"comprehensive... and fun"Dogsafe Canine First Aid surpassed my expectations. I absolutely loved the Dogsafe 101 course! It’s comprehensive, highly informative, easy to follow and fun. Michelle Sevigny shares her knowledge and years of experience in an engaging way and is a masterful communicator.
--Suzanne Shugar, Dogsafe graduate "eLearning was easy to navigate"I recently completed the Dogsafe 101 and Operation Find Fido eLearning courses and would definitely recommend them. It was great to hear from a professional and I particularly liked how Dogsafe founder, Michelle Sevigny, mentioned myths and then provided factual, useful and relatable information.
Also, the eLearning webpages were easy to navigate, it’s all done really well! I laughed, I cried (tears of joy seeing that lady get her dog out of the wreckage of her home) and just really enjoyed hanging out with her "on-camera" and learning. I had a lot of lightbulb moments and feel that I can connect better with dogs now, thank you. -- Todd Henry, Lucky Dog Island, Dogsafe 101 eLearning graduate "enjoyable to complete"The Dogsafe 101 eLearning course was excellent. Being able to start and stop, and go back for review during the assignments and final test made it really accommodating and enjoyable to complete. Watching the video segments along with the manual readings made the information super easy to understand and great for someone like me that needs to read and hear the info to remember it. There's a ton of great information in there and I've learned a lot about dog specific first aid and a great refresher on first aid in general. Thank you!
-- Trisha Stovel, Dogsafe 101 eLearning graduate "you made it fun"I want to thank Dogsafe Instructor Susan Ayotte for all her words of encouragement during the Dogsafe Canine First Aid course. It's scary after being out of school for so long and wondering what you are going to achieve. I learned so much, great course, thank you again, you made it fun!
-- Joan Hislop, Dogsafe graduate "it will give you confidence"I'm so proud to say that I now have my Dogsafe Certificate from my awesome Dogsafe Instructor, Susan Ayotte. She is a fantastic instructor, very knowledgeable and thorough and I suggest anyone who owns a cat or dog to take this course. It will give you the confidence you need for any situation regarding your pet's first aid.
-- Melanie Goetken, Dogsafe graduate |
"full of valuable information"I want to thank Dogsafe Instructor, Robyn Andexser for a fun class full of valuable information. I know with my husky cross, that it's not a matter "if" something will happen, it is "when" it happen. I have human first aid, so had some ideas on what to look for, however, the Dogsafe 101 course filled some gaps and has given me a better understanding and confidence now on dealing with my pet, and my clients' pets. All pet owners should definitely take this course.
-- Crystal, Dogs Walkin Tired, Dogsafe graduate Thanks for a great course and much insight into keeping dogs healthy. "I could have spent more than 8 hours in the class"I had an AMAZING course with Dogsafe Instructor Gail Radtke. She's a great instructor and I could have spent more than eight hours watching her class. She is very knowledgeable, friendly and really knows how to delivery the program.
-- Fabiana Velarde, Dogsafe graduate "I was able to use the tools you taught me"Yesterday, my dog hurt his paw while chasing a ball. Before doing the Dogsafe 101 eLearning course, I would of freaked out and rushed him to the vet, but I stayed calm and assessed the situation. Long story short he is fine, back to running around the house. But what I found amazing was the body language you talked about in the DVD. He was lick lipping and licking my hand when I was touching his paw, so I yawned, looked away and licked my lips a couple of times and he just relaxed and let me investigate. It was a good experience and I am glad that I was able to use the tools you taught me. It all worked!
-- Amanda Nadon, Dogsafe eLearning graduate Hi Michelle, I wanted to say your Dogsafe 101 eLearning course is amazing and would recommend it to anyone. You took the time to answer my questions and to help with any concerns regarding the course. Your business is very professional and well organized. The instructions are very clear and you are very easy to get a hold of should I have any questions. All in all, I had a lot of fun, and enjoyed every minute. Thank you once again. |
"we felt welcomed and at ease"I wanted to send a brief email and thank you for this amazing course!! My ten-year-old daughter, Jayden and I attended the Dogsafe 101 course yesterday and we absolutely loved every minute of it!! I can't say enough about Dogsafe Instructor, Gail Radtke and what an awesome facilitator she was, keeping everyone engaged, and entertained -- not a moment of stopping to check the clock! Her information was clear, extremely educational and easy to follow (my daughter couldn't believe how fast the day went by - and that's saying something for a ten-year-old!!). Gail made the students feel welcomed and at ease to ask questions or offer input - it was a very interactive class. We now feel comfortable with our dog ownership with regard to having to administer first aid, if needed. Thanks again for the amazing class and awesome information.
