Training dog for life guard duty - Page 1

I have started training my dog to do this very thing (no mouth to mouth, obviously).  Why is there not more being done in this area?  There are bomb sniffing dogs, drug sniffing dogs, personal protection dogs, agility dogs, good ole service dogs...but few (if any) life guard dogs.

Swimming season is around the corner.  My theory is anyone with a pool in their backyard, and a dog, and some free time, can add a layer of protection around that pool with that dog using that free time.  Is a dog as vigilant as a helicopter parent? I think, yes.

I am open to discuss this!

The Newfoundland is the breed of choice for this task, although certainly many individual dogs from other breeds would try to rescue a person in the water too. 
My first GSD was practicly half fish, she LOVED water.  But, it worried her immensely if I was in the water too, every single time she saw me in a pool or lake she would swim to me, make circles around me and try to herd or push me out of the water.  I admired her concern, but it was extremely aggravating because she often scratched me badly trying to get me out of the water.  I eventually gave up trying to train her to leave me alone and I just stayed out of any water when I had her with me (which really sucked because we went on a ton of camping trips in Michigan)  Dog claws are incredibly painful in the water, thankfully she never attempted to drag me with her teeth, though I'm sure she would have panicked to the point of doing that if I showed any signs of drowning. 

Some Newfoundland (and Landseer) clubs hold Water Rescue Dog workshops, training and I think even titles/certificates for this, I think other breeds can also earn these titles/certificates.   Google it. 

I think if someone where a good trainer... (not me, lol) a GSD may be great for alerts, and maybe even as rescuers. The hardest part is the danger the claws present to a panicky and drowning individual.

My experience with my dog is the same as EuroShepherds, especially when the kids dive or jump into the pool, he wants to get to them and herd them out. The kids do not enjoy it, we have to ban him outside the fence, use a leash, or put him in the house for true peace and enjoyment. 

(Calm adult poolside activity I can manage him much better!) I do teach all kids how to swim with a dog and avoid the claws. (Always stay to the sides of the dog, as the movement is parallel, and if you stay parallel, those claws won't get you.)

I also observe my dog going in the pool when no one is there, and he will retrieve the boogie boards and other toys, and bring them out of the pool. (I love this about him!) We have built-in steps, not ladders, so he can do this easily. I don't see why this couldn't translate to rescuing someone?

People do do this, they use Newfs for water rescue.

That rescuer couldnt wait to take the plunge, that was cool. Seems like the training would be fun! 

I did this last year with my GSD, and am starting up again this year. I have created a website, but I don't want to self promote until I have more formal training practices in place (by a true dog trainer here in AZ, where I got my GSD).

Yes, the claws can be pretty harsh, as can the tugging. I wish I saved it on video, but my dog pulled my 13 year old son straight out of the pool (he was in a home made life ring)...my son weighed 130 lbs at the time, and the dog dragged him clear of the pool like a rag doll!

My dog has "saved" my son and I over and over again through training I have done in my own back yard...but I don't want to disperse false methods that could give someone a false sense of security about having their dog be a full proof life guard. The dog should be an extra layer of protection for your family. I agree with betree, the GSD I am partial to for the alert capability, and yes...I have googled it. And was surprised that there are not things geared more toward the homeowner with a pool. Thank you for the responses, though, I am glad that more people are on board with making this just as important as agility training, and everything else our dogs want to do to please us!

300 not a bad market. Good luck. JoAnna Lou

Canine Lifeguards
Italian pups train to rescue humans in troubled waters
JoAnna Lou | August 31, 2010

After vacationing abroad recently, I’ve been jealous of the abundance of parks and beaches in Europe that allow dogs.  But in Italy, not all of the beach dogs are just lounging in the sun all day, some are also helping to keep the ocean safe. These working pups are graduates of the Italian School of Water Rescue Dogs in Civitavecchia. Currently 300 dogs have been certified through the three-year program.  The canine lifeguards are trained to jump from helicopters and boats, carry a buoy or raft, and tow victims to shore. The dogs play an important role in rescuing the 3,000 people saved by the Italian Coast Guard each year.  According to program coordinator, Roberto Gasbarri, canine lifeguards have an advantage over humans because they can easily jump into the water and reach victims quickly. One dog can single handedly pull a boat of 30 people to shore. The canine lifeguards can even help reduce fatigue in the human rescuers by towing handlers to victims for medical attention.  Think your crew has what it takes? The school will train any breed, as long as they weigh at least 30 kilograms (66 pounds) and are confident in the water, though Labrador Retrievers and Newfoundlands are most common.  Each dog works with a volunteer handler, who also acts as the animal's trainer. I don’t think my water phobic pups will be lifeguards anytime soon, but I’m thankful for the people and dogs who donate their time to keeping the beaches safe.

That is it exactly, gigante!  The training is fun.  Adding helicopters would be even more fun. But I am looking at it as a family activity, teaching children AND the dog about water safety...making the family aware of the dangers of a pool.  I hope getting the word out like this will spread.

Very interesting and educating

seacow

I remember reading this awhile back, dont know if you caught it, thought you would enjoy it .

Ridgefield, WA, Aug. 17. Tom and Marie Morgan, their 6-year-old daughter Taylor and  dog,  Maggie were simply taking a walk near the Lewis River.  Taylor picked up a rock and ran toward the river to throw it.

The normally placid lazy river was moving at the speed of rapids. No issue - except that when Taylor went to toss the rock into the river, she lost her balance and fell in. Immediately, the current began to take her away, as reported at the Morton Report.

Tom said that he watched in horror as the waters swept his daughter away. In an interview with the The Morton Report he said, “I couldn’t keep up with her, the water was too quick. I was running as fast as I could along the edge when Maggie bolted past me for about 30 yards and then leaped into the river. I lost sight of both of them for a second and then I saw Maggie with Taylor’s jacket collar in her mouth trying to swim towards the bank. The river took them down about another hundred yards before Maggie was able to reach the bank. Even though they went under a few times she didn’t let go once. If it hadn’t been for Maggie, we would have lost our daughter.”

As unbelievable as that may seem, the Morgans were not the only witnesses to the incredible rescue. An eyewitness was jogging by,  “The dog sprinted and jumped about 12 feet out into the river just in front of the child. They both went under and when they came up the dog had her jacket in its mouth and was dragging her to the bank. The dad ran into the water’s edge and grabbed the other side of the child’s jacket and they both dragged her up onto the grass. I have never seen anything like it.”

Adding to the story, incredibly, this wasn't the first time Maggie played Lassie. About two years ago she rushed into the house, breaking the screen, barking as if she had gone crazy. The Taylor's followed their panicked dog to find their daughter lying on the grass, having trouble breathing. She had been stung on the neck and is highly allergic to bees.