The work of a trained avalanche rescue dog in winter backcountry and ski resort rescue missions can be life-saving. For the dogs, though, it’s all about it being a fun and rewarding experience.
Wondering why dogs have been trained to be involved in avalanche search and rescue work? It’s all about their noses. Their sense of smell is estimated to be 10,000 to 100,000 times stronger than humans. So, if someone is buried under snow after an avalanche, an individual trained dog, with its sophisticated olfactory receptors, will cover the ground much more quickly and efficiently than a team of humans will.
Of course, every handler hopes that their dog will never have to be deployed to a real-life rescue situation, and, fortunately, some may never have to be during their career. But constant training, an unbreakable bond with their handler, and the right drives are all crucial for preparing for that eventuality.
It Wouldn’t Work Without Those Working Drives
There are a wide variety of breeds that are trained for the job, but, if you have seen one out on the slopes, chances are, it is a dog with a strong work and play drive, lots of energy, and a desire to use their nose. Typically, it is the hunting, retrieving, and herding breeds that excel.
Heather Dent is a Supervising Ski Patroller and runs the Kirkword Rescue Avalanche Dog Foundation (KRAD) K9 training program. Currently, KRAD has two dogs in training and four validated dogs, including seven-year-old MoMo, Dent’s Australian Cattle…
Avalanche Rescue Dogs – Embarkvet. Retrieved March 29, 2021 from https://embarkvet.com/resources/blog/avalanche-rescue-dogs/
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