-- Nicola Mitchell, Dogsafe graduate "I feel much more confident"I wanted to pass along that I just finished Dogsafe Canine First Aid 101 and 201 with Dogsafe Instructor Gail Radke. Gail was fun, friendly and super informative and I loved the time spent with her. I feel much more confident to deal with first aid issues, with my own dog, and my clients' dogs. Thank you for your wonderful program!
-- Alison Jackson, Dogsafe graduate "I want to tell everyone to take this course"I took the Dogsafe 101 course today with Dogsafe Instructor Laurie McPhee and was amazed! I want to tell all pet owners to take this course. The knowledge I walked away with is so invaluable as a pet owner and it really showed me how much more we need to know to be a responsible pet owner.
-- Ena Moore, Dogsafe graduate "I know I'll be able to handle an emergency now"I have to tell you how much I enjoyed the Dogsafe 101 course. It's given me more confidence and I know I'll be able to handle an emergency situation in the future, should one arise. Hopefully we won't need such training when we get the boarding kennel open in the spring, but better to be prepared.
-- Maureen Jackman, Ridgetop Boarding Kennels, Dogsafe graduate Thank you very much for the class. I walked away knowing I could make a difference in an emergency situation and that is a gift. I really believe what Dogsafe is doing is important. "you have gone above and beyond"Taking your class was such a great step in the right direction for me. You're an amazing teacher and you have gone above and beyond by providing great resources, advice and suggestions for someone that is starting out in the professional canine industry. The Dogsafe classes were very organized and interactive which makes the content easier to remember. I would totally recommended the Dogsafe classes to anyone I know that has a dog or starting a small business.
-- Sandy Deboer, Dogsafe Graduate "I got a ton out of Dogsafe"GREAT class yesterday, I got a ton out of it and REALLY enjoyed it. I really appreciate the service and education that Dogsafe is offering to the canine community. I think it is absolutely critical.
-- Jill Johnston, Dogsafe graduate "Dogsafe helped me save my puppy's life"I wanted to thank you again for the Dogsafe courses. This morning we let our puppy out into our enclosed backyard and she came back with an empty packet of rat poison (we have no clue where this came from as we do not use this method). Luckily, I knew how to respond and I immediately induced vomiting and took her to my vet clinic for further treatment.Without the course manual and the knowledge I learned in the course, I would not have known how to do this. Dogsafe helped me save my puppy's life. THANK YOU!
--Jessica Salomon, Dogsafe graduate Once again thank you so much for all your wisdom. The course was absolutely fantastic! Organized, well executed and delivered in an easy to understand manner. Your attention to detail and professionalism are second to none. I will definitely recommend the Dogsafe 101 course to everyone I know! "we'll definitely encourage others to attend"We would like to thank you for such an informative and interesting course, we will definitely encourage others to attend the Dogsafe courses. We (attempted) the head to tail assessment with our cats, but alas, they are not nearly as cooperative as Monty! And thank you for your generous donation to Richmond Animal Protection Society!
-- Jim & Audrey Goodwin, RAPS Volunteers, Dogsafe raduates "I came away with peace of mind"Just a short note to tell you how much I appreciated the Dogsafe 101 course this past weekend. This is an incredibly comprehensive program and I came away with not only a wealth of practical information but, just as importantly, peace of mind knowing the steps to take should I ever need to apply canine first aid. I think it should be required education for every caring dog owner. Thank you again.
-- Mary Lou Gazeley, Dogsafe graduate "far, far above my expectations"I would like to thank you for a phenomenal course. The hands-on practice was great, I like the way the talking and video clips were integrated, lots of info, good pace......and the course manual is exceptional. I am a teacher by trade and hard to impress but wow, the Dogsafe 101 course was far far above my expectations. Thanks again.
-- Louise Schulz, Dogsafe graduate I was really impressed with the Dogsafe 101 course and I have told many friends about it. Thanks again for a great day. "I assessed my puppy by myself"I wanted to let you know that the Dogsafe 101 course came in handy for the first time a week ago. My puppy took a little tumble last week and landed on his neck and shoulder. He accumulated a limp and was not walking on his front paw which I was concerned about. But I checked all the muscles and joints in his neck and shoulder and didn't find any specific spots that were especially tender for him. So I decided to wait a day before contacting a vet since my assessment told me he was fine. Low and behold, the next day he was his same old self and there has been no further problems, so thanks again!
