Poodle Makes Waves as Spain’s Newest Lifeguard
He wears a life jacket and gets sunscreen on his nose—but the thing that stands out about lifeguard Nilo is that he’s a Standard Poodle!
Nilo recently joined the elite squad of canine lifeguards on the coast of Málaga, Spain. While dogs are regularly trained as lifeguards for Spanish beaches, Labrador Retrievers and Newfoundlands are the breeds typically used. Nilo is the first Poodle to join the squad.
His instructor, Miguel Sánchez-Merencian, told Reuters that Nilo is a Level 1 Rescue Dog—trained as a support dog in standard water rescue situations. He has learned how to swim horizontally, enabling him to perform tasks like pulling a person to shore.
It turns out that Poodles are natural swimmers and love the water. The breed was historically developed as water retrievers and is known for its strong swimming ability. In fact, the name “Poodle” comes from the German word Pudel, which means “to splash.” In France, Poodles are called Caniche, derived from cane or canard, meaning duck. Their distinctive curly coats helped them stay afloat and dry quickly.
Poodles generally enjoy the water and have a natural inclination to swim—and Nilo is no exception. His trainer says he’s improving every day and is an excellent swimmer.
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