Trained dogs help save lives at Spanish beach

A team of trained dogs - mostly the Labrador and Newfoundland breeds wearing special life vests - has been lending their towing strength, swimming endurance and current-detection ability to rescue people from drowning at a popular beach in southern Spain. The dogs patrol the beach near Malaga alongside handlers using jet skis and rescue boats to accompany the canine lifeguards.

Class discussion: Working as beach lifeguards may be a new role for dogs, but how else have our oldest animal companions saved human lives? Scientists say dogs evolved from an extinct wolf species more than 15,000 years ago to become humanity’s first domestic animal. How has breeding changed dogs’ roles and appearances over the millennia? Has some breeding caused problems? Do you like or fear dogs? Why?