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:

Wanting to be new dog owners, we got 16 weeks old puppy, named Pepper. Shortly after bringing Pepper home, she was attacked by much larger dog and seriously injured. After consultation with the vet, we came to understanding that Pepper maybe traumatized by the horrible experience. We soon realized this was the case, Pepper was scared of other dogs and continuously barking. We contacted Lisbeth at Cowichan canine, who came to our home and gave us one on one lessons. We found Lisbeth to be very knowledgeable , professional and patient with novice dog owners. Lisbeth invited us to the Cowichan canine facility, where we were introduced to the staff and other dog owners. Being so impressed with the dedication of the staff and variety of classes, we enrolled Pepper immediately. Whenever we have any concerns or questions, Lisbeth is always quick to respond. Pepper became much calmer dog after reactive dog classes, so I am enjoying walking with her. To Lisbeth and the stuff, Thank you for everything.

Natsuko and Gary Chaperon
Duncan, BC

I sincerely want to thank all the trainers who worked with us on training our newest member of the family, Mila. Actually it was training us but we won't admit to that!! We had the privilege of working with Karen, Jody, Glenda, Bev and Lisbeth in our Foundation Classes. Every trainer took an active role in helping us achieve success. We felt that they were as excited with our small steps towards success as we were! The training program was so well laid out with the book, clickers, backpack and superb teachers that it made it easy to be successful if you were willing to put in the time. It also made it fun! There is a saying "it takes a village or community to raise a child". We think the saying could say "it takes Cowichan Canine to help raise a dog". We are now hoping to continue with agility classes and maybe even try the scent class. Thank you again

Mila, Marg, Andre, Sarah & Curtis
Cowichan Valley

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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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