What can pull 50 times its own weight? In the water?

Trained water rescue dogs like Newfoundlands, affectionately called Newfies, that’s what.

The American Academy of Canine Water Rescue recently brought some of its dogs to Beltzville State Park for a meet-and-greet event and demonstration.

Friends of Beltzville volunteers helped organize the event, which also highlighted the park.

The academy is a nonprofit founded by Maria E. Gray in 2018. It’s main goal is reducing or eliminating deaths by drowning.

The staff has been trained by the Italian School of Water Rescue Dogs in Milan, Italy, and use the same techniques that have been refined and utilized for over 30 years by the K-9 lifeguard teams in Italy.

All dog owners are certified lifeguards and train their own dogs.

Teams from Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh and Brooklyn, New York, volunteer their time and expertise every summer and holiday weekend at Beltzville. Over a dozen rescues were performed last year.

George and Kate Abraham, academy president and vice president, respectively, trained Newfoundland Kelby and just got 11-week-old brother Nixie. There are a total of 15 certified dogs and 30 certified people.

Dogs begin training at 10 weeks old to learn to take a cylindrical flotation device, motivated by praise, not reward. As the dogs turn 1, they start to work in the water, learning shore to water, boat to water and air to water rescue. Yes, the dogs are even trained to jump out of a helicopter.

June Abbott, 7, of Kunkletown, helps her parents, Sean and Mary, with their Newfie.

“I like it,” June said. “I get to go in the water more often. Sometimes I play the victim. It’s a great experience. I float and splash with them.”

One of their dogs became a service dog to 9-year-old brother Samuel.

It’s not just the Newfies that are rescue dogs. There was a mastiff mixed with border collie, a cane corso and even a shepherd.

Jennifer Barnhard, a sports medicine veterinarian, received a 10-week-old Czech shepherd surrendered by his owner at her office. Now 2 years old, Issac became a rescue dog.

But not all dogs can make the cut; 7 of 10 don’t make it as this type of working dog. Not only must the dogs be able to learn to rescue, they must have the right temperament to get along with people and other dogs. But noncertified dogs still come and learn on the beach and could end up being therapy dogs.

George Abraham said that the dogs typically don’t make the first contact in a rescue.

“We are required to ask if the person needs help,” he said. “The lifeguard gets in the water while the dogs are on a boat with a platform that easily allows them to get on and off.“

The Newfies have five handles on their life jacket, which allow them to pull 50 times their weight or pull a daisy chain, one person connected to the next.

Although the water was a chilly 43 degrees during the demonstration, the dogs jumped in and looked like they were having a blast.

In addition to life jackets, the dogs wear specially designed sunglasses to prevent eye injuries from the sun, with a cuteness factor that’s off the charts.

Madeline Depierro of Lehighton was impressed with the rescue demonstration.

“It’s excellent,” she said. “George was phenomenal in explaining what a dog can do.”

To find out more or make a donation, visit the nonprofit’s website at K9lifeguards.org.