There are a variety of options when it comes to service dog gear. It is usually easy to spot working animals with identifiable capes and patches that say “Service Dog”, “Service Dog in Training” or similar forms of identification. What’s the difference between gear, and what do service dogs need? That answer lies in the same pile that so many questions are lumped into: it depends on each scenario. The very basic, legal answer for qualified teams approved by the province of Alberta is: nothing. If a dog is certified and the team has their government issued certification identification, the dog ..read more

Starting out on the service dog journey can be an overwhelming process. There are many reasons people are looking for dogs to help with their daily lives. Training a dog to help is not an easy undertaking, especially when dealing with the disabilities they are looking for their dog to help them with. Of so many things to consider, one of the biggest decisions to make is how to proceed getting a trained service dog. In Alberta, there are three options to consider: – Go through one of the Alberta-approved organizations to get a trained dog – Hire a private trainer and then have the dog ..read more

“Adopt don’t shop” is a phrase that has been circulating for as long as I can remember. I used to say it, too. I thought that with so many dogs without homes, breeding only added to the problem. Many dogs went through “the system” at the shelter I worked at, and it broke my heart to see the sadness in their faces. It was worse when their family dropped them off to find them a new home. I really wanted to see these dogs homed before I saw new puppies being born. After learning more about the industry, I changed my mind on the matter. The shelter I worked at was part of a vet clinic, and I met a ..read more

I remember when things started going wrong with my health. I went from running a business and leading an active, healthy life to feeling more tired every day, and things just snowballed. I felt sick, my body hurt so much, and one day while driving I realized that I felt drunk. I stopped driving that day and for about two years after. My active lifestyle had suddenly come crashing to a halt and I found myself unable to work and struggling to navigate a medical system that couldn’t tell me what was wrong with me. In that time I spoke to several people in similar circumstances with service dogs ..read more