial Chrysler Windsor. This is their first puppy sponsorship and their staff team chose the name through a voting campaign and Baxter was the winner!
Volunteer Team: Diane Petrella, Margaret Freitas, Sue Manning, The Kelly Family
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.
Baxter's Updates
February 2023
Baxter is so cute and smart! He quickly picks up the skills we’ve been working on like “wait” and walking and sitting on our left side. He likes to play hide and seek with our kids and play with his duck toy and Kong bone to get the treats out. When outside, Baxter wants to meet everyone he sees! He has grown so much since we brought him home.
June 2023
Baxter has been with us now for a month. He settled in beautifully and quickly adapted to our routines. He loves his people and is a very fast learner. Baxter has done very well out in jacket and is a dream at recall and loose leash walking. We are working on skills like impulse control, increasing duration in a down-stay and dog distraction during class and Baxter is progressing well. We are so proud of the progress he’s made this month. Baxter gets a lot of attention because of his unique brindle coat and because he’s so handsome and sweet!!
August 2023
Baxter has just entered NSD High School and is excited to tackle new goals. He loves learning new skills and is a quick study. He continues to work on duration, distance and distraction during down/stay and recall. He is so connected to his people and is a very sweet guy.
September 2023
Baxter has just transitioned to his adult raiser’s home. He has settled in quickly and is such a fun presence in our home. We are working on getting him familiar with his new surroundings and have been doing lots of fun games at home, walks around the neighborhood and more and more cuddling as he gets comfortable with his new people. He loves fetch, tug, hide and seek, and just being close by. He has good house manners overall and has already stolen a piece of our hearts!
November 2023
Baxter has settled well into his adult raiser’s home. He enjoys sleeping in, playing fetch, hide-and-seek, and going for trail walks. Baxter also loves to work! He is so excited to learn new skills and is proud to show off when he has them mastered. Baxter has made big improvements with his comfort around stairs and he continues to work on transferring his skills to high distraction settings. Baxter is so loving and is a fun addition to the home…we are excited to watch this boy mature and do great things!
February 2024
Baxter is full of personality. He loves his people and shows his affection with wags, wiggles and kisses. His favourite activities are walks, fetch, hide and seek, and naps. He loves to work and aims to please as he continues to mature. He has fun learning new skills and his current favourites are walking backwards, stepping up on a perch, and spinning in a circle. Baxter has made huge gains around distractions and stairs. He settles well in busy places that are familiar to him like the gym and arena. He is not phased by loud noises or new experiences. Baxter walks well on a loose leash and he is learning to pass furry friends while providing his handler his attention. Baxter will be assessed for his next steps in training later this month!
April 2024
We are excited to welcome Baxter in the Fall 2024 class of NSD University in June!
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.