Heeling Assistants Canada

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Port Coquitlam, BC
Heeling Assistants Canada

Not all heroes wear capes. But ours do! We are a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering disabled people to train their own service dogs.

Whether your disability is visible or invisible, we see you, and we are here to help.

09/04/2026

𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝘀 𝗕𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝘀 🐕🦮

As much as we train, we must also give dogs time to simply be dogs.

Service dogs in training need opportunities to sniff, explore, play, rest, and enjoy the world without being expected to work every moment.

Training builds skills, but balance builds wellbeing.

A dog who gets appropriate time to relax and have fun can return to training refreshed, engaged, and ready to learn. Letting them enjoy dog-appropriate activities does not undo their training. It helps create a happier and healthier working partner.

They can practice their tasks, walk politely through public spaces, and still enjoy a good sniff safari afterward.

Because the goal is not to create a robot.

The goal is to help each dog become a confident, capable, and well-balanced partner.

09/03/2026

𝗣𝗢𝗩: 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗴’𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗻. 🐾📃

Service dog owners, advocates, and fans of canine superheroes, this post is for you!

Meet your workplace’s most decorated staff member: the service dog. While you’re still polishing your cover letter, your sidekick has already:

✅ Finished 2 years of rigorous, hands-on training
✅ Excelled in obedience, public behaviour, and advanced assistance skills
✅ Passed tough assessments by qualified professionals
✅ Steps up as a guide, medical alert, sound signaler, mobility helper, AND medication reminder 💊
✅ Remains calm and focused no matter where, from busy malls to public transportation, because the job never ends
✅ Goes through biannual recertification to stay sharp (now that’s devotion!)
✅ Has a perfect record for on-the-job attitude

Their job title? Life-Saver. Superstar. Loyal Partner.

Meanwhile, you’re just trying to find the willpower to join that 9 AM video call. ☕😂

These four-pawed pros are more than hard workers; they’re heart workers, making a difference with every step. Now that’s what we call commitment! 🙌🐕

Every service dog’s journey is built on trust, perseverance, and a bond like no other. That’s something to celebrate! 🎉

09/02/2026

𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁; 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀. 🐾

Today, we took our training session **outside**, turning a simple drop-off zone into an engaging learning environment. Our main exercise? Navigating through structural columns, a staple of city life and an ideal training challenge.

This urban setup helps our service dogs to:

✅ Tune out distractions in bustling environments
✅ Move with confidence through narrow passages
✅ Follow handler directions with poise and reliability
✅ Sharpen spatial skills amid real-world unpredictability

Practicing in diverse public spaces is crucial. Service dogs need to be dependable no matter where they are: parking lots, bus stops, store entrances, and more. Everyday surroundings hold endless growth potential.

Every successful pass strengthens the bond and skills needed for a trustworthy, adaptable service partner, one prepared for anything.

Focused. Skilled. Reliable.

Are you on the service dog journey, or passionate about helping working dogs reach their potential? Share your stories below and follow us for more hands-on training tips!

09/01/2026

🐾❤️ 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗨𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 "𝗜 𝗖𝗮𝗻'𝘁" 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 "𝗠𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽."

Living with a disability can bring real limitations, but it can also open the door to new strategies, greater independence, and meaningful partnership.

A service dog is not a replacement for personal effort or professional support. They are a trained partner who assists with specific tasks, reduces barriers, and helps their handler navigate daily life with greater confidence.

That transformation doesn't happen alone.

It takes a community of believers, people who show up, contribute their time, and invest in what's possible.

🤝 Volunteer with us. Whether you support training sessions, events, or handler mentorship, your time directly helps someone move from "I can't" to "My dog can help."

💛 Sponsor a team. Your support funds the training, tools, space, and resources that make real-world independence possible for handlers and their service dogs.

"My dog can help" means someone has a reliable resource available, and you can be part of making that happen.

Together, through thoughtful training, clear communication, and the generosity of this community, the dog, handler, and their village learn how to make it work.

That shift in perspective is powerful. And it starts with you.

