ONE INDIVIDUAL, ONE DOG, ONE LIFE AT A TIME
Earlier this summer, Canada celebrated one hundred and fifty years. Within that time frame, National Service Dogs has celebrated more than twenty years of service to Canadians in need.
National Service Dogs mission:
To empower people to achieve their full potential with strategically trained and certified service dogs, catalysts for restorative change
It began in 1996 when a mother was desperately searching for a service dog that could help her autistic three year old son. Later that year he was matched with Shade; a quiet, sensitive black lab. This founding team and their incredible success caught the attention of the media and the Geneva Centre for Autism.
This triumph led to the development of the first Certified Service Dog for Autism Program of its kind in the world. The service dog model created by NSD has become the international standard for Certified Service Dogs for children with autism. In 2005, National Service Dogs received the R.L. Petersen Award for Non-Profit Innovation presented by the Bridgeway Foundation in Cambridge, ON. Later that year, founders Chris and Heather Fowler and Danielle Forbes received the Gerry Bloomfield Award presented by Autism Ontario for their contributions to individuals with autism. In 2006, NSD received the Cambridge Mayor’s Award for Work Place Training and Development.
Since their initial success in 1996, National Service Dogs has been training Labrador and Golden Retrievers to assist autistic children and their families.
Our dogs increase safety levels and alleviate the bolting behaviours common in children with autism by acting as an anchor when tethered to the child. We are proud to be the first school in the world to provide this service to families with children with autism
During this time, NSD has graduated more than 350 Certified Service Dog Teams, helped many other service dog organizations around the world start their own autism programs, and developed the following, additional programs:
(click links for additional information)
Certified Service Dogs for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):
In 2011, NSD launched this program to assist veterans with long term post traumatic stress disorder making them the first accredited service dog organization in Canada to have this kind of program. This comprehensive program, was researched and developed by long time Puppy Raiser and former NSD Volunteer Coordinator, Mara Engel, to help veterans deal with the issues surrounding hyper vigilance, anxiety and transitioning into mainstream society. In 2013 the program was opened to first responders suffering with PTSD.
Canine Assisted Intervention (CAI):
In 2013, National Service Dogs’ first CAI Dog was placed. This became the first CAI program in Ontario, and one of only three in Canada.
The dogs are matched with professionals from a variety of disciplines to work as partners in their therapy, to address Health and Wellness in our community.
The Companion Dog Program was founded in 2002 and was formalized in 2009 in recognition of the special bonds that develop between families and their dogs. The dogs do not have public access or any specific skills training aside from basic obedience. They are placed with children with various disabilities.
The Companion Dog Program has been instrumental in increasing our ability to assist more families in need and has allowed us to utilize over 90% of our dogs
Dogs who are deemed not suitable for the above programs transition into family pets (companions of a different degree). The dogs have no specific skills training and are generally between one to two years of age upon placement.
Everyone at NSD is dedicated to expanding the National Service Dog family of clients and quality of services
There are many ways people can become involved: volunteering, sponsorship, donations, and assisting with fundraising or by attending a fundraising event.
Thank you National Service Dogs for the incredible work you do,
As a mental health professional I’ve been working with adults and children with autism for 29 years. I think this program is WONDERFUL and I wish every person with autism could have this experience. Thanks for a great post which I’m sharing!
Thanks, Lola!
What a fantastic post, thank you so much for explaining as I think so many people have the wrong idea as to how service dogs work and support the humans.
It is a very complex and multifaceted industry.
It’s always a mother who gets great things like this started! Thanks for sharing!!
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Great deduction!
Such great information! A friend of mine is dedicated her life and career to training service dogs. It’s amazing work and these animals are exceptional.
Yes, the people AND the dogs are exceptional.
This is a wonderful post, perfect for National Service Dog Month in October! Sounds like an incredible organization making a difference in a big way. Service dogs always amaze me, I can’t believe they can be trained to do some of the things they do.
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
It really is amazing! And the knowledge of the trainers…..
