NOTE: Once you hit the submit button you will be redirected to our full registration page:

PetSaver™ Training:

Premier 8-hour class including CPR techniques, first aid skills, dental care, senior care and health & wellness information for dogs and cats.

Additionally, the class includes our PetSaver 40-page handbook and upon successful completion, each participant will receive a certificate and wallet card. Sometimes the unexpected happens… Will you be prepared to take action when it does?

PetSaver Program

All our Pet First Aid and CPR classes are approved for CEU’s by many organizations including:

Massachusetts Certified Veterinary Technicians
PACCC
CCPDT
PSI
NAPPS
North Carolina Veterinary Board
IBPSA
APDT
Others

We can also apply for others if you are required CEU’s within your organization.
If you are not a pet pro, but just a dog or cat parent, do not let this scare you off. All pet owners will greatly benefit from this class. This just shows the level of the class for our students.

The Pet Saver / First Aid and CPR program is approximately 8 hours in length (not including lunch and is the recommended course of instruction which includes three classes in one day.

PetSaver (Approximately 8 hours)(8am – 5:30pm)

The PetSaver class includes three separate programs combined into a one day class. They are:

1. Caring For Your Senior Pet-izen

Although the name may make you think this section is just for older pets, it is not. Part of being a caring, conscientious, and responsible and loving pet owner includes helping the pet make it into its “golden years.” So if you just picked up a new puppy, a middle aged cat or if you have an older dog, this will help you learn some new tips. We will cover some topics that may be controversial to some, but are based on current science:

a. When should I spay/neuter my pet

b. What about vaccines?, when should they be given and which ones? What does the American Veterinary Medical Association recommend

c. What about nutrition? We will cover this generally as time does not permit a long discussion. If interested in learning more consider our Canine Nutrition Class

d. How to extend ours pet’s life

e. Options for end of life

2. Pet First Aid & CPR

One of the most important and vital items you will learn in this class is the Snout -To-Tail assessment. This skill alone is worth the price of admission

Restraining and Muzzling

Primary Assessment

Rescue Breathing

Canine and Feline CPR

Choking Management

Snout-To-Tail Assessment

Assessing the Pet’s Vitals

Handbook

Insect Bites & Stings and snake bites

Heat & Cold Injuries

Seizure

3. Dental Care For Your Pets

Your pet not having their teeth brushed for the first 3 years of their life is equivalent to you not seeing a dentist until you were about 35 years old. Imagine what your mouth would look like, what it would smell like if you didn’t have any dental care for the first 35 years of your life! This course will teach you how to properly brush your pet’s’ teeth, how to recognize the signs of periodontal disease, the four stages of periodontal disease, and what you should do if you suspect your pet has periodontal disease.

Add our Canine Nutrition class for a complete Healthy Pets Weekend.

Canine Nutrition:

Our Canine Nutrition and Herbal Care is more than an informational class you may have attended in the past. But at the same time we do not push any one type of diet for your canine. After completing the series you will be able to make an informed decision on choosing the best diet for your dog based on your lifestyle and budget.

The one day class is divided into three sections:

Canine Nutrition 101

This is our basic class and will be covering the different feeding options available to us and the pros and cons of each. These include:

High Heat Kibble (Commercial pet foods)
Baked Low Heat Kibble
Air Dried Kibble
Prescription Diets
Canned Balanced Food
Freeze Dried Balanced Raw
Commercially Prepared Balanced Raw Fresh Food.
Homemade Balanced Fresh Food
As we discuss each of the feeding options we will cover:

How to read a dog food label
What items should never be in your dog’s food
Novel proteins that my help your dog with skin issues
The canine superfoods
Therapeutic diets
How to create a home diets
Supplements like fish oil, vitamins and probiotics
Maintaining your dog’s weight

At the end of the Canine Nutrition 101 you should have a good understanding on how to make an informed decision what method of feeding your four legged family member.

Canine Nutrition 102 – This course requires some pre-class homework so you will be prepared to formulate a meal.