👉 DM us or visit the link in bio to get involved.

08/31/2026

𝗙𝗶𝘁𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗙𝘂𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 💪

Did you know your dog can motivate you to exercise?

Try practicing an under while you do a wall press. Your dog gets valuable training practice, and you get a few extra moments of movement in your day.

It is a win-win!

Start slowly and make sure your dog is comfortable in the position. Keep your movements controlled, use plenty of space, and reward your dog for staying calmly underneath you.

And please, do not drop.

You might be working on your strength, but your dog should never become part of the equipment. We are training an under, not practicing how to squash your service dog prospect!

08/30/2026

𝗪𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗮 𝗦𝗲𝗰 ⏱️

Would they choose sensibly or poorly?

As service dogs in training, we want our dogs to learn how to make good choices, not simply wait for us to manage every moment for them.

We cannot helicopter over them for eight hours every day once they are working. Our goal is to build thoughtful, reliable partners who understand how to pause, assess the situation, and choose the appropriate behavior.

Do they wait for permission or rush ahead?

Do they check in with their handler or follow the distraction?

Do they choose calmly or make a questionable decision involving a squirrel, a leaf, or something suspicious on the sidewalk?

Sometimes they choose sensibly.

Sometimes they choose poorly.

Either way, we have useful information about what to practice next.

So wait a sec. Give your SDiT time to think. Good choices today help create more reliable working partners tomorrow.

08/29/2026

𝗛𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗴 ✨

Last weekend, our Heeling Assistants dogs headed to the Day of the Dog event for a fun afternoon of crowds, new sights, exciting smells, and plenty of distractions.

Although it was not a targeted service dog class, it was a valuable socialization opportunity for the dogs to practice staying calm and connected in a busy event environment. Connecting with brands, recommending useful products to clients.

Two of our pups even took part in the pie-eating contest and nearly came close to winning! They may still need a little more practice with their speed eating, but they certainly brought their appetite.

We hope to see more dog-friendly events like this in Vancouver, so our dogs can keep building confidence and experience in new environments.

08/28/2026

𝗪𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 🐕🦮

A service dog prospect may be washed from the program, but that does not mean they cannot still make a difference at home.

Some dogs are not suited for the demands of public access work. They may be too easily distracted, uncomfortable in busy environments, or better matched to a different lifestyle.

That same dog may still be able to perform helpful tasks at home, such as retrieving items, providing grounding support, offering pressure therapy, or alerting their handler to specific needs.

A dog does not have to become a fully certified service dog to be valuable.

Sometimes the right career is not working in public. Sometimes it is helping at home, where the dog feels comfortable and can truly succeed.

Every dog deserves a job that fits who they are.

08/27/2026

𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗿𝘀 🐴🐐🐓🦆

Our group class traded sidewalks and city sounds for hooves, feathers, and plenty of new smells!

The pups got to experience farm animals up close, giving them a wonderful opportunity to practice staying calm, focused, and connected around completely new distractions.

For dogs who live in the city, learning about farm animals can be a valuable socialization experience. Not every new friend has two legs or wants to play fetch!

A huge thank you to Southlands Heritage Farm for accommodating our group class and helping our city-living pups enjoy a fun day in the country.

The dogs may not be ready to move to the farm just yet, but they are definitely adding farm animals to their list of things they can handle!

08/26/2026

𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗙𝘂𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 📈

“If you’re avoiding feedback, you’re avoiding progress.”

Feedback is not a punishment. It is information.

It helps us notice what is working, what needs adjusting, and where we may be unintentionally making things harder for the dog or for ourselves.

Sometimes feedback confirms that you are on the right track. Sometimes it challenges you to try something new. Either way, it gives you a clearer path forward.

The goal is not to train perfectly. The goal is to stay open, keep learning, and make small improvements that add up over time.

Because the fastest way to grow is not to avoid feedback. It is to use it.

Address

2300-2850 Shaughnessy Street
Port Coquitlam, BC
V3C6K5

Website

https://heelingassistants.org/

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