-- James Grass, Dogsafe graduate "I definitely recommend Dogsafe"The Dogsafe 101 course was great. I registered to refresh my previous canine first aid training and I learned some very interesting and important new points. Michelle is a great teacher and she keeps the learning interesting and fun. I will definitely recommend the Dogsafe 101 course to friends, family and clients!
-- Natasha Leuvekamp, Outward Hound Canine Care, Dogsafe graduate Thanks for the fantastic canine first aid course this weekend. I will definitely be recommending it to other dog owners. I feel so much more confident should anything come up with my dogs or other peoples' dogs. "what a valuable experience"Hi Michelle, thank you for the excellent Dogsafe Canine First Aid course last Sunday. As a dog walker and dog sitter, I am now much more confident when I am solely responsible for others loved ones. I can't say enough about what a valuable experience your course was and your method of teaching and communication was refreshing.
UPDATE (14 days after graduating the Dogsafe 201 workshop): Michelle, our dog, Tanner, has been quite ill. After a few days at the vets, he's back at home and doing better, but with no diagnosis. He's on a special diet, small meals, lots of bathroom breaks and hasn't vomited since Friday night. He's drinking on his own, his energy level is up, and he has started begging for food again, so I think he's getting better. It's so frustrating not knowing what's wrong! I really have to thank you again for the Dogsafe course, it really helped me remain calm, even when "my baby" was so violently ill. I was hoping I wouldn't have to use my canine first aid training so soon but was immensely glad I could respond in this situation. I monitored his breathing, pulse, and temperature throughout the night and knowing his vital signs were consistently within normal range reassured me and saved us an emergency trip to the vet, so the course has already paid for itself! Thank you, thank you again. -- Darcie Schuurmans, Soul Dog Pet Services, Dogsafe graduate "I wish I'd taken this sooner"Hi Michelle, I wanted to give you some very positive feedback about the Dogsafe course since I feel that this course is every much as vital as a human first aid course. We love our dogs like family, so it only makes sense that we educate ourselves as much as we can about their safety.
I found the course material easy-to-understand and honestly, I got more out of the Dogsafe Canine First Aid course than any human first aid course I ever took! The canine manikins for the artificial and CPR practice were a great learning tool and the length of the class seemed just right to show us a multitude of techniques, scenarios and tips. I found the Dogsafe manual to be very user-friendly and to-the-point and our family is keeping it in a place where we have quick and easy access to it. I now feel a sense of responsibility and confidence after taking the Dogsafe course, knowing that I have the knowledge to help out my canine friends if the need should ever arise. I wish I had taken this course sooner! PS - Both of my dogs have pulses!!! LOL -- Joan Belitsky, Dogsafe graduate "it already helped, with my cat"Michelle, I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your Dogsafe Canine First Aid Course. I think I got more out of your presentation than any other first aid course I've ever attended.... and it has already helped, even with my cat! I took my cat in to the vet today for his vaccinations and shortly after we returned home he started throwing up everywhere; acting very distressed and pacing. I looked up and he started having some kind of seizure. Guess what? I KNEW what to do. Thank you SO much!
-- Charlene Davies, Dogsafe graduate "has strengthened my relationships with clients"I take great pride in Hosting the Dogsafe course here on Vancouver Island. Michelle presents a very informative and fun day for dog owners and the positive feedback from the students is tremendous. Taking this course myself has strengthened my relationship with my clients and increased my confidence when working with their dogs. The Hosting opportunity has also brought me many new training clients! We owe it to our pets to do all that we can for them in any situation, as they would do the same for us.
-- Robyn Andexser, Owner, Best Paw Forward Dog Training (now a Dogsafe Authorized Instructor) |
"my kids were so proud I was able to respond"Just wanted to send out a big THANKYOU to Dogsafe Instructor, Robyn Andexser. Because of attending her Dogsafe 101 course, I was able to deal with an emergency involving my dog, Howie, all on my own. While we were busy working in the garden last weekend I caught a glimpse of Howie hiding behind a garden box. To my horror, I noticed he was chewing on something half hanging out of a plastic bag -- it was a dead bird that my son had put in a poop bag after he found it on our deck the day before. I immediately ran inside, checked the amount of hydrogen peroxide in the Dogsafe course manual and using a turkey baster got it in his mouth. Within five minutes, he puked up a few feathers and the chunk of plastic bag he had swallowed. My kids were so proud that I was able to respond to the immediate situation. Thanks for all that you all do to make us better dog owners.
