Celebrating National Service Dog Month: Meet Ginger, YMCA Calgary’s Vice President of Canine Inclusion
Every September, National Service Dog Month shines a spotlight on the incredible impact service dogs have on the lives of the people they support. From providing greater independence and safety, to helping individuals navigate challenges with confidence, service dogs make a meaningful difference every day.
At YMCA Calgary, we’re lucky enough to witness that impact firsthand through our very own Vice President of Canine Inclusion, Ginger.
At just 13 months old, Ginger is helping raise awareness about guide and service dogs while training for a future career that will one day change someone’s life.
An Executive in Training
Like all dogs in the BC & Alberta Guide Dogs program, Ginger’s journey started at just eight weeks old when she was placed with Nick Wiggins, Vice President, Operations. Today, she is in the final stages of puppy raising and is preparing for the next steps in her training journey.
At approximately 16 to 18 months of age, Ginger will move on to Advanced Training, where she will work one-on-one with a qualified trainer for four to five months. Altogether, it takes approximately two years to fully train a guide or service dog.
Once Ginger enters Advance Training, her future career path will be determined based on her unique personality, strengths, and where the need is greatest. Ginger may become a:
Guide Dog for individuals who are blind or partially sighted
Autism Service Dog for children aged 3 to 8 with high needs
PTSD Service Dog for veterans and first responders
Wherever her journey leads, every experience she has today is helping prepare her for an important role in the future.
Life as YMCA Calgary’s Vice President of Canine Inclusion
While many puppies spend their days at home, Ginger’s office happens to be one of the busiest community spaces in Calgary.
Ginger spends her time navigating hallways, visiting programs, attending meetings, and learning how to remain calm and focused on a variety of environments. It’s a valuable real-world experience that helps Ginger build confidence and skills she will need as a future service/guide dog.
Of course, Ginger’s professional journey hasn’t been without a few learning opportunities along the way, as Nick shares:
“She was and still is a bundle of fun. In the beginning, she had a habit of chewing through a leash every week, [and did so for about six weeks straight]. But we gradually improved. She loved the fitness studios and went through a period of fleeing from my office and charging around whatever fitness class was happening. She was a big hit in the Gentle Fitness class, as she circled the participants at full speed.”
Like many young professionals, Ginger has a lot of enthusiasm when she started. Fortunately, YMCA members were more than happy to support her growth and development.
The Two Sides of Ginger
Most people who encounter Ginger during the workday see a calm, focused dog quietly going about her responsibilities. What they don’t always see is the playful puppy waiting underneath that professional exterior.
When Nick Wiggins first met Ginger, she was "a cute, feisty ball of fun" who quickly settled in with her new family and canine siblings.
Today, that playful spirit is still very much part of who she is. While Ginger is learning the skills needed for a future career as a guide or service Dog, she's also a typical one-year-old Labrador who loves people, other dogs, and treats.
"I love how her brain switches from working to not working. She can go from a responsible service dog to a puppy hooligan in just seconds!"
According to Nick, the qualities that make Labradors such great service dogs are their calm nature and eagerness to learn. If there's a treat involved, Ginger is always ready for the next challenge.
How You Can Support Working Dogs
National Service Dog Month is also a great opportunity to learn how to support dogs like Ginger while they’re working. One of the most important things to remember is simple: if the vest is on, the dog is working. If you have questions or would like to interact with a service dog, always speak with the handler first. As Nick shares,
“Sometimes they may be willing to let the dog interact, but that will depend on the dog and the circumstances. Don’t be disappointed, the dog is working.”
Celebrating National Service Dog Month
Ginger is the second pup to hold this important role at YMCA Calgary. Her predecessor, Barney, recently graduated from advanced training as a PTSD Service Dog and is now thriving in his forever home. And if you're lucky, you might also spot our third YMCA pup-in-training around the fitness studios and locker rooms. At just four months old, Striker is full of energy, personality, and curiosity as he begins his own journey and learns from some great role models.
This National Service Dog Month, we're celebrating Ginger and the incredible journey she's on. While she still has more training ahead, she's already making a meaningful impact at YMCA Calgary by helping build awareness, inclusion, and understanding around service and guide dogs. Every interaction, training session, and milestone brings her one step closer to supporting someone who will rely on her every day.
We can’t wait to see where Ginger’s journey takes her next!