Live From New York, It’s Canine Companions!

Canine Companions was referenced in a hilarious, satirical sketch “Service Dogs,” on Saturday Night Live Episode 19 of their 50th season, which aired on May 10, 2025.

The sketch was led by host Walton Goggins, best known for his roles in “White Lotus” and “Fallout,” featuring SNL cast members, Heidi Gardner, Bowen Yang, along with Michael Longfellow and Jane Wickline, who played service dog trainers.

Canine actors portrayed Canine Companions service dogs, whose goal is to sit through their very first bad play – and they weren’t shy about letting the actors know their true feelings!

A golden retriever sits next to a man wearing a blue vest with a logo, who is animatedly gesturing as he speaks. The background shows several people seated in a theater-like setting.
A man in a black turtleneck and blazer stands on stage, smiling, with a backdrop featuring a dark exterior and a window with lace curtains, addressing an audience that includes 20 dogs from Canine Companions.

Original SNL Sketch

Canine Companions Dogs Watch The Sketch

Heidi Gardner Reacts on Instagram

Four Labrador retriever service dogs wearing blue vests sit in front of a television, watching a Saturday Night Live sketch while their backs are turned toward the camera.

And Scene! - Puppies and Service Dogs Make Trips to the Theaters

In the real world, Canine Companions volunteer puppy raisers, tasked with preparing our puppies for a career as service dogs, often take them to theaters. It’s a great opportunity to expose them to new environments, large crowds and a wide range of sights, sounds and smells.

Learn how you can become a volunteer puppy raiser for us.

A black Labrador retriever holding a playbill for the musical 'Come From Away' in its mouth, sitting in a theater seat with a textured gray cushion in the background, while people are seated in the rows behind.
A light-colored dog resting its nose on a playbill for 'Frozen' in a theater, surrounded by audience members seated in plush theater chairs.
A Labrador Retriever sitting obediently in front of a large promotional banner for the musical "Wicked," which features information about the show dates and venue, with a tiled floor and brick wall in the background.
A yellow Labrador retriever wearing a blue and yellow vest sits in front of a stage marked with the word 'SIX,' illuminated by colorful stage lights, with musical instruments visible in the background and theater seating nearby.

Service Dogs in the Community

Service dogs are incredible working dogs who help people with disabilities live more independently.  

They’re trained to complete a variety of tasks – like picking up a dropped cell phone at the park or handing a credit card to the cashier at the grocery store.
 
Some service dogs can even wake up a person from a nightmare caused by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); others can alert a person who’s deaf when the doorbell rings.
A woman sitting on a wooden bench in a shopping mall, wearing a beige cardigan and black pants, is holding a leash connected to a black service dog wearing a blue vest. The mall features shops in the background with decorative balloons and plants.
A woman with glasses, wearing a black hoodie with colorful text, stands in a plant store beside a yellow Labrador retriever. She holds a walker with one hand while petting the dog's head with the other. The background features shelves filled with various plants and flowers.
A man in a wheelchair smiles while holding the leash of a yellow dog, which is carrying a black bag in its mouth, on a street with a brick wall in the background.
A person in a red shirt sitting in a power wheelchair, smiling as they walk along a shaded path, accompanied by a yellow Labrador retriever carrying a small bag in its mouth.
A service dog pulling open an automatic door while assisting a person in a powered wheelchair, with the dog wearing a harness labeled 'Canine Companions.' The setting is sunny and the entrance is prominently displayed.
A woman in a wheelchair with a service dog waits to board a subway train. The dog is wearing a harness that identifies it as a service animal. Inside the train, a masked passenger sits on a blue seat.

SNL x Service Dogs in the Media

The Press Democrat

A scene from a 'Saturday Night Live' sketch featuring several people seated in a theater alongside multiple golden retrievers, with expressions of humor and affection displayed. The background shows a dark theater setting.