Dogsafe® Canine First Aid 101       In-person classes or online

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. 
Course #:  DSCFA101
In-person or eLearning Hours:  8 hours   (7hrs instruction + breaks)
Certificate:  8.5 x 11" certificate valid for 3 years
Maximum Students for In-Person Courses:  12 
Prerequisite:  None
Minimum Age: 14 years/10 years if parent also enrolled
Cost: Dogsafe Authorized Instructors conduct their own registrations, please contact them directly for their current fees. 
Locations:  Canada, USA or global eLearning
Continuing Education Units:  approved organization list

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

Our 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  (*in-person class only)
  • discussion
  • question & answer
  • and videos

Our 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!
“I enjoyed the course so much and I am now more confident in dealing with emergency situations. The Dogsafe course was great, thanks again!”
- Angela Du, dog trainer, Dogsafe Graduate      *see more testimonials

Dogsafe® Course Manual Included

DOGSAFE: Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know in an Emergency, by Dogsafe creator, Michelle Sevigny is included with Dogsafe Canine First Aid 101 in-person course registration. The 116 page comprehensive manual includes 56 real-life photographs and is reviewed by veterinarians, including Dr. James Lawson, Chief Animal Health Officer of the BC SPCA.  
​The course manual includes:
  • a Vital Signs Checklist for keeping track of your dog's essential information,
  • an Essential Phone Numbers  Form for easy access in emergencies
  • a Canine Incident Report Form to ensure accurate info during veterinary follow-ups
  • even more topics that are not covered in the course -- a priceless manual for future reference.

Hands-on with Canine CPR Manikins     *in-person class only

​Dogsafe Canine First Aid Authorized Instructors have invested in your canine first aid education by providing canine CPR manikin(s). Canine CPR manikins are a vital educational tool that are considerably more life-like than practicing on stuffed toys. Our manikins have working pulse and lungs enabling you to actually perform canine CPR, a technique that is not safe to conduct on live dogs.
The Dogsafe course goes beyond just watching an instructor demonstrate CPR and provides opportunities for hands-on practice with canine CPR manikin(s).
"I learned, and became aware of, so much during my two, very worthwhile, Dogsafe courses.  I will speak of them positively to other dog owners. "  
  ​- Shantal Cashman, Dogsafe Graduate       *see more testimonials

Upon Graduation, You'll Receive

3-Year Certificate

Upon successful completion, you will be granted a frame-ready, paper or PDF
8 1/2" x 11" certificate that you can be proud to show your family, clients and, of course, your dog!

Certified Logo

Free Listing
Our name is recognized and respected as the leader in canine first aid and safety training and you'll be able to proudly display the Dogsafe Certified logo on your company website, brochures and business cards.   
We will list your dog company on our Find a Certified Dog Professional webpage, a great way to attract new clients.
​See who's already listed. 
"Thank you for creating the Dogsafe Canine First Aid course, it was the most involving and enjoyable first aid course I have ever taken."
- Donna Hill B.Sc., Games with Dogs, Dogsafe Graduate       *see more testimonials
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