Timmi the Landseer and the exciting world of water rescue dogs

In the endless expanses of water, where the power of water is both fascinating and dangerous, there are heroes on four paws ready to save lives. Water rescue dogs, born with a special affinity for water and carefully trained, dive into the water to help people in distress.

This Dog Story is about Timmi the water rescue dog and his owner Anke Gäfe. The male Landseer and his owner are an inseparable team. They share a love for the water and are enthusiastic swimmers. Their initial passion has led them to a 10 year profession of fun and adventure.

From that moment on, it was impossible to imagine the water without Timmi and the foundation for his training as a water rescue dog was laid. His training began playfully when he was 11 weeks old. Timmi developed such a great play instinct that he could hardly be tamed when people were in the water - it was clear to him from the start that these people needed his help and that he had to rescue them from the water. The first big challenge for Timmi was not "rescuing" a person from the water. Timmi first had to learn that not every person in the water wanted to be "rescued" by him – that´s how enthusiastic Timmi was right from the start.

The water rescue dog - what are his tasks? 

A water rescue dog assists in the rescue of a person in distress in the water. His tasks include following the lifeguard to the person or pulling him there. The lifeguard can take care of the person, calm the person down or provide first aid, while the water rescue dog brings them both back safely to shore. 

The Landseer - Gentle giants with a passion for water 

The Landseer is a kind-hearted, "Gentle Giant ". They can be as tall as 80cms or more, so they make an immediate impression. They are considered alert, active and very people orientated and have a natural protective and guarding instinct. Their ancestors were used to protect herds from dangers such as bears and wolves. The Landseer is therefore able to recognise dangers independently and make its own decisions when it comes to fending off these dangers. They are characterised by their love of water, which is why Landseers are often used today as water rescue dogs at lakes and coasts. They have the best characteristics for this job: They have a thick undercoat, which protects them in cold water, they have a large body mass, which they need when they want to pull people out of the water, they are willing to work, very people-oriented and the best of all is that water is their favourite element.

The history of the Landseer 

The Landseer owes its name to the well-known English animal painter Edwin Landseer, who favoured black and white dogs in his paintings in the 19th century. These black and white dogs, known at the time as "Newfoundland Dogs", became increasingly popular and soon acquired the common name "Landseer Dog". 

The Landseer itself is still a very young, independent breed that was recognised by the FCI in 1960. Its identifiable origins are dogs from Newfoundland, which British fishermen brought to the United Kingdom. The Newfoundland Dog was extremely popular among fishermen because it was particularly willing to work, showed an enormous love of water and it was said that this dog would independently save people from drowning. When British fishermen brought the water-loving "Newfoundland Dog" with them, it quickly became increasingly popular, with the black type being favoured for breeding. The black and white type almost completely disappeared until cynologists from Switzerland and Germany began to bring the last remaining black and white dogs suitable for breeding from England and started to breed them at the beginning of the 20th century. Breeds such as Kuvasz and Pyrenean Mountain Dogs were crossed in order to strengthen the white part of the black and white coat colour and the Landseer breed was created.

Can any dog become a water rescue dog? What are the requirements? 

The tasks of a water rescue dog are varied- not every dog can become a water rescue dog. Of course, a love of water and a willingness to work with a human in a team are the most important qualities. However, they also need a certain body mass and strength to be able to pull not just one, but up to six people and even boats out of the water. Dwarf breeds and smaller dog breeds are therefore generally less suitable for "full-time" water rescue work. 

This does not mean that you cannot enjoy this as a hobby with your dog if your dog is particularly enthusiastic about it. However, it is generally recommended that a water rescue dog should weigh at least 25-30kg when fully grown and should be healthy and strong to be able to bring people to dry land, for example on a SUP (stand up paddle board )or in a boat.

Which breeds are particularly suitable for becoming water rescue dogs? 

The first requirement for a water rescue dog is that it should have  a passion for water, Newfoundland Dogs, Landseers, Labrador Retrievers and Retrievers in general are particularly suitable to becoming water rescue dogs. However, other breeds are also suitable if they reach a weight of at least 25-30kg, have a great play instinct, are good-natured by nature and are born water lovers.

How long does it take to train a water rescue dog? 

Training to become a water rescue dog takes around 2 years. Ideally, training should begin as a puppy, but of course, only in a playful way, as it is advantageous if the dog is familiarised with water at an early age. If they show a particular fondness for it, the perfect conditions are created for training at a later stage. However, older dogs are also suitable if they are willing to learn and fulfil the above-mentioned requirements.

How can a water rescue dog be used? 

When a water rescue dog team is called out, human lives are in danger. So if Anke sees a person who is in danger of drowning, she firstly speaks to her water rescue dog Timmi, so that he follows her. The two of them then swim together to the person. Once they reach the person, Timmi  keeps a distance of 0.5 metres, so that Anke can talk to the person, calm the person down and provide first aid if necessary, Timmi only approaches when Anke tells him to do so. He waits until Anke has the drowning person in a rescue grip and is holding on to Timmi's lifejacket. Only then is he given the signal and transports them both to a safely to shore.

What is fundamentally important for working as a human-dog water rescue team? 

The relationship of the dog and owner must be excellent and this must be regularly trained and encouraged. Water rescue dogs and their owners must be able to trust each other blindly.  The dog must observe and obey its owner's signals in every situation, as this is the only way the human-dog team can rely on each other. The bond between the water rescue dog and its owner is of particular importance. It should play an important role and be strengthened not only during training, but every day. A water rescue dog has a permanent partner with whom it goes into action with. It lives together with its owner and accompanies them in everyday life.

What equipment do you need as a dog water rescue team? 

Anke and Timmi use a SUP board that they got from the water rescue service in Italy. The SUP board has to be very stable as it has to be able to carry both people and dogs. Timmi's life jacket also comes from Italy. These waistcoats are specially made for water rescue dogs, with three handles for rescuing drowning people and a ring on which the dog, together with its human, can be lowered into the water from a helicopter.

How do you get a water rescue dog?

Water rescue is a team effort. You can't get a trained water rescue dog and then work with it. A water rescue dog stays with its owner, ideally for life. The special bond that is necessary for the work develops through everyday life together and, of course, through all the shared experiences that are made during training, among other things. It would therefore not make sense to acquire a trained water rescue dog and then go into action together without further training and trust work.

Are there training certificates or certifications for water rescue dogs? 

Every year there is a special event that Anke and Timmi prepare for. The two of them travel to Italy and visit the "Scuola Italiana Cani Salvataggio", or SICS for short, the Italian school for water rescue dogs. This is where the certificates for water rescue dogs are issued. 

Are you interested in training your dog to become a water rescue team? Read below to find out more about the work of the Scuola Italiana Cani Salvataggio.

Naturavetal®-Info: Scuola Italiana Cani Salvataggio (SICS) - the school for water rescue dogs

For anyone interested in water rescue with dogs, we would like to briefly introduce the Scuola Italiana Cani Salvataggio (SICS - "Italian School for Water Rescue Dogs") and its importance for saving lives at sea, in collaboration with the Guardia Costiera e Capitaneria di Porto (Italian Coast Guard and Harbour Master's Office). We spoke to Andrea Schiavon, author of two books and national SICS instructor, and would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his valuable insights.

The Italian School of Water Rescue Dogs (SICS) was founded in 1989, thanks to the vision and tenacity of Ferruccio Pilenga, with the innovative idea that any dog with a body weight over 25kg can work in the water as a rescue dog, which is recognised by the Italian Maritime Authorities. A fundamental aspect of that work is the development of a deep, insolvable bond between dog and owner. As both work in a "non-natural" environment for them, working together in the water creates a particularly deep bond between human and dog, based on mutual trust.

SICS has spread this philosophy worldwide and all dog breeds can now take part in the training programme. Thanks to customised training that takes into account the abilities, weaknesses and strengths of each dog, every dog can learn and practice this activity with its owner. As dogs are sensitive creatures with individual preferences, there is no one-size-fits-all training guide. Instead, each dog's strengths and weaknesses are assessed individually and the training is adapted accordingly. 

Andrea Schiavon is not only a member of the school, but also organises courses throughout Italy under the name "Acqua secondo me". Basically, the courses are about how dog training in water can help to solve problematic dog behaviour. For Andrea, there are no behavioural problems in dogs, only problematic behaviour. The relationship between humans and dogs is based on the need for co-operation and mutual help. When a dog is given a valuable task, it finds satisfaction in this and this is the basis for the dog's psychophysical well-being.

However, the SICS not only prepares and certifies future dog units, it also organises the examination for existing units. This is because they are tested every year and receive a rescue certificate (Brevetto di Salvataggio), a kind of licence, which is deposited to Guardia Costiera. Those who do not pass the test cannot continue to work as a SICS dog unit. 

The licence allows the dog unit (consisting of one dog (up to the age of 10) and one owner) to take part in and support normal rescue operations on a voluntary basis. The patented SICS canine units are recognised by the Coastguard and Port Authorities as the only authorised support for their activities to protect human life at sea. There are two types of activities: The dog units can be deployed to assist lifeguards or in locations without lifeguards where the city, which is legally responsible, establishes dog units to enhance safety. They can also utilise coastguard vessels and fixed rescue units.

There are now more than 250 dog patrols patrolling Italy's beaches. The well-trained dogs attract a lot of attention on the beach - so lifeguards and bathers can easily strike up a conversation and the lifeguards can alert bathers to the particular dangers of the beach before any risky situations arise. However, as already explained, the work of the Cani Salvataggio is not just preventative. If a dangerous situation arises in the water and human lives are in danger, they are directly involved in the operation. They can pull their lifeguard through high waves, straight to the scene of the accident or they can jump out of helicopters to reach the scene of the accident. Once there, they wait for instructions from their team partner and then ensure that the accident victim and lifeguard make it back to safety. 

Initially, the "water rescue with dogs" project was viewed with scepticism, but today it is an Italian success story, especially within the dog scene. This is because it demonstrates the special bond and cooperation between humans and dogs, which is characterised by mutual trust and great love for one another.