dogs in training
NSD Leroy
Leroy is currently with his adult raiser. He is being taught a foundation of house manners and cues, for becoming a well-socialized part of the community.
Woof! Woof!
(Hello!)
Breed: Lab x Golden Retriever
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: March 22, 2023
Sire: NSD Echo
Dam: NSD Turbo
Litter: L Litter
Puppy Sponsor: Dogtopia of Kitchener
Volunteer Team: Pat Webb, Sean Jenkins, Shirel Goldberg, Kourtney Legg
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.
Leroy's Updates
June 2023
Leroy is a lovely boy and has been settling into the house nicely and he and my pet dog are quickly becoming friends. We have been working on settling skills around each other and that it is not always play time. Leroy has been making progress and increasing his confidence going up and down the front and back steps. Being from a singleton litter he is very good at entertaining himself however he also really enjoys his cuddle time.
September 2023
Leroy has been working on new skills such as impluse control, cuddling and drop it. He has been learning all the basics of PK and grade school. He spends lots of time learning along his NSD friends and is growing into a very smart, happy boy.
November 2023
NSD Leroy continues to progress with his training and is a wonderful guy to have around. When it is time to go out in public and work he is on and extremely attentive. When at home he shuts off and is very settled. Leroy loves people and gets very excited when people come into his space to say hello so we are continuing to work on our meet & greets and have him focus on his handler and keep all four paws on the ground.
February 2024
Leroy is in High School now and has been working on some new skills such as back-up and is also fine tuning some of the other skills he has learned along the way. We are continuing to work on our Meet and Greets and have definitely made some progress as a team. Leroy enjoys getting out in the snow for some play time to blow off some steam with his friends. As he has gotten older he has become a little more cuddly with both myself and my pet dog.
October 2024
I moved to my adult raiser las month and continuing my 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.