dogs in training
NSD Kalli
Kalli recently graduated from NSD Companion College. She was placed with her forever family in December as a Skilled Companion Dog and is settling in nicely.
Thank you to her sponsors, her volunteer team and the NSD staff for making this incredible match possible!
Woof! Woof!
(Hello!)
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Gender: Female
Date of Birth: March 3, 2023
Sire: NSD Ranger
Dam: NSD Jan
Litter: K Litter
Puppy Sponsor: Sponsored by family and friends in loving memory of Brad Kelly. The one thing Brad loved most in his short time with us was his beloved yellow Labrador retriever Kalli. Kalli and Brad shared an incredible bond.
Volunteer Team: Julie MacCuish, Emma Speller, Andrea & Rob Pearlstone, Verena & Mark Jones
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.
Kalli's Updates
May 2023
Kalli has been home for a month and has settled in well. She is working hard on her potty training and she is sleeping through the night. She has learnt sit, down, wait, release and kennel. She is a smart girl and I can’t wait to see what her future holds!
September 2023
Kalli has been working on new skills such as impulse control, cuddling and drop it. Kalli has joined me on many adventures this summer such as camping, cottage weekends and hikes. Kalli is a spunky girl who never fails to make you laugh. She enjoys coming to the office with me and being an ambassador for NSD at community events. She is growing into a lovely pup!
November 2023
Kalli has entered “high school” classes and is working hard on learning new skills such as “stand” and “chin”. She absolutely loves to work and truly enjoys learning new skills. She keeps me on my toes but also reminds me how fun it is to train dogs. Kalli has recently become quite the cuddle bug and is a lovely balance of driven and affiliative.
February 2024
Kalli and I enjoyed a low key holiday season followed by her going into heat. We had a lot of time off from public outings and we are working hard at getting back into public and proofing her skills. We are working hard on her settling skills as she loves to work and so has a hard time relaxing when out and about. Recently we spent a day in Toronto where we took the subway, walked the busy streets of downtown and went to the Disney Immersive Experience. Kalli rocked every aspect of the outing and proved that our training is paying off. Kalli has become quite the cuddly girl and enjoys spending time curled up in my lap almost as much as she enjoys working.
April 2024
We are excited to welcome Kalli into the Fall 2024 class of NSD University in June!
October 2024
I am currently in Companion College and get to go to school once a week. I am almost finished my training and think I will make a really lovely companion dog and change someone's life! I am hoping to meet my forever family before the holidays!
December 2024
Kalli's time in training has come to an end and we are proud to say that she has graduated!! Kalli recently graduated from NSD Companion College. She was placed with her forever family in December as a Skilled Companion Dog and is settling in nicely. Thank you to her sponsors, her volunteer team and the NSD staff for making this incredible match possible!
Everything You Need to Know
Training
Volunteer
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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.