-- Keeren, Dogsafe graduate "clear, concise and entertaining"I had my first dog injury today. Nothing major, just a sore toe causing a limp, but I did feel like I could assess the problem and more importantly, report it back the owner. I felt in charge and prepared, thanks to the Dogsafe course.
I have taught many workshops,and attended many others, and have to say that the Dogsafe 101 course is one of the best. The information that Michelle has developed is comprehensive and useful, as is the course manual. The workshop was especially valuable in teaching essential hands-on skills like CPR, resuscitation, and assessments, and Michelle's experience as a police officer ensured that we understood how to manage an emergency scene. The Dogsafe course manual covers dozens of other ailments, and I have read it cover to cover. Information alone is good, but the real strength of this workshop is Michelle's teaching. Clear, concise, and entertaining, she communicates effectively, and knows how to make ideas stick. She's one of the best instructors that I've seen. I recommend the Dogsafe 101 course to dog professionals and dog owners. -- Barry Rueger, professional dog walker, Dogsafe graduate "it felt great being so prepared"A few days ago Duke had his first ever paw wound. (little gash in a toe pad, probably caught on a rock when he turned a corner way too fast). So lucky boy got a peanut butter Kong while I cleaned and wrapped it. It was great knowing how to do it quickly, in what order, and how to make the bandage secure. It healed up really nicely and felt great being so prepared!!
--Stephanie Stanton-Linder, Allstars K9 Training, Dogsaferaduate On behalf of the Vancouver Island Firefighters Association, we would like to thank you for the training on canine first aid. I have received very positive feedback on the Dogsafe for Firefighters seminar you taught. I have been told by our members that they would like to take more of this training. I know as a dog owner, I also learned a lot from you. Thank you. "great balance of info and practice"I really enjoyed the Dogsafe 101 course. Michelle, the instructor, immediately set everyone at ease and created a very comfortable learning environment. There was agreat balance of information and practical learning, with lots of time for questions. I recommend Dogsafe for dog owners, dog lovers and it is especially invaluable to dog related businesses.
--Cheryl Hughes, uDog Cowichan, Dogsafe graduate "I feel much more comfortable"Thank you for a great class, I really enjoyed it and feel much more comfortable now should I ever find myself in a situation that requires my canine first aid skills.
--Nina Houghton, Alpha Dog Training, Dogsafe graduate (now a Dogsafe Authorized Instructor) "I feel much more confident"I wanted to say thank you so much for such a wonderful course. I had such a great time tonight in Dogsafe 201 and feel much more confident in my canine first aid abilities.
-- Tracy DiLalla, Bark in the Park, Dogsafe graduate "trying the equipment gave us a better idea of what we need"Once again great job yesterday! I found the Dogsafe 201 Workshop very helpful to feel what it is like to actually restrain my own dog and try to do the bandages and get a real feel without the adrenaline. The hands-on experience in the workshop makes all the Dogsafe 101 theory sink in better. Also, thanks for letting us try the equipment, it gave us a very good idea of what essential equipment we need to be safe (and hopefully we never use it)!
-- Rosa Diaz, Boneheads Pet Services, Dogsafe graduate "true investment in peace of mind"My cockapoo, Phoenix, and I recently completed the Dogsafe 101 course and I wanted to congratulate you on putting together a first class course for dog owners.
The two-day course was professionally presented and jammed packed with critical information and techniques all designed to save man’s best friend’s life during a critical incident. I was amazed with how little I knew about caring for my pup. Aside from being ready for critical incidents, it is wonderful to know so much more about dogs and their behavior in general. The Dogsafe 101 course is a true investment in peace of mind and general knowledge that will serve me a lifetime. Again, our thanks! -- Doug Lang, Dogsafe graduate "we survived the ordeal without a trip to the vet"I had to use first aid on my dog, Kecy, when she cut her paws (both front) on a walk recently. She dove into some snow to get her ball and there must have been something sharp under there. I was calm, cool and collected and knew exactly what to do. Kecy didn't even notice she'd been cut and wanted to keep on playing! We survived the ordeal without a trip to the vet, so I was very thankful for the knowledge and confidence the Dogsafe 101 course gave me!
