About Airdrie Puppy Pals
Airdrie Puppy Pals is a dog daycare and training centre in Airdrie, Alberta. We're locally owned by Nikki Nordick, a certified professional dog trainer and behaviour consultant. Shannon, our Daycare Manager, leads our daycare team, and Nikki leads our training and behaviour programs. Together, we've been helping Airdrie dogs and their families learn, play, and grow since 2014.
Our Story
Connecting Our Community
In 2014, Nikki and her husband Ray would take their dogs, Rosa and Ryder, to the dog park and keep missing the other dogs. When they arrived, everyone was leaving. When they left, another group was just arriving.
Nikki knew other people wanted their social dogs to play together too, so she created the Airdrie Puppy Pals Facebook group to connect local dog owners and organize meetups. Ray supported it from the start.
Listening to Local Dog Owners
A few months later, Nikki and Ray started hearing stories from local dog owners that didn't sit right with them. 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, and that question became her reason to make a change. She left her Human Resources job in oil and gas, posted an ad on VarageSale, and started walking dogs.
In October 2015, we opened the doors to our first daycare.
With Your Support
With the support of our families, we kept growing and raising our standards for care. What started as dog walks and community meetups is now a full daycare and training centre where dogs learn, play, and stay.
Today, Airdrie Puppy Pals is in a 13,000 square foot centre in Kings Heights, built for dogs and their well-being. Our bright, climate-controlled playrooms have carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors, and temperature sensors to keep dogs safe and comfortable year-round.
Every part of our centre was designed with dogs in mind, from secure flooring and air systems to quiet rest spaces and enrichment areas. It's a space built for comfort and learning, not confinement.
We've grown because Airdrie families trust us with their dogs, and that's something we never take for granted.
Awards & Recognition
We're grateful for the local and national recognition we've received over the years, and proud to share it with our whole team.
- Winner Exemplary Service Award, Airdrie Regional Chamber of Commerce (2026)
- Finalist Marketing Award of Distinction, Alberta Business Awards of Distinction, Alberta Chambers of Commerce (2026)
- Winner Business Growth Award, Airdrie Regional Chamber of Commerce (2024)
- Recognized National Small Business Recognition, BMO Celebrating Women, Nikki Nordick (2024)
- Winner Greatest Impact Award, Airdrie Regional Chamber of Commerce (2023)
- Finalist Micro-Business Award (Western Canada), RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards, Nikki Nordick (2023)
- Finalist Employer Excellence Award, Airdrie Regional Chamber of Commerce (2023)
- Winner Best Dog Daycare, North American Business Elite Awards (2021)
- Winner Amazing Mentor Award, Airdrie Life Magazine / McKee Homes, Nikki Nordick (2020)
- Winner Pet Products & Services Award, LUXlife (2019)
- Winner Businessperson of the Year, Alignable (2018)
- Winner Emerging Business Award, Airdrie Chamber of Commerce (2017)
- Winner Multiple-time Pet Service Provider Award (Western Canada), PIJAC Canada
- Winner Multiple-time Reader's Choice Award, Airdrie City View
- Winner Multiple-time Community Votes Award, Dog Training and Pet Services
Continuing Education
The dog training and behaviour field in Alberta isn't regulated, so anyone can call themselves a trainer. Nikki has spent over a decade making sure that's never a concern for Airdrie Puppy Pals families.
CBCC-KA · CDBC · CPDT-KA · IAABC-ADT · FFCP
She holds five internationally recognized, third-party certifications, so your dog's behaviour is assessed and supported using methods backed by current science, not trends or tradition.
Nikki has completed hundreds of hours of continuing education through conferences and workshops, including Michael Shikashio's Aggression in Dogs Conference and Master Course, The Ranch with Ken Ramirez at Karen Pryor Clicker Training, and Dr. Karen Overall's Behaviour at the Beach. She brings what she learns to Airdrie Puppy Pals every day.
Meet Nikki
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, and we've taken part in Airdrie Pride in the Park, AirdrieFEST, and the Airdrie Children's Festival.
We love creating a space where families, dogs, and neighbours come together.
We'd Love to Meet You
Whether you're looking for daycare, a puppy class, or help with your dog's behaviour, we're here to help you find the right fit.