Ruth Lee manikins are integral to training programs for life-saving professionals around the globe. But did you know that it’s not just people who rely on our manikins to prepare for saving lives? Meet Kelby, an 18-month-old Newfoundland dog, also known as @That_NePa_Newfie, and part of The American Academy of Canine Water Rescue, whose training includes our very own manikins. Here’s a glimpse into how our products are helping train canine heroes to be ready for real-life rescues.
Introducing The American Academy of Canine Water Rescue
American Academy of Canine Water Rescue is a non-profit organisation consisting of dedicated volunteers who train and deploy water rescue dogs as lifeguards. These remarkable dogs undergo rigorous training to ensure they can perform life-saving duties efficiently and safely. As a part of this specialised training, our Man Overboard manikins play a crucial role.
Training Rescue Dogs with Ruth Lee Manikins
Kelby, a young Newfoundland, and her handlers represent the dedication and hard work that goes into training rescue dogs. For the past six years, That_NePa_Newfie has been honing the skills of rescue dogs, preparing them to face various water rescue scenarios. Their 40kg Man Overboard manikin, affectionately named Florence, has been utilised extensively in this training process over the years.
“We use our manikin in multiple rescue scenarios such as an unconscious victim in the water, a person who has fallen out of a boat, and also as one of multiple people in the water that are in distress,” explains the handler. This variety helps the dogs get accustomed to different rescue situations they might encounter in real life.
In loving memory of Oakley (Dec 2023)
The Training Journey
Training a rescue dog is no small feat. It typically takes two years for most water/retrieving breed dogs to be ready for basic lifeguarding duties. For more advanced training, such as deploying from watercraft, jet skis, and helicopters, it can take three to four years. The training stages are comprehensive and demand consistency, patience, and the right tools – like our manikins.
The American Academy of Canine Water Rescue, founded by Maria E. Gray, PhD, aims to reduce or eliminate deaths by drowning. The Academy works closely with the Italian School of Water Rescue Dogs in Milan, Italy, known as SICS and utilise these same techniques, ensuring their dogs are trained to the highest standards.
Our manikins play a crucial role in this extensive training journey, allowing for consistent and repeatable training exercises, which are essential for the dogs’ learning process. We always love to see the amazing photos of the dogs and their handlers working together to rescue the casualties, our manikins, from the water!
The Role of Manikins in Training
One of the key benefits of using manikins is the repeatability of exercises. “They don’t complain that the water is too cold!” the trainer adds with a smile. This consistency allows trainers to focus on honing the dogs’ skills without worrying about human volunteers’ discomfort.
The specific features of the Man Overboard manikins make them ideal for training water rescue dogs – the ability to float in different positions is particularly useful. “It lets us train the dogs to know whether they are saving a distress swimmer (vertical) or if the dog is going to be doing a rescue on an unconscious person (horizontal floating),” the handler explains.
Additionally, our manikins are constructed from tough polyester materials, designed to withstand significant handling. This durability is crucial, as it allows the manikins to be safely handled by the dogs without the risk of tears or damage. “They allow us to train the dogs even when short-handed on volunteers to be in the water,” says the trainer This flexibility ensures that training can continue seamlessly, regardless of the availability of human volunteers.
Training and real-life rescues come with their own set of challenges. Distractions from other boats, jet skis, and beach activities are common. However, consistent training with our manikins helps dogs like Kelby remain focused and effective even in chaotic environments.
Real-Life Impact
Kelby’s training with Ruth Lee manikins paid off during her first real-life rescue. “A man fell from a jet ski and couldn’t swim. He was vertical and treading water. We deployed Kelby as a team with a lifeguard and were able to bring him to a rescue boat,” recalls the trainer. This real-life scenario mirrored their training exercises, showcasing the effectiveness of using manikins.
Recommendations and Future Improvements
When asked if they would recommend Ruth Lee manikins to other rescue dog trainers, the response was a resounding “Yes, 100%. They are very realistic and provide you with the perfect training partner!” However, there’s always room for improvement. “We train our dogs to also take a person by the hand, so some rubber hands would be helpful!” suggests the trainer.
At Ruth Lee, we are proud to support talented and passionate individuals like Kelby and her handlers at That_NePa_Newfie and of course organisations like and The American Academy of Canine Water Rescue. Through our manikins, we contribute to the training of canine heroes who are always ready to save lives!
You can follow Kelby’s training journey on Facebook and Instagram or find out more about The American Academy of Canine Water Rescue here.
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