In depth coverage of:

1. Maintaining your dog’s weight

2. Therapeutic diets (weight loss)

A short discussion on cancer prevention, kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes
Functional foods
Supplements
Food sensitivities and allergies
Proteins (intro)
Fats (intro)
Carbohydrates (intro)
Macro & Micronutrients
Vitamins and minerals

3.

Determining your dog’s Metabolic Weight
Determining your dog’s required energy needs
Creating Complete & Balanced meals
Herbal Care 101 – Here we will discuss and prepare:

1. Herbal Dewormer
2. Golden Paste
3. Fermented apples (Probiotics)
4. Comfry/Plantain Salve

What this Series is about:

Multiple studies have proven a healthy weight dog can live up to two years longer
You will learn science based nutritional information to help keep your dog healthy
I consider myself a Canine Nutrition Consultant who can assist you in providing the best nutrition for your dog,(only veterinarians with nutrition training can hold the title of “Veterinarian Nutritionist”) . I have completed both formal and informal training programs dealing with canine nutrition.

What this Series is not:

I am not a Certified Veterinary Nutritionist and therefore will not try to prescribe a therapeutic diet for you and your dog.
Although the information is correct, if you have a sick dog you should consult a veterinarian (who believes in nutritional therapies), a holistic veterinarian or a Canine Nutrition Consultant.

Special Notes You Need to Know about Dog Hill Homestead

What you need to know is our property is an off the grid homestead and Canine Sports Park (Agility, Dock Diving, Herding and Search & Rescue Training) currently under construction. As construction is underway, you may see open/studded walls, insulation, construction lights and a basic concrete floor. For winter classes we heat with wood and do our best to keep the temperature around 70 degrees. We do not have an internet connection but your phones and mobile data should work well in our home.

Once you arrive our home is a 1/3 mile off of Pine Street, primarily up hill on a gravel driveway. Look for a sign that looks like a street name sign, that says Doghill Homestead, also one that says Private Road. That is us and you are a guest, so please come on up.

Although some driving smaller cars are nervous coming up the dirt road, everyone has made it. If you are nervous about the trip up, please call and I will pick you up at the bottome of the driveway.

I recommend dressing as if you we were visiting a farm.

With all that said you may also enjoy meeting some of our 2 or 4 legged friends, 6 Nigerian goats, our 5 loved Aussies, 1 cats, 9 Indian Runner ducks, a Guinea hen, many Jersey Black Giant Hens and Red Bourbon turkeys, possibly a couple of pigs, some sheep and a donkey. And you will also have the advantage of seeing some of the first aid supplies and nutrients I use for my own pets.

Classes are rarely if ever cancelled and I have taught classes for only one person. If I have only 1 registrant for a class I will let you know and give you the option of attending the scheduled class or a future class.

Please feel free to call with any questions.

You can read more about this program and others at:

Home

About your instructor.

Jim Helems currently owns Jim Helems’ Dog Pals. As a dog behavior consultant and dog trainer Jim deals with dogs and other pets on a daily basis. Along with his 22 years as a military medic, Jim is uniquely qualified to teach this class.

Certified by both Pet Tech, (A Certified Master Instructor) and the American Red Cross.

Currently Jim is involved with several Disaster Animal Response Teams at the local, state and national levels assisting in local disasters and also assists the ASPCA and the International Fund for Animal Welfare in rescuing dogs from illegal puppy mills.

Most importantly Jim has used these skills to help save the lives of several dogs from car accidents, illness and more.

Cancellations:

Classes are scheduled, in part, based on attendance. We do not refund any fees paid, but will allow you to attend another class of your choosing within 6 months of original class date. It is your responsibility to schedule a new class with the instructor prior to attending class.

FAQs

Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event?

We recommend: Girls 10 years or older, Boys 12 years and older, exceptions are always possible

What can/can’t I bring to the event?

No dogs/cats allowed in class except service dogs.

You can bring a lunch or snacks and drink if you wish

Where can I contact the organizer with any questions?

Jim Helems, dogpals1@gmail.com

Is my registration/ticket transferrable?

No

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

You should but not required

What is the refund policy?

There are no refunds on classes. But you can attend another class within 1 year of your purchase date. You must contact the instructor prior to the class to ensure a seat.