How Avalanche Rescue Dogs Begin Training as Puppies

Avalanche Dogs in Training

Baggs, a 5-month-old golden retriever, loves to play in the snow, scramble up hills and spend time with ski patrollers. But she is also beginning a serious journey: training to become an avalanche rescue dog that could one day help save lives.

At Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming, Baggs and another puppy are being trained to join a group of three experienced avalanche dogs. These dogs are an essential part of rescue work when avalanches strike, using their sense of smell to help patrollers locate people buried under snow, where every moment can matter.

The process takes years, and it begins early. For now, the puppies are learning foundational skills such as riding the chairlift and traveling while slung across the shoulders of patrollers on skis.

What Makes a Rescue Dog

Handlers say the work starts with choosing the right puppy. They look for a confident dog that enjoys solving puzzles and is motivated, tenacious and calm under pressure. Avalanche dogs also need to stay focused amid distractions such as loud helicopters, while showing intelligence, athletic ability and a strong nose.

According to patrollers at Jackson Hole, who own their avalanche dogs, breeds such as retrievers and shepherds are often favored. Retrievers are especially valued for traits linked to hunting ability, while all successful avalanche dogs must also be able to function as good family pets.

Baggs’s owner, Rob Brennan, a Jackson Hole ski patroller, said she likes people but also enjoys roaming and sniffing. Those instincts are part of what makes her a promising candidate for the demanding work ahead.

Years of Preparation

Even with the right qualities, handlers say success is never guaranteed. Bill Vore, a 45-year-old patroller and avalanche dog handler, said choosing a dog is about improving the odds as much as possible.

“You stack the cards in your favor,” he said. “The name of this game is trusting your dog to be able to tell you what’s going on under the snow. Not every dog is meant to do this.”

That is why avalanche dog training is both rigorous and gradual. From playful beginnings as puppies, dogs like Baggs are shaped over years into rescue partners that patrollers may one day rely on in life-or-death conditions.