About Us
Summit is a highly collaborative and supportive team, coming together to ensure our clients get the very best result.
Our Mission
Summit Service Dogs was born with the intention of helping children & adults to reach for the top of their mountain. To achieve greatness and to “reach the peak” as summit is defined. The climb may not be easy and there are challenges that lie ahead, but with a Summit Service dog as a partner by their side greatness is attainable!
Our Values
Our vison right from the start was to have our program focus on QUALITY. We are a small program, which enables us to concentrate on the little details. Doing so allows us to do what is right for our clients & also for our dogs. Summit dogs are placed where above all else they will be cherished & valued as partners.
Getting to know Summit Service Dogs
Nathalie Gillespie SDC
– Owner of Summit –
Nathalie grew up in the company of dogs and horses and they have remained a huge part of her life. Nathalie has been involved with dogs from a professional standpoint since her early twenties and along with her husband and kids has been raising, training and showing Labradors for 17 years. The relationship, the partnership and the love for an animal has been long ingrained in her blood. Nathalie has worked as a Service Dog Trainer with an accredited school for 5 years and has bred many dogs that have become government approved service dogs. She is a certified Canine First Aid Instructor and a Professional Service Dog Trainer. Nathalie is currently an instructor at Medicine Hat College in their Service Dog and Canine Studies Management program as well as being a certified Service Dog Coach (SDC)
Stacey Wagner RN
– Owner of Summit –
Growing up, Stacey has always had a love for animals & dogs in particular. She has welcomed numerous dogs of various breeds into their home through the years. Stacey is a skilled professional as a Registered Nurse with over 10 years of nursing experience. She has a thorough understanding of medical conditions & the benefit, value & impact that a service dog can have on each person. Stacey has exposed dogs to medical environments through her workplace & by volunteering. Stacey’s nursing background & love for dogs has also led her to become a certified Canine First Aid Instructor. Stacey is also a Professional Service Dog Trainer & along with her family including a supportive husband & 3 young kids they have happily welcomed & raised multiple service puppies in training into their home.
Members of our Team
Lynne Spencer - Edmonton Trainer
Lynne is a Summit Service Dog Trainer, who is based in Edmonton. Lynne is a teacher with 30+ years of experience. Over the past five years, she has welcomed six Service Dogs in Training, full-time, into her Special Needs classroom. These dogs have been life-changing for her students. They provide unconditional love, support, and acceptance. They bring so many smiles to all the staff and students throughout the school. One grade seven boy said it best, “Having a service dog just gives our school so much soul!” Lynne also has experience working with owner trainers & helping them achieve their goals.
~ Lynne Spencer
Alyssa Spencer - Calgary Trainer
Alyssa is a certified early education service dog instructor and service dog trainer based in Calgary. With five years of experience working with service dogs, Alyssa prides herself on creating confident canines that thrive in any setting and make the world a more accessible place for their human partner. Alyssa also has experience working with owner trainers in both advanced service dog tasks and basic obedience and house manners. With experience as a Government of Alberta Service Dog Qualification Test assessor, Alyssa understands what it takes to be the perfect service dog.
~Alyssa Spencer
Our JR Trainers
Our families are a huge part of who we are and why we do what we do. Our husbands give us the support and time to spend with the dogs. Our kids we consider to be the “JR Trainers” – they are why we are able to offer dogs that are calm, loving and predictable with children. They love to help and expose the pups to all the experiences only kids are capable of. Our dogs grow up sharing their lives with our chidren from the moment they are born. This prepares the dogs for their future in working with children.
From left to right: Josie Gillespie, Cache Wagner, SDiT Hope, Wyatt Gillespie, Waylon Wagner, Mabel Wagner