There’s little more exciting in the world of skiing and snowboarding than being introduced to brand-new avalanche rescue puppies, and that’s exactly what Snowbird did for the world just a few days ago. Billie (the Kid) is just 8.5 weeks old, and so far his work consists mostly of napping, munching on treats, and exploring Snowbird.
Avalanche rescue dogs are pivotal to guest and employee safety at Snowbird, helping to locate buried victims in the event of an avalanche. Training is demanding and begins when they’re just a puppy, starting with basic obedience like “sit,” “stay,” and other commands before eventually moving on to visual and scent-driven search strategies. Then they participate in practical exercises mean to mimic avalanche and rescue scenarios and put through helicopter acclimation for rapid deployment in the event of an emergency.
Avalanche dogs can be a multitude of different breeds, so they need to move efficiently through snow and possess highly trainable personalities. Herding and hunting breeds are the most common. Snowbird primarily has Labrador Retrievers and Border Collies, though they’ve had German Shepherds in the past as well.
