Part 9 of our “Dogs at Work” series
Along the sun-drenched coastlines of Italy and Croatia, an extraordinary team of first responders patrols the beaches each summer. They’re strong swimmers, fearless in rough seas, and can reach a drowning person in half the time it takes a human lifeguard. They’re also covered in fur, have four legs, and absolutely love their job. Welcome to the world of lifeguard dogs.
When Every Second Counts
Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death worldwide, and the Mediterranean beaches of Italy and Croatia see millions of tourists each year. Strong currents, unexpected weather changes, and the sheer number of swimmers create constant risk. Traditional lifeguards are invaluable, but they face physical limitations. A human lifeguard can take three to four minutes to swim 100 metres in rough conditions. A trained water rescue dog can cover the same distance in less than half that time.
More remarkably, a single Newfoundland or Leonberger—the breeds most commonly used for water rescue—can tow a boat carrying multiple people or pull several drowning swimmers to safety at once. Their strength, swimming ability, and natural water rescue instincts make them uniquely suited to saving lives at sea.
The Italian Pioneers
Italy’s Scuola Italiana Cani Salvataggio (Italian School of Water Rescue Dogs), founded in 1989, pioneered the modern use of canine lifeguards. The organisation, known as SICS, now trains hundreds of dog-handler teams across Italy’s coastline, from the beaches of Liguria to the shores of Sicily. During peak summer months, these teams are deployed to crowded beaches, often working alongside human lifeguards as an integrated rescue service.
The program has been so successful that it’s expanded to Croatia’s Adriatic coast, where similar organisations have established water rescue dog units. The Croatian Mountain Rescue Service now includes a marine division specifically for canine water rescue teams.
Born to Swim
Not every dog can become a lifeguard, even within the preferred breeds. Trainers look for dogs with specific characteristics: a love of water, calm temperament under pressure, physical strength, and most importantly, the desire to help people. Newfoundlands are particularly prized for their webbed feet, water-resistant double coat, and instinctive swimming ability, but Leonbergers, Golden Retrievers, and Labrador Retrievers have also proven excellent at the work.
Training begins when dogs are puppies, introducing them to water through play. As they mature, the training becomes more structured. Dogs learn to jump from helicopters and boats, navigate through waves up to three metres high, and approach panicking swimmers without being injured by flailing arms. They’re trained to allow a person to grab their harness or tail, and to tow them back to shore or to a rescue boat.
Perhaps most impressively, these dogs learn to assess situations. A well-trained water rescue dog can distinguish between someone playing in the water and someone in genuine distress, and they learn to work as a team, with multiple dogs coordinating on complex rescues.
Real Rescues, Real Heroes
The statistics speak for themselves. Since SICS began operations, Italian water rescue dogs have saved more than 3,000 lives. During the summer of 2022 alone, teams along the Italian coast performed over 50 documented rescues.
One dramatic rescue involved a Newfoundland named Mas, who noticed a small dinghy capsizing 200 metres offshore while his handler was helping another swimmer. Without waiting for a command, Mas swam out to the struggling family and allowed them to grab his specially designed harness. He towed all four people—two adults and two children—back to shallow water, a feat that would have required multiple human lifeguards and considerable time.
In Croatia, a Leonberger named Luna made headlines when she helped rescue an elderly man who had been swept out by a riptide. Luna’s handler spotted the man struggling 150 metres from shore in rough conditions. Luna reached him in under a minute, and her presence alone helped calm the panicking swimmer enough that he could grab her harness. She towed him safely back whilst her handler swam alongside, ready to assist.
The Science of the Save
What makes these dogs so effective isn’t just their physical capabilities but their psychological impact on drowning victims. Panic is one of the greatest dangers in a water rescue. A drowning person often cannot control their movements, making them dangerous to human rescuers who can be pulled under. However, when a large, calm dog arrives, many people instinctively grab hold and stop thrashing. The dog’s presence has a calming effect, and their size and strength mean they’re not easily pulled under.
The specially designed harnesses these dogs wear are engineered for multiple grip points, allowing swimmers to hold on from various positions. Some harnesses include flotation devices that can be released to provide additional buoyancy to a struggling swimmer.
Beyond the Beach
Water rescue dogs aren’t limited to beach patrols. They’re increasingly used in flood rescue operations, where their ability to navigate debris-filled water and strong currents makes them invaluable. During severe flooding in northern Italy in 2023, water rescue dogs helped evacuate dozens of people from submerged homes and vehicles.
These teams also work in preventative education. During the off-season, handlers and their dogs visit schools and community centres, teaching water safety and demonstrating rescue techniques. Children who might not pay attention to a standard safety lecture are captivated by watching a Newfoundland leap from a boat and swim through waves.
A Lifeguard’s Life
For the dogs themselves, water rescue isn’t just work—it’s play. These dogs genuinely love swimming and helping people. Handlers report that their dogs become excited when they put on their working harness, and many dogs must be restrained from jumping in the water whenever they see someone swimming.
Off-duty, these dogs are family pets, though admittedly large ones requiring plenty of space and food. A working Newfoundland can weigh between 50 and 70 kilograms and needs substantial exercise beyond their rescue work. Handlers often describe the experience as deeply rewarding, combining their love of dogs with genuine lifesaving work.
The Ripple Effect
The success of Italian and Croatian water rescue dogs has inspired similar programmes around the world. From Brazil to France to the United States, organisations are now training canine lifeguard teams. The International Water Rescue Dog Committee coordinates standards and training across multiple countries, ensuring these programmes maintain high safety and effectiveness standards.
As climate change brings more unpredictable weather and stronger currents to beaches worldwide, water rescue dogs may become even more critical. Their ability to work in conditions that challenge human lifeguards—rough seas, strong currents, and cold water—makes them an increasingly valuable resource for coastal communities.
The next time you’re at a beach and see a large, friendly dog wearing a special harness, you might be looking at a genuine hero. These remarkable animals represent the best of what dogs offer humanity: loyalty, courage, and an unwavering desire to help. They don’t think about danger or calculate risk. When someone needs help, they simply swim.
In our next instalment of “Dogs at Work”, we’ll explore the world of biosecurity dogs who protect Australia’s unique biosecurity by sniffing out prohibited plants, animals, and food products at our borders. Until then, stay safe in the water, and remember that sometimes your lifeguard might just have four paws.
The Top Dog Film Festival celebrates the incredible bond between humans and dogs, and the remarkable ways dogs enrich our lives and our world.
Missed the previous features? Read them here
