dogs in training
NSD Jetson
Jetson recently graduated as part of NSD's University Fall Class of 2024. She has been placed as a PTSD Service Dog and is already making a difference with her forever family.
Woof! Woof!
(Hello!)
Breed: Lab x Golden Retriever
Gender: Female
Date of Birth: December 12, 2022
Sire: NSD Ranger
Dam: NSD Leia
Litter: J Litter
Breeder Sponsor: Fastenal Canada
Puppy Sponsor: Glenn Reed and Theresa McKenzie
Volunteer Team: Peggy & Warren Bennett, Kathryn Paquette, Sarah Jewer
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.
Jetson's Updates
March 2023
Jetson is settling in with her puppy raiser! She is working on house training and learning to love her crate. She has also been working on sit and offering eye contact to her handler in all kinds of situations. She is such a smart girl and has impressed everyone that meets her.
June 2023
Jetson continues to impress us with her calm demeanor and willingness to please! She is a hardworking girl and doing wonderfully with all of her basic skills while we start to add more challenges including distance and duration while working in busier environments. At home she loves to cuddle and keeps herself busy with her toys and bones.
August 2023
Jetson is continuing to develop and nail down her skills while adding new ones such as spin and under. She is calm and confident and has been loving going on adventures throughout the summer. Cottage trips, swimming, visiting the farm and going to different restaurants and patios have exposed her to many new environments. She has thrived every time she has been out to a new location! She is a favourite at our local tennis club and enjoys going out to watch games and visit with all of the players.
December 2023
Jetson has learned some new and challenging skills like stand, back and touch and is working very hard to master them! She continues to impress everyone when we are out in public with how calm and well behaved she is. At home she is a spunky and cuddly girl and enjoys completing food puzzles, lick mats and playing with her cat friend Wilson.
April 2024
We are excited to welcome Jetson into the Fall 2024 class of NSD University in June!
October 2024
I am finishing my advanced training at NSD University. I have trained for almost five months and I am almost ready to meet my new partner and graduate as a PTSD Service Dog! I am now training at NSD University five days a week. I get to ride the ‘school bus’ there and work with my trainers all day on the skills I need to help my forever person! I have my own special spot where I get to relax while my classmates practice their skills. Some of the skills I learn include ‘visit’, ‘over’, ‘close’, ‘lap’, ‘nudge’, ‘front’, ‘back’, ‘suit up’ and how to go see others on cue. While at school I am also working on my loose leash walking, recall, and impulse control (especially around food).
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.