My daughter, a primary school teacher who has received special training in and has worked with autistic children, recently traveled to India through the Global Autism Project to teach educators there new ways to interact with and teach autistic students. I’m so unbelievably proud of her and what she does. Keep spreading awareness and keep supporting the training of these wonderful service dogs – Autism does not have borders.
Wow, your daughter does INCREDIBLE work. I am thankful for people like her – breaking through boundaries.
I wish I worked with more service dogs, I truly think they are life savors. What a great program! Thank you for spreading accurate information.
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And these dogs love their work!
Interesting history. I know people who foster potential service dogs and I had no idea how many don`t make it to graduation. The requirements are specific.
I love that this organization considers the wellbeing of those that just aren’t meant to do this kind of work, and finds good homes for them.
I absolutely love NSD. We have done quite a few videos and fundraisers with them. Their dogs make such a huge difference – I still cry when I think of NSD Chester and Max or NSD Flicka and his PTSD victim and the healing balms they have become. Most recently we were thrilled when Canadian Pet Expo agreed to sponsor NSD Iggy for Boost to become the first Toronto Court Dog for child victims of abuse.
There are SO many incredible stories. I could have gone on, and on, and on. I look forward to sharing specific stories later…
I love that dogs can help autistic children and others adjust in daily life. What a great cause. I had no idea it’s been around so long. I’ll be sharing this post.
Thank you, Kamira. NSD is a great example and what they do needs to be shared.
What a wonderful program! We volunteer for a local training facility that trains and places service dogs for veterans and people with diabetes and other disabilities. I love to watch these amazing dogs in training! Great post!
How does it work when the children go to school? Do the dogs go with them or do they have an adult handler as well? I know that’s been a point of contention here in the US.
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I am not sure if a service dog can be registered to someone with post-partum stress disorder. But as someone who has it dogs and even cats help to reduce the stress of everyday life. This is a great post full of great information. Service dogs do a great deal of honorable work for those with special needs.
What a great service and story. I started my career training service dogs for three years. It was such a great experience. When I was with the group, we graduated about 20 teams a year. I think know they are double. 🙂
What an inspiring story. Canada influences the world again! Don’t you want to stand and cheer 🙂
Thank you for a smashing post!
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I’m impressed with how much this organization has grown in twenty years. The way they’ve scaled their services to meet the needs of both people and the pups, including those who don’t quite make it through the training, is inspirational.
I’m so glad that the National Service Dogs is dedicated to helping people! When my kids were in middle school (around 10 years ago) there was a student who had a service dog. It seemed so normal to my kids, that they didn’t even tell me. I happened to see the dog when I was picking up one of my kids and I assumed there had been a presentation on service dogs. My child just said, “oh no, the dog goes to school, he helps one of the kids in 6th grade.” Dogs make the world a better place just by being in it, but when they are trained to help individuals, it is so inspiring.
I was just reading about how Satya Nadella’s dog (he is the CEO of Microsoft) helps his oldest son Zain, with several disabilities to lead a more fulfilled life with emotional support. Dogs are such wonderful beings with their selfless love and service!
I’m amazed at all the different areas service dogs can be trained to work in. It’s wonderful how canines (and felines) can help humans in many facets of their lives.
Service dogs are awesome. I’m so glad to see that they are being used more and more often to help people. People with disabilities get so much more for having the companionship of a service animal than they do from any typical medical device. I love seeing people with autism working with service animals. It gives them a way to open up and communicate that they never could with other humans. I’m interested in the research on PTSD and service dogs (or other animals). I can see how that would be very soothing.
I always wondered what happened to service dogs who didn’t quite make the cut. I’m glad to read that they are transitioned to become family pets. I love that dogs are now helping folks struggling with PTSD as well as children with autism. I’m sure as time goes on, we will find even more ways dogs can assist humans.
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Wonderful post! My mom’s 3 adopted siblings are on the autistic spectrum and it’s amazing how animals can help them when they are upset, anxious, agitated, sad, or feeling lonely.
NSD is truly a great organization that clearly makes a positive difference in the world. There is no arguing the positive outcomes this organization contributes to the community.
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