dogs in training
NSD Gibby
Gibby 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: CUPE Local 791
Volunteer Team: Marilyn Nijboer, Emma Bluhm, Emily Tan
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.
Gibby's Updates
January 2024
Gibby has been doing a great job adjusting to her new life as a service dog in training! She is a very excited puppy who absolutely loves putting on her vest and being on her very best behaviour when she goes out in public. However, Gibby’s favourite activity would have to be eating, doing a little dance every time someone picks up her food bowl. She is incredibly smart and will do anything for the right price (one piece of kibble), but when she isn’t eating, you will find her cuddling with one of her raisers or her favourite stuffed dog!
April 2024
Gibby is a very spunky puppy, growing more and more excited each day to try and find new ways to impress her handler. She has been working very hard on settling practice and has recently made some major progress. Gibby has also been doing a great job making so many good decisions all on her own, going as far as putting herself down for a nap and playing independently with her toys. However, when it’s nice outside and time to play, her favourite activity has been bringing her soccer ball to anyone willing to kick it around with her.
October 2024
I am now in high school classes and just turned one year old! 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.