Move over, Labradors and Newfoundlands!
There’s a new canine lifeguard in town, and he’s turning heads with his fluffy white coat and impressive skills.
Nilo, a two-year-old Standard Poodle, has joined a dog rescue squad at Las Lindes beach near Malaga in Spain, proving that poodles are more than just pretty faces.
He’s helping lifeguards tow people back to shore, showcasing a breed with a surprising history in water rescue.
While Spanish dog beach rescue squads typically favor Labradors and Newfoundlands, Nilo’s handler, dog instructor Miguel Sanchez-Merenciano, recognized the poodle’s potential.
Historically, poodles were used for water retrieval, particularly in the cold lakes of Northern Europe, where their thick, lustrous fur provided excellent protection.
In fact, the very name “poodle” comes from the German verb “puddeln,” meaning “to splash,” a testament to their affinity for water.
Poodles are also renowned for their superior intelligence and exceptional learning ability, traits that make them highly trainable for complex tasks like lifeguard duty.
Nilo’s journey to becoming a lifeguard wasn’t without its challenges.
Initially, he was scared of loud noises and crowds, common occurrences on a bustling beach.
However, with patient and gradual training from Sanchez-Merenciano, Nilo overcame his fears and honed his natural swimming abilities.
Sanchez-Merenciano describes Nilo’s impressive transformation: “He has gone from swimming vertically and incorrectly to swimming completely horizontally, with perfect strokes, using his tail perfectly like a rudder to turn and to move.”
Now, with a life vest strapped across his chest and sunblock diligently applied to his long nose, Nilo cuts a striking and unusual figure on the beach.
He works in tandem with human lifeguards, often entering the water first to reach a swimmer in distress.
Once he secures the individual, he signals to Sanchez-Merenciano and the other dog lifeguards for assistance in towing them back to safety.
Nilo’s presence not only provides invaluable support to the human lifeguards but also serves as a heartwarming reminder of the diverse talents and surprising capabilities found within the canine world.