First, Do No Harm
Est. 2009 | 250-929-1400 | Join Us On Facebook
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Canine First Aid Course by DogSafe

Instructor: Michelle Sevigny (founder of DOGSAFE)

Saturday (DogSafe 101)

This course is designed to teach you the knowledge and skills to deal with a sick or injured dog until veterinary care is available. The topics are covered in-depth so that students have a thorough understanding of the principles of canine first aid. Since this is a very comprehensive course, we need your full attention and dogs do not come to class.

You'll Learn How to:

  • prevent common injuries
  • conduct a head to tail assessment
  • tell if your dog is experiencing pain
  • recognize 4 signs of illness or injury
  • respond to any emergency in 4 easy steps
  • safely approach an injured dog
  • take your dog's vital signs and 3 other health tests
  • perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
  • perform artificial respiration
  • remove an airway obstruction  (choking)
  • prevent and treat for shock
  • control deadly bleeding
  • respond to penetrating objects
  • prevent and treat eye injuries
  • prevent and treat abdominal wounds
  • recognize risk factors and respond to bloat
  • prevent and respond to drowning
  • assess and respond to bone and joint injuries
  • prevent and respond to poisonings
  • prevent and respond to frostbite and hypothermia
  • prevent and respond to heatstroke
  • treat minor burns
  • treat and manage wounds

Training techniques ​

Dogsafe courses are designed to make complex topics easy and everyone will learn thru seeing, listening, moving and doing which improves knowledge retention. This means that you not only learn  topics on course day, but retain the information for the future when you'll need it. Effective, but fun too!
​Our training techniques include: 
  • instruction
  • demonstration
  • hands-on learning
  • discussion
  • question & answer
  • and videos

Training tools

We'll bring the learning to life with
  • canine resuscitation manikins
  • plush demonstration dogs
  • bandages
  • first aid kits
  • even fake guts, eyeballs and more!

Sunday (DogSafe 201)

This course is designed to take the knowledge and skills learned in Dogsafe Canine First Aid 101 and apply them to a real dog. Graduates of Dogsafe Canine First Aid 101 attend with their own dogs. Bring your patience and a sense of humour for this fun and interactive workshop. All supplies included.

You'll Learn How to:

  • conduct a head to tail assessment
  • monitor canine body language
  • muzzle your dog with commercial and improvised muzzles
  • restrain your dog in a standing and sitting position
  • transport your dog with a stretcher
  • take your dog's vital signs
  • assess three critical health tests
  • practice proper positioning for artificial respiration (AR)
  • practice proper positioning for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
  • practice proper positioning for obstructed airway (choking)
  • practice wound management, including bandaging eyes, ears and paws

This is all about hands-on practice with live dogs while under the supervision of Dogsafe Instructor Michelle Sevigny (founder of DOGSAFE), but we do not force the dogs and offer lots of intermissions and bathroom breaks. ​

 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THESE TWO COURSES

What's New?
What Clients Are Saying:

Hi Bev – I thought I’d let you know that Cody’s behaviour has been absolutely stellar since we graduated Foundations. We’ve been doing quite a bit of off leash walking, and he is suddenly paying so much more attention, coming when he is called – even if he’s playing with other dogs – I can hardly believe it! Thanks again for all your help. Looking forward to seeing more info on Advanced Clicker and the other course you mentioned (good neighbor?) in October.

Joann Wilson
Duncan, BC

Last week I had to take True to the vet because he had an ear infection. He bounced into the office with me as if he was going to the park, he was friendly with the girls at the front desk. We went in the examination room and he was fine, happily sniffing every square inch of the floor. He was happy to see the vet and even though his ear was sore he didn't do anything when she swabbed it. True didn't enjoy having his anal glands expelled but he didn't struggle or make a peep. I was so proud of him. The vet said she was amazed at how well behaved he was and how he had come such a long way, and she complimented me on my training. Thank you so much for all your help.

Wendy Neumann & True the Bouiver
Reactive Dog Programme student, Duncan, BC

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Group Classes, Private or Semi-private in-home training Lessons and confidential
Behaviour Consultations in the Cowichan Valley area, on southern Vancouver Island, servicing Chemainus, Cobble Hill, Cowichan, Cowichan Bay, Crofton, Duncan, Glenora, Ladysmith, Lake Cowichan, Malahat, Maple Bay, Mill Bay, Saltair, Saltspring Island, Shawnigan Lake, Vancouver Island and Youbou.
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