News : Southport Lifeboat has a New Trainee

Southport Lifeboat has a New Trainee: February 2009

Meet William, an Irish Water Spaniel/Poodle x Labrador pictured here at 4 weeks old. He is now 15 months old and ready to start his training as a Search and Rescue dog.

After recent callouts it has been agreed that a dog trained in SAR would be a good asset to Southport Rescue. ***William could be just the ticket.***

If all goes well with his training he will be able to find people lost or injured on the shore and bark to let us know that he has found someone, return to us and bark again, running back and forth barking until we reach the casualty.

This is a lot for William to learn and we are joining forces with SARDALAKES (Search and Rescue Dog Association Lake District) Woodbine Kennels (a very successful working trials kennels) in Aughton, and Cheshire Search and Rescue dog team who have offered to help with Williams training.

William at 4 weeks

William at 5 months

Built for the job

Even though he was not bred for the job of SAR his breeding should suit the job down to the ground, he is now a big, strong, athletic dog weighing in at 30kg and standing 65cm at the shoulder.

William at 15 Months

William and his ball

He really is a true mongrel his father, (Oswald) who I own, is an Irish Water Spaniel x Standard Poodle, his mother (Daisy) a yellow Labrador. This giving him a good thick waterproof coat to keep him warm and dry, even after a long timeout on a search. Long legs, deep chest for stamina and speed and boy does he have that, and he still has the webbed feet of the Water Spaniel for swimming.

Up until now all William has been taught is basic obedience and allowed to grow up around the farm with the other dogs. He has a strong obsession for playing with tennis balls and has just started to bark on command.
The first thing he needs to master is to bark for his tennis ball. When he does he gets to play with the ball.

The thinking behind this is that when he finds someone he gets to play with his tennis ball, but what he will be doing is saving someone’s life.

Myself and Keith Porter are going to a training weekend this month at Patterdale to pick up some tips and ideas from the SARDALAKES and Patterdale Mountain Rescue.

Keep looking on the website to see how William is getting on with his training and look out for him around town when the Southport Lifeboat is out fund raising. He would love to say Hello and have a fuss.

Neil Rothwell

Coxswain, Chairman and most of all William’s Dad.