Meet the Avalanche Dogs: Ski Patrol's Best Friends

Dog or cat person, skier or snowboarder—it’s undeniable that Avalanche Dogs (or “Avy Dogs”) are downright adorable. If you’ve ever spotted one bounding through fresh powder or riding the chairlift in their official ski patrol vest, you know they bring as much joy to the slopes as a bluebird powder day. But beyond their heart-melting charm, these highly trained pups play a critical role in mountain safety—especially during ski season, when avalanche risk is a real concern for riders venturing into ungroomed terrain.

The Oregon Field Guide recently introduced the world to Mt. Bachelor’s avalanche rescue puppies via a PBS video. These canine heroes are typically breeds known for their intelligence, agility, and strong hunting abilities—think Labrador Retrievers, Australian Shepherds, Border Collies, and