-- Eileen Kennedy, Kecy & Kompany Dog Walking Service, Dogsafe graduate "what we learned helped save Tiger's life"Andrew and I wanted to send you a great big THANK YOU. Last week, our little guy, Tiger, was in grave shape and had it not been for the information in the Dogsafe 101 course, we may not have recognized the signs and urgency of his deterioration. We fully believe that what we learned in the Dogsafe class played a MAJOR part in saving Tiger's life.
-- Tamara G. Wiebe, Dogsafe graduate "this knowledge helped me deal with a scary situation"I had to use my canine first aid knowledge with my dog, Sawyer, last week. He was doing some high jumps and flipped over and landed on his back. He really did a number and was lying there stiff, shaking and appeared in a lot of pain. I took his pulse and checked his capillary refill. He just layed there for about ten minutes and then got up on his own. We took him to the vet and I was able to communicate what happened in a very clear manner. Staying calm was the big one! He is fine now but the canine first aid knowledge really helped me deal with a scary situation. Thank you!
-- Sarah Rose, Dogsafe graduate "thank you for caring so much"What an amazing course on Sunday! Thank you very much for caring so much about our four legged friends and putting the Dogsafe courses together. I learned tons and I am sure I will be putting it to use some time in the future...... although, hopefully not too much! I will definitely recommend the Dogsafe Canine First Aid course to as many dog lovers as I can as I know they will love it!
-- Joseph Peterson, Poochike Adventures, Dogsafe graduate Thank you so much for a great course yesterday. I learned so much. And although I bought an extra Dogsafe manual for a Christmas gift, I've decided to keep both manuals for myself -- one for home and one for the car. You can't be too prepared! "I enjoyed the teaching techniques"I would like to express my thanks for the Dogsafe course on Saturday. It was most informative. I enjoyed the teaching techniques you used in order for your students to participate and therefore learn and remember the first aid skills. Although I am not a big fan of performing in front of an audience, I am glad that I did the scenario part of the course. I am also glad that you portrayed the "freaked out" dog owner as not only does it make the situation more real, but you have reminded me that this type of dog owner reaction does happen. As a result, I came away with a good sense about and thus I feel more confident about administering canine first aid in the future if need be. Moreover, I love your manual, it is succint!
-- Catherine, Dogsafe graduate "excellent presentation skills"I want to thank you for creating and instructing the Dogsafe canine first aid course! It is something that is long overdue for dog owners. The workshop was the most involving and enjoyable first aid course I have taken. I appreciated your excellent presentation skills and how well you related to the class. It was evident that you took extra care in the planning process to consider the needs of your students and offered different ways of learning the content, both theoretical and practical. You kept us involved and the day went very quickly! The thorough manual will be a handy tool for the future.
-- Donna Hill, B.Sc.B.Ed, Owner, Games with Dogs, Dogsafe graduate "I'm proud of my certificate"Thank you so much for the informative Dogsafe Canine First Aid course you gave us last Sunday, I really enjoyed it! I was proud to show my certificate to my students!
-- Monique Charbonnier, CPDT, Gentle Puppy Training, Dogsafe graduate "everyone has positive feedback for the course"Thank you for your wonderful Dogsafe Canine First Aid seminar last Sunday. Everyone I spoke with has given lots of positive feedback. I would like to get 3 more copies of your Dogsafe books so I may include them in my Christmas gifts to my trainers. Thanks again.
-- Roxanne Ziefflie, Owner, Paws Ahead K9 Sports Centre & Dog Daycare "definitely given me confidence boost"Hi Michelle, I just wanted to send you another note of “Thanks” for putting on the Dogsafe Canine First Aid course. I really felt that I received a lot of useful and practical information. Having this knowledge has definitely given me a confidence boost! I encourage anyone to take the Dogsafe course.
-- Anne-Marie Baker, Dogsafe graduate "I'm now more confident"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, K9 Act Dog Training, Dogsafe raduate |
As a veterinarian and a director of the Pender Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), I was very impressed with the presentation by Michelle at our community education event. Michelle used a manikin to demonstrate how to provide acute care to an injured animal in an emergency situation. Her information was clearly and accurately presented, including essential points regarding safety for the pet and the humans who are helping. She was also entertaining and interactive, especially involving the kids in the audience. We very much appreciated her generous time and energy, and everyone came away more knowledgeable and prepared to assess and assist injured animals in the future.
-- Dr Maureen Stone, DVM