Prairieland Service Dog Training

12/01/2024

PSDT Ash will be officially joining our training community next week! He is now fully vaccinated and ready to do some training in pet friendly environments! Stay tuned while we turn this unruly furball into a nice young pup!

12/01/2024

Thankyou for being patient while we adjusted to our winter wonderland! We can’t wait to get back to training and getting more connected in our community!

12/01/2024

Progress Update: Hannah & Meeko

Today’s session with Hannah and Meeko was a success! Their hard work and dedication to training and building connection have truly paid off. We kept this session laid back and let Meeko show us what she could do! We did some self correction work, relaxing in busy places, some advanced obedience with distractions and in tight spaces! This amazing team is now ready to take the next step and return to non-pet-friendly training environments! Well done Meeko and Hannah!

11/24/2024

The current weather in Saskatoon is marked by heavy snow, with a snowfall warning in effect. The city is expected to receive between 15-25 cm of snow, making travel conditions difficult due to poor visibility and rapidly accumulating snow. Temperatures are dropping to -13°C this afternoon with wind chills near -22°C and expected to feel as low as -25°C overnight!

Due to the ongoing snowfall warning and hazardous road conditions, Prairieland Service Dog Training will be closed today, November 24, 2024 and will resume once warnings have lifted and roads are marked safe for travel.

Stay warm, drive carefully if you must go out, and please monitor updates from Environment Canada. We’ll keep you posted on when we’ll resume regular operations. Thank you for your understanding!

The Prairieland Team

11/21/2024

Bentley, affectionately known as Squish, is more than just my German Shepherd—he’s my partner, my protector, and my lifeline. Bentley has been by my side through every challenge, helping me manage the realities of living with disabilities. He is a FASD specialized/C-PTSD/Migraine alert/cardiac alert service dog. He was bred in Eastern Saskatchewan before making his home with me in Saskatoon.

Bentley’s job is incredible. He’s trained to alert me to medical episodes before they happen, provide grounding during overwhelming moments, and offering his calm when I need it most. But his impact goes far beyond his tasks. He gives me confidence, safety, and the ability to live a more independent life.

What makes Bentley truly special is his personality:
🐾 A Gentle Giant: He has an incredible softness with children, always lowering himself to their level and patiently soaking up their love.
🐾 Panda Bear papa: Bentley’s favorite toy is panda bear stuffies that he carries around. He loves them by ripping out the plastic eyes and nose which creates holes to disembowel the toy. After this rather strange ritual he then grooms the panda and parades the remains around the house.
🐾 Sense of Humor: Bentley knows how to make people laugh, whether it’s mooching for table scraps, sassing people by voicing his opinion paired with his wicked side eye or giving a perfectly aimed pinch.
🐾 A social media celebrity: Through our work with Prairieland Service Dog Training and mental health advocacy, Bentley is becoming widely recognized and continues to inspire people across the globe with the transformative power of service dogs.

Bentley’s journey hasn’t just been about training or tasks—it’s been about love, loyalty, and the unique bond we’ve built as a team. He’s not just a service dog; he’s my best friend and a constant reminder that even on the hardest days, I’m never alone.

Life with Bentley is better, safer, and more full of hope than I ever imagined. I’m so proud of everything he’s accomplished and so grateful for everything he’s given me.

Here’s to Bentley—my Squish… my heart dog.

11/20/2024

We’ve received a couple of inquiries about winter gear for service dogs.

Definitely something a handler needs to consider if you live where the air hurts your face!

As an experienced handler I’ve tried all sorts of gear! My current go to companies for winter gear are: https://shedrowk9.com and https://muttluks.com! Both brands are reliable, offering protection and comfort for your dog in harsh winter conditions. Let me know if you’d like help choosing the best option for your dog!

If you’re a service dog handler, we’d love to hear from you! Share your winter gear setup in the comments to help others discover more options and stay prepared for the season.

11/17/2024

Hi, I’m Candace, the owner and head trainer at Prairieland Service Dog Training, based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Here’s a little about me:

What I Do
I specialize in helping owner-trainers on their journey to training highly skilled service dogs. My passion lies in empowering handlers to build strong, trusting partnerships with their dogs while ensuring the dogs thrive in their roles.

Why I Started PSDT
My journey began with my own medical alert service dog, Bentley (also known as Squish), a German Shepherd who changed my life. Navigating service dog training inspired me to create a supportive, inclusive space where others could succeed in their own training journeys.

Life Beyond PSDT
I’m also a proud Indigenous content creator and mental health advocate. Through my TikTok account, , I share moments from my life, the joy of raising my daughter and the incredible bond I have with Bentley.

Highlights
- In 2023, I was selected to participate in the TikTok Accelerator for Indigenous Creators, a program that helped amplify my voice and share my journey with a wider audience.
- I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with Kairos K9s Training and connecting with incredible owner-trainers in the service dog community.
- I’ve contributed to Saskatchewan-based discussions about local culture and identity, including the origins of unique expressions like “bunny hug.”
- I’ve built a platform to educate and advocate for mental health, service dog accessibility, and Indigenous representation through social media and in-person training.
- I’ve proudly supported dozens of handlers in achieving their goals, from training specific tasks like medical alerts to mastering public access skills.

Mission
Whether it’s training service dogs, raising mental health awareness, or celebrating my Indigenous heritage, my goal is to uplift others and create a community where everyone feels supported.

Thank you for being part of the Prairieland Service Dog Training family. If you’re an owner-trainer looking for guidance, I’d love to help you on your journey. Let’s connect.

11/15/2024

Success is Built, Not Borrowed

In the world of dog training, true success isn’t something you can copy from others. It’s the product of dedication, creativity, and hands-on experience. Real progress comes from putting in the hard work, not replicating someone else’s journey or ideas.

At Prairieland Service Dog Training, we take pride in being authentic, original, and dedicated to what we do. Every handler, every dog, every training plan is unique—and that’s where real success comes from.

You can’t buy it, you can’t borrow it, and you certainly can’t copy it.



Thankyou Love & Leash Studios for the beautiful pic!

11/12/2024

Struggling with leash pulling? Let’s make your walks enjoyable again!

At Prairieland Service Dog Training, we offer personalized, relaxed leash walking support to help you and your dog walk together smoothly. Whether you’re training a service dog or just want calmer walks, we’re here to help make that happen!

What we focus on:
• Walking nicely without pulling
• Building focus and connection
• Handling everyday distractions
• Using balanced training

Book today!
https://prairieland-service-dog-training.square.site

11/11/2024

Welcome to PSDT, Hannah and K9 Meeko! We are thrilled to have you join our community, and a very special thank you goes out to Kairo's K9s Training for allowing us to share in continuing their journey!

We kicked things off with an awesome first session, where we dived into a detailed discussion about the right gear, the dedication it takes to train a service dog, and the critical bond between handler and dog. This journey is all about teamwork and trust, and we can’t wait to watch Hannah and Meeko grow and thrive together. Exciting things are ahead!

11/11/2024

11/11/2024

Thomas is making the transition from ESA to service dog level training, and we just had our first session in a non-pet-friendly environment. He did a great job overall, and while there are a few things we’ll keep working on, he’s showing solid potential.

Excited to see how he continues to grow in this next phase of training. Nice work, Thomas and Jaime!

11/11/2024

Had a great at-home session with Kendra and Ender this week! We worked on scent detection and deep pressure therapy, and Ender did such a fantastic job.

It’s always exciting to see the progress this team is making—Ender’s skills are coming along beautifully, and his ability to support Kendra just keeps getting stronger.

11/01/2024

Happy Halloween from Prairieland Service Dog Training! 🎃👻 Whether you’re out trick-or-treating or cozy at home, remember to keep your dogs safe and comfortable during the spooky fun!

10/30/2024

This last weekend, we had the pleasure of teaming up with Kairo's K9s Training to work with SDIT Meeko!

Meeko has been making lots of progress, but like every service dog journey, there have been challenges along the way. That’s why Bentley and I were brought in to offer additional support and expertise. We tackled a tough training session, focusing on Meeko’s ability to remain calm and focused in the presence of PSDT Bentley, a dog she hadn’t met before.

After some collaborative work, a solid plan in place and a fresh set of gear and tools, we’re excited to move forward with Meeko’s training, ensuring she’s set up for success. Service dog training is a serious commitment, and we’re grateful to be part of this journey alongside

Stay tuned as we continue this special collaboration with Kairo’s K9s!