Saving Lives in the Snow

The mention of a rescue dog on a mountain might conjure up a St. Bernard, plowing through snow drifts carrying blankets and whiskey. In reality, you are much more likely to run into a German Shepherd, Border Collie, Labrador, or Golden Retriever. These types of dogs - active, hard-working nose detectives - are the partners of choice for avalanche search and rescue teams. Trained to locate human scent in snowbanks, a fully certified “avy dog” can cover 2.5 acres in thirty minutes, an area it would take people four hours to cover. 

To an avalanche victim, that speed can mean the difference between life and death. Barring fatal injury, as many as 90 percent of victims survive if found within the first 15 minutes of burial, a figure that drops to 30 percent after half an hour. Avalanche dogs go through rigorous training, all based on positive-reinforcement methods. The handler determines where it’s most likely someone could be buried, how the wind is blowing, and then releases the dog to search based on a strategy of optimal coverage. When the dog indicates human scent by digging in the snow and wagging her tail, humans with shovels take over. Every year, avy dogs help save lives in the world’s mountainous regions and ski resorts. Are you a skier? Carry dog treats!