About Us
Airdrie Puppy Pals is an award-winning dog daycare and training facility located in Airdrie, Alberta. We are locally owned and operated by certified professional dog trainer and behaviour consultant Nikki Nordick. We provide safe, structured, and enriching daycare and training services that help dogs thrive every day.
Connecting our Community
In 2014, Nikki Nordick and her husband Ray would take their dogs, Rosa and Ryder, to the dog park and consistently miss other dogs. When they arrived, everyone was leaving. When they left, new groups were showing up.
Nikki and Ray created the Airdrie Puppy Pals Facebook group to connect local dog owners and organize community meetups. There were other people who wanted their social dogs to play together, and they wanted to help make that happen.
Listening to Our APP Family
A few months later, 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."
Nikki couldn't stop thinking about those stories. She asked herself what she'd want for Rosa and Ryder if she needed help. That question became her motivation to make a change. She left her Human Resources job in oil and gas and started walking dogs, thanks to an ad she posted on VarageSale.
With Your Support
With the 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 designed 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 locally owned and operated by people who live in this community. Airdrie Puppy Pals has grown because families trust us to care for their dogs.
Airdrie Community In Action
Airdrie is our home, and community has always been at the heart of Airdrie Puppy Pals. 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 participated in Airdrie Pride in the Park, AirdrieFEST, and the Airdrie Children's Festival.
Our goal is to create a positive space where families, dogs, and neighbours come together.
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
Continued Education
One of the things that has always set us apart is Nikki’s commitment to education. Nikki has earned five internationally recognized, third-party certifications including:
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) and Accredited Dog Trainer (ADT) through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)
Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and Certified Behavior Canine Consultant through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.
Fear Free Certified Professional from Fear Free Pets and working on her Low Stress Handling Certification.
Nikki remains committed to evidence-based practices in canine behaviour. She has completed thousands of hours of continuing education through conferences and workshops including Michael Shikashio Aggression in Dogs conference and mastercourse, Karen Pryor Academy Ranch with Ken Ramezez, and Dr. Karen’s Overall's Behavior on the Beach. She brings this knowledge to Airdrie Puppy Pals.
We’re Just Getting Started!
We're always learning, growing, and listening so we can keep showing up for our dogs and their people in new and meaningful ways. Whether it's expanding services, supporting more families, or helping every dog 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.