The Italian School of Water Rescue Dogs work along Italy’s coastlines and lakes to assist bathers in trouble. These canine lifeguards must undergo intensive training with their handlers-exercises include swimming distances of a few 100 m’s to 4km, pulling dinghies with their teeth and even jumping out of helicopters! The dogs are primarily Labradors, Newfoundlands, and Golden Retrievers, but no breed is excluded, as long as they meet a specific weight requirement. The school works with the Italian