Future national service dog getting training at City of Waterloo
Posted Feb 7, 2024 02:08:51 PM.
Last Updated Feb 7, 2024 06:24:31 PM.
A future service dog is learning the ropes and getting first-hand, or ‘first-paw’ experience, by going to work with her volunteer puppy raiser at the City of Waterloo.
Oakley the black lab has started the first part of her training in the workplace as part of the National Service Dogs (NSD) program.
Oakley is being cared for by a volunteer NSD puppy raiser named Colleen, who goes by the nickname ‘Cook’.
Cook works with the City of Waterloo as a forestry supervisor in the Community Services department.
Cook has been taking Oakley to work every day as part of the required training which allows the dog to get valuable socialization exposure and practice being around plenty of distractions too.
While Oakley’s work day does include some quiet time and playtime, she also knows how to get down to business. Oakley has attended official meetings, helped supervise some job sites, and tagged along for site inspections of the city’s urban forest canopy.
“Oakley and I have been overwhelmed with support from the staff at NSD, our co-workers and management at the City of Waterloo,” said Cook in a news release. “She has become such a valued member of our team, brightening the day of everyone she meets. Her colleagues have given her the nickname of ‘Oak Leaf’, fitting since we work in forestry!”
Oakley isn’t the first pup to clock-in at the City of Waterloo; an NSD named Echo spent time training with Recreation Services in 2021.
That story has a happy ending, as Echo did such a good job that he was selected to be part of the breeding program and fathered four litters of future service dogs. He’s now a retired dad, living with his puppy raiser.
NSD said it relies on the support of volunteers and willing employers to complete each service dog’s two-year training and currently, the organization is looking for 15 to 20 volunteers to help raise future service dogs this March.
If you’re interested, you can learn more by clicking here.
