
Our Mission
Empowering Nova Scotians with disabilities, Wellness Wags Assistance Dogs is dedicated to fostering independence, cultivating confidence, and enhancing overall well-being through the transformative companionship and essential assistance of highly trained service dogs. Through the placement of our program-raised dogs or owner-trained programs, we enable individuals to regain autonomy, strengthen their sense of purpose, reintegrate themselves into society, and elevate their quality of life. At Wellness Wags, we imagine a world where each wagging tail represents a thriving and genuine human-canine connection. We achieve this by providing comprehensive client education and prioritizing fear-free, positive reinforcement training methods, ensuring a relationship that benefits both ends of the leash.
Committed to the highest standards, our aspiration is to become an accredited member of Assistance Dogs International, further solidifying our commitment to excellence and ethical practices. This goal is ambitious and can only be reached through the accomplishment of milestones, including placing and maintaining numerous successful teams and accumulating years of operation. We will always be dedicated to working towards this goal with pride.
Our Training Philosophy
At Wellness Wags Assistance Dogs, we believe that the foundation of successful service dog training is built on a positive, trust-based relationship between the dog and their handler. Our approach is rooted in positive reinforcement (R+), fostering a working bond that is both rewarding and respectful. Rather than relying on getting compliance from our dogs with threats and corrections, instead, we prioritize the well-being and enjoyment of the partnership for both the dogs and their handlers, ensuring that the relationship is built on mutual trust, respect, and a genuine connection.
We are committed to advancing the service dog industry by setting a higher standard for training—one that prioritizes the well-being of both the dogs and their handlers. We are passionate about furthering the use of positive reinforcement (R+) techniques and believe that embracing these modern approaches is essential for the growth and success of both service dogs and their teams.
While many large, well-established organizations in the service dog industry are slowly navigating the shift toward more modern approaches, Wellness Wags, as a newly established organization, takes pride in our advanced position on ethical training practices, pushing the needle forward.
Service dogs are far more than mobility aids—they are sentient beings with their own personalities, preferences, and needs. Our dogs should not only be capable of performing their tasks, but they should also find joy in the work they do. After all, they live with us, not as pets, but as partners in an important mission.
We take the time to listen to our dogs, paying close attention to their responses and body language. Their enjoyment and comfort are central to our training process. We firmly believe that when dogs are allowed to show us what they enjoy and excel at, they thrive in their roles and form strong, fulfilling partnerships with their handlers.
At Wellness Wags, we are committed to ensuring that our dogs are happy in their work and that their well-being is always our priority. A dog that enjoys their role and feels confident in their bond with their handler is a dog that will succeed in their mission—helping others live more independent, fulfilled lives.
