Jan
2012
Working Dogs: Avalanche Dogs
Meet Gus, a six-year old working dog. Despite her Australian Shepherd lineage, her “office” is filled with skiers, not sheep. Beginning her sixth season as a member of the Aspen Highlands Ski Patrol, in Aspen, Colorado, Gus is a Basic-Certified Avalanche Rescue Dog. Her handler and human companion is Dan Goddard, a paramedic and 17-year ski patrolman.
Unlike the pampered pooches on vacation at Aspen’s Little Nell Hotel, Gus’ working days are far from glamorous. To stay sharp, they are filled with training, crate time and occasional, unofficial public relations duties for the ski area. Sadly for Aspen guests, Gus isn’t toting schnapps in a mini-keg around her neck like rescue dogs of old. But she is an ambassador, helping to raise snow safety awareness and generally charming everyone she meets.
Training a Rescue Dog: Gus’ rescue training began at eight weeks. Goddard would bring her to the ski area to familiarize her with the mountain, chairlifts and skiers that would form her future. From there, Gus and Goddard would play increasingly challenging variations of hide-and-seek. Beginning with easy visual, auditory and scent cues, the game has evolved over the years to include blind, quarry burials (i.e. staged human burials in snow).
Ultimately, it is a dog’s sense of smell that makes them successful in an avalanche rescue or recovery situation. Goddard set the record straight, however, on what qualities are the early determinants of an effective rescue dog.
“All dogs have good noses. [If you’re considering training a puppy to be a rescue dog], look for drive. The dog has to be driven to work in hard conditions and work for long periods of time,” Goddard explains. “You can tell as early as six to eight weeks. Within a litter, look for the pup that shows loyalty, courage and tenacity – a puppy that will first approach you, then recognize you when you return likely has all three.”
Classifications of a Rescue Dog: Though most organizations follow similar guidelines, there are no official standards by which to qualify avalanche dogs. For the Aspen Ski Company (parent company to Aspen Highlands), dogs are classified in three tiers: obedience, basic and advanced.
- Level One Obedience: This is a stringent obedience exam to establish general safety to have the dog on the hill. Passing the exam proves trainability and ensures a safe working dog.
- Level Two Basic: A dog must locate two quarries (live people, in staged burials) and one article (such as a backpack or item of clothing) in 100×100-meter search area, within a 20-minute time frame.
- Level Three Advanced: A dog must perform the same challenge as in the Basic level, but the search area is larger. An advanced dog will show the highest workability, drive and ability to take direction from any handler.
How a Dog Contributes in a Rescue: In a rescue or recovery situation, the dog tracks a human scent cone, via air, not ground or snow. The strength of the scent and the time it takes to reach the surface is based on burial depth, snow density, air temp, and wind speed, among other factors. When located, the dog will indicate the find for its human counterparts to confirm with beacons (if applicable) and begin to dig.
It has been estimated that one dog can do the work of 150 humans with probes. Tenacity, or the dog’s drive, is what will keep them engaged with a difficult search. Much longer than 15 minutes and a rescue effort will likely become a recovery effort.
Just Another Day: On an average day, Goddard said, the goal is “to keep Gus entertained and healthy – balance the quality of life for her.” It can’t be all work. With lives potentially at risk, it can’t be all play.
The high activity level of these working dogs demands a high quality diet. The Aspen Highlands canine team is fed a high percentage of protein for energy, plus glucosamine and chondroitin supplements for joint health. Overall health is monitored diligently, from the simple act of regular loving and grooming to high-tech applications like infrared imaging (to determine hot spots from the dogs’ harnesses) and professional canine movement analysis.
Gus is lucky that there is yet to have been a need for her rescue services. Goddard sums it up, “We never wish the worst on anyone. But in the event an avalanche were to happen, we sure hope we’re there to help.”
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