Northeast Canine’s founder opens up about what drives her, why she chose this path, and the lives she’s helping change, one hero at a time.
Megan’s journey into the world of service dog training wasn’t planned. It was discovered. As a child, she put on dog shows with her family pets, already craving connection and collaboration with animals. But it was a clear decision early on: she didn’t want to be a vet, because that meant facing the heartbreak of loss. Instead, she wanted to build lives, dog and human, and bring joy, movement, and confidence to both.
In 2010, while nannying for a family with Great Danes, Megan fell in love with the breed’s gentle strength and quirky charm. That passion led her to volunteer, then work for over a decade at a Great Dane service dog facility. It was there, raising litters, witnessing life-changing bonds between dog and handler, that Megan found her purpose. She realized: this is what I’m meant to do. And in 2020, she founded Northeast Canine to do it her way.
Great Danes are more than dogs to Megan, they’re living mobility tools, “fortifying heroes” for people with invisible injuries. Their sheer size allows them to act like a portable railing, offering physical support for stairs, curbs, and falls. But beyond their build, it’s their personality that seals the deal: goofy, intelligent, fiercely loyal, and intuitive. “They look clumsy, but they’re so in tune once trained,” Megan says. “They crave learning, and they’re typically devoted to one person, which makes them ideal service companions.”
Megan chooses to focus on veterans and first responders because, in her words, “They put everyone else first. This is the least I can do to give something back.” She knows these individuals carry burdens most of us can’t see, and that her dogs can become part of the healing, restoring confidence, stability, and independence.
Megan’s training philosophy is fundamentally different from most programs. NEC dogs aren’t trained with food pouches or treat incentives. From the moment they can wobble around like “drunken little sailors,” these pups learn through bonding, spoon-feeding, name recognition, and confidence-building. It’s a slower, deeper process and one that mirrors the human healing journey.
Her method prioritizes natural following instincts, picking up on emotional cues, and a clear understanding of the task, not robotic commands. The dogs learn to intuitively pick up on PTSD triggers, stay close in public, alert their handler to someone approaching from behind, and assist physically with bracing and mobility. But Megan also knows the job isn’t for every dog, and she honors that. “If a Dane doesn’t want the job, we find them another one, maybe as a therapy or facility dog.”
For Megan, the magic happens during the pairing process. After months of training, the dog is introduced to their new handler. For 3–5 days, they work side-by-side, building trust. The moment that never fails to move Megan? When the dog stops looking back at her for guidance and starts moving in sync with their new person.
“That’s when I know—we did it. Our special little pup becomes the hero.”
Every pairing gives her chills. It’s a bittersweet moment, watching a dog she’s raised walk away. But it’s also the core of her mission: independence, restored.
Megan’s not shy about the emotional weight of this work. It’s messy. It’s exhausting. But it’s worth it. Every time a veteran tells her their dog gave them their life back, every time a person walks more steadily, lives more confidently, smiles more freely: it reaffirms her purpose.
She brings honesty to every conversation. She tells applicants what it really takes to care for a Great Dane. She matches based on height, weight, personality, humor, and readiness. “You have to have a good attitude to have a dog this big, people will stare, you will become the center of attention.”
And she finds joy even in the chaos, like when a puppy pees in her hands at Costco, or someone asks if she has a saddle for the dog she’s walking. “Who’s walking who?” she laughs.
Megan dreams of building a larger, more welcoming facility and not just for the dogs, but for the people. A place where veterans and community members alike can gather, laugh, learn, and heal together. A place filled with energy and peace, where NEC can train more dogs, serve more people, and continue changing lives.
This new space would mean:
Megan’s message to donors and partners is clear: You are part of this journey. Every dollar, every volunteer hour, every share of our mission fuels the transformation of both dog and human lives. Your support doesn’t just fund training, it gives someone their life back.
