Airdrie Puppy Pals is an award-winning, locally owned dog daycare, boarding, and training facility in Airdrie, Alberta. We specialize in positive, science-based care for social dogs. Led by certified trainer and behavior consultant Nikki Nordick, our team provides safe, structured, and enriching care that helps dogs thrive every day.

Nikki, a woman with curly hair smiling next to a black and tan dog with floppy ears, both looking at the camera at Airdrie Puppy Pals

Connecting Our Airdrie Community

Hi, I’m Nikki Nordick, proud owner of Airdrie Puppy Pals. Back in 2014, my husband Ray and I would head to the dog park with our dogs, Rosa and Ryder, and we always seemed to miss the memo. As soon as we arrived, everyone would be leaving. When we were ready to go, a whole new group of potential friends for Rosa and Ryder would just be showing up.

One day, on a car ride home from work, I shared an idea with Ray: what if we created an online community to connect local dog owners? There had to be other people like us who wanted to meet up and let their social Puppy Pals play. Just like that, the Airdrie Puppy Pals Facebook group was born, and we started organizing community meetups for like-minded Puppy Pal parents.

People walking along a sidewalk in a park in Airdrie Alberta with dogs, benches, and trees during sunset in dog park at Kings Heights in Airdrie, Alberta.

Listening to Our Community

Fast forward a few months and many amazing conversations, along with a few hard ones. We started hearing stories from local dog owners that didn’t sit right with us.

Things like, “I hired a dog walker and they were only there for a few minutes but charged for an hour,” or “The kennel I used left food out and kept my dog alone in a run for a week.”

I couldn’t stop thinking about those stories. I asked myself what I’d want for Rosa and Ryder if I needed help. That question became my motivation to make a change. I left my Human Resources job in Oil & Gas and started walking Puppy Pals and visiting the off-leash park, thanks to a little ad I posted on VarageSale.

Group of people gathered in Airdrie Puppy Pals in Airdrie Alberta taking photos or videos, with a display of colorful products on the shelves and a floral arrangement on a table in the foreground in Airdrie Alberta

With Our APP Family’s Love and Support

With the incredible support of our APP family, we kept growing and setting higher standards for care. What started as walks and community meetups has become one of Airdrie’s most trusted places for dogs to learn, play, and stay.

Today, Airdrie Puppy Pals operates in a 13,000-square-foot, award-winning facility built for dogs and their wellbeing. Our space includes four acres of fully fenced outdoor areas divided for different play styles and energy levels. Inside, dogs enjoy bright, climate-controlled playrooms equipped with CO₂ detectors, smoke detectors, and temperature sensors to keep them safe and comfortable year-round.

Every part of our facility was planned with purpose — from secure flooring and air systems to structured rest spaces and enrichment areas. It’s a space built for comfort and learning, not confinement.

We’re proud to be locally owned and operated by people who live here and care about this community. Airdrie Puppy Pals has grown because families trust us to care for their dogs like our own.

Group of five smiling people standing under a tent at an outdoor event. They are wearing matching shirts that say "Treat Dealer" with a paw print. There are tables with promotional materials at AirdrieFEST

Community In Action

Airdrie is our home, and community has always been at the heart of Airdrie Puppy Pals. Over the years, we’ve hosted and supported events that bring people and their dogs together while giving back to local causes.

We’ve organized charity auctions and holiday fundraisers supporting the Airdrie Food Bank and Community Links. Our Pictures with Santa events have become an annual tradition for local families. We’ve been proud to take part in Airdrie Pride in the Park, AirdrieFEST, and the Airdrie Children’s Festival, celebrating the connection between people, pets, and community.

Through every event, our goal stays the same: to create a positive space where families, dogs, and neighbors come together to make Airdrie a kinder, more connected place.

Awards and Recognition

Over the years, Airdrie Puppy Pals and I have been honored to receive both local and national recognition for our work in dog care, training, and community leadership. These awards reflect the trust our clients place in us and the dedication of our entire team.

Highlights include:

Winner, Business Growth Award, Airdrie Business Awards (2024)
Winner, Emerging Business Award, Airdrie Chamber of Commerce (2017)
Winner, Pet Service Provider Award, PIJAC Canada (Canadian Pet Community Awards)
Airdrie Life Magazine Amazing Mentor Award recipient (2023)
Multiple-time Reader’s Choice Award winner, Airdrie City View
Multiple-time Community Votes Airdrie winner in Dog Training and Pet Services categories
Finalist, RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards — Micro-Business, National (2023)
Finalist, Greatest Impact Award, Airdrie Regional Chamber (2023)
Finalist, Employer Excellence Award, Airdrie (2023)
Featured by BMO in a national small business campaign, including digital and billboard promotion in Toronto’s Dundas Square

Group of fifteen women gathered behind a table with an IAABC banner at an animal behavior consulting conference.

Continued Education

This October marks 10 years of Airdrie Puppy Pals. Over the years, we’ve built an incredible team, and I’m proud to have exceeded my own educational goals in dog training and behavior.

I’ve earned five internationally recognized, third-party certifications, including Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant (CBCC-KA) and Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA). I’m also Fear Free Certified and continue advanced coursework in animal learning and behavior. My ongoing education ensures the highest standard of care and training for every Puppy Pal in our facility.

Exterior of a building of Airdrie Puppy Pals 127 Kingsview Road SE in Airdrie, Alberta. The sign on the building reads 'Airdrie Puppy Pals' with a paw print and the words 'Let's Play, Learn, & Grow!' in Airdrie, Alberta.

And We’re Just Getting Started!

We’re always learning, growing, and listening so we can keep showing up for our Puppy Pals and their people in new and meaningful ways. Whether it’s expanding services, supporting more families, or helping every Puppy Pal feel safe and understood, we’re here for the long run.

When you’re part of the Airdrie Puppy Pals family, you’re never in it alone.

Find us at: 127 Kingsview Rd SE, Unit 215
Airdrie, AB T4A 0A8

Located beside the Kings Heights Off-Leash Park in the same complex as Glitch Gaming and Tools in Motion.

Ready to see what makes Airdrie Puppy Pals different? Schedule your Meet and Greet today and discover why families across Airdrie trust us with their dogs every day.