Breeders
NSD Willow
I got a job! My time as a “puppy in training” has come to an end and I found the perfect career path as part of NSD’s breeding program.
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: The 2nd Annual Tim Silver Memorial Golf Tournament
Volunteer Team: Marilyn Nijboer, Emma Bluhm, Crystal Thomson, Lindsay Mustard
Sponser 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.
Willow's Updates
January 2024
Willow is a very sweet, energetic girl. She loves going for walks, playing fetch and cuddling. We have been working on all of our manners in public and she has been enjoying every minute of it – she is a very focused girl when she has her special jacket on. Willow is a quick little learner and tries her best every day. She is working hard to ignore distractions, settle quietly and walk along side of her handler. She has brought so much joy to our lives already and we cannot wait to watch her continue to grow.
April 2024
Willow is a very sweet and affectionate lady. She goes on daily adventures to the gym and retail stores – she has even accompanied her handler to longer, more challenging appointments like the dentist and salon (which she aced). She is very good at showing off all of her skills – she gets complimented on being a good girl every day. Willow is such a pleasure to train and a very quick learner. At home Willow enjoys playing tug with squeaky toys, cuddling in fuzzy blankets and having camp fires in the backyard with her foster family.
October 2024
I just turned one year old!!! I am also now in 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.
May 2025
Willow has passed all of her health clearances with flying colors and is now a new member of the breeding program! We are excited to add such a stable and cuddly dog to this program.
October 2025
Willow has settled into her breeder caretaker's home and has made quick friends with resident dog Luna. Willow continues to build on all of her skills and loves going to work with her raiser. NSD looks forward to Willow's first litter later this year!
Everything You Need to Know
Program
Health Clearances
Volunteer
Ensuring Access to Quality Dogs
Since 2019, NSD has been a member of the Assistance Dogs International Breeding Cooperative (IBC). As part of this partnership, NSD also utilizes and is a member of the International Working Dog Registry (IWDR).
All IBC members track their dog’s health, training and placement data through the database across the life of the dog. This data informs our breeding decisions by allowing us to review in depth background information on a potential breeder’s:
- Year over year health; including the health of their siblings, parents and offspring
- Temperament testing and training assessments; including the number of puppies produced to successful deployment by them, their parents, siblings and offspring
- Placement ratios by program type (i.e Autism, PTSD, Hearing, Facility etc)
- Possible mates: using Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs), we can match dogs online to see their estimated production values for hip and elbow health, eye health, and genetic disorders
Breeder Health Clearances
- Annual eye exams with a board certified ophthalmologist (including post-retirement)
- Penn Hip screening with a certified Penn Hip veterinarian
- OFA Elbow screening
- Echocardiogram with a board certified cardiologist
- Genetic screening
- Breeding soundness exam with a reproduction veterinarian
- Temperament screening with qualified NSD training and breeding team members
Become a Breeder Caretaker
Provide a loving environment for a breeding dog in between litters. As a Breeder Caretaker, you get to help the next generation of Service Dogs begin their journey. In this role, you welcome a breeding dog into your home and provide a safe and loving environment in between litters. You bring the dog to all of their appointments and care for them until retirement from the breeding program; females typically retire after 4-5 litters or at 6 years old. Preferably, Breeder Caretakers for female dogs also welcome litters of puppies! With support from staff and our whelping program, you would host the litter of puppies for about 7 weeks. This includes keeping the puppies’ area clean and stimulating for both mom and her puppies. The main goal at this stage is to care for and socialize the puppies until they are ready to start training with their Puppy Raisers. As a Breeder Caretaker, you are the first step in raising confident Service Dogs. A volunteer must:
- have a flexible schedule
- live within 45 minutes of NSD (1286 Cedar Creek Rd)
- have no children under the age of 5 living in the house
- have a maximum of 2 dogs in their home that are over one year of age