Isn't it funny how we all say we want to do something yet sometimes we don't do it? What's really going on? Every dog owner or dog professional we've met thinks canine first aid is a great idea. Why then, do some people not attend our courses right away? Hmmmm...beats us! We have identified some common excuses though. Can you relate to any of these?
10. I don’t have time.
We all have limited time, so it’s really a question of what are your priorities? What do you want to spend your time on? Our 8 hour course is the equivalent of watching 4 dvd movies, cleaning the house on a couple of weekends, 3 appointments for a haircut/colour, shopping on 2 Friday nights or 1 day at work.
9. The course is too far away.
If the only veterinarian to treat your dying dog was 30 minutes away, would you drive there? Of course you would! We view our courses as equally life-saving. Many people will drive across multiple cities to follow their regular hairstylist or attend a work related function. Our courses are available in a number of convenient locations and you won’t have rush hour traffic for a weekend course.
8. My vet is just around the corner.
Excellent! But what if and an accident occurs elsewhere, or if an injury occurs when the clinic is closed or if your dog is choking and you have only seconds to take action. We also address situations such as cut paws that you can handle on your own without even going to your vet clinic ... and that saves you time and money.
7. I already have human first aid.
Excellent! While the principles of first aid will be the same, the techniques are different. How will you approach a dog that doesn’t want your help? How will you restrain a dog so you don’t get bit? What are the normal vital signs for a dog? How can you calm down a dog in a way that a dog will understand? How does a dog convey that he is in pain, besides the obvious yelping or growling? Canines need canine first aid ... the same reason that dogs go to veterinarians and humans go to human doctors.
6. I don’t have the money.
We all have limited money, we totally hear you! It comes back to what do you want to spend your limited funds on? DOGSAFE courses are the equivalent of a dinner for two, a haircut and colour, a pair of jeans, tank of gas and a carwash, mani-pedi or a month of internet service. Vet appointments are expensive and even a simple limp may be hundreds and hundreds of dollars. You will learn how to handle minor injuries on your own and perhaps skip a vet visit altogether...saving you both money and time.
Regret is insight that comes a day too late.
- unknown
5. I don’t know my schedule or I'll do it later.
We all have limited time, we totally hear you! This is your dog ... the one you love, the one who makes you laugh with his goofy antics, the one who makes you smile when he tilts his head so cutely when you speak in a high-pitched voice, the one you hang out with. We'd be honoured if you'd share a bit of your valuable time with us in order to extend the life of your dog.
4. I’m a vet assistant / animal health technician / vet technician.
Excellent! You have a great knowledge base. Are you prepared to respond to canine emergencies outside your work environment? Do you believe in on-going education in your field? We have had many veterinary assistants and technicians attend our courses and the feedback has been extremely positive. And hey, after taking a class, you may be interested in training to be one of our DOGSAFE® instructors!
3. I love dogs, but don’t have one right now.
If there was a hurt dog on the side or the road, or in the park, would you like to know how to help him? Of course! -- you are a “dog person”. We’ve had many people without dogs attend our courses for that reason alone, or they want to help a friend's dog, or a neighbour's dog, or their cat!
2. I get all freaked out even thinking about it.
We hear you. It can be pretty scary to think about your dog getting seriously hurt. But avoiding fears does not make them go away. If you freak out just thinking about it, how will you handle the real situation? Your dog will need you and we want to help you be ready to help. We will teach you how to go from “freaked out mode” to “confident, knowledgeable mode".
1. I don’t think I'll ever need it.
I am sure you don’t think you’ll have a fire in your house… yet you have smoke alarms and house insurance. Or you don’t think you will have an auto accident…yet you've been taught how to drive a car safely and have car insurance. Why? Because house fires and car accidents happen – every single day. Dogs become injured and get sick -- every single day too.
Join our courses and workshops to learn how to prevent accidents, or respond to them if they happen ... so you can then forget about worrying and just go out and have fun with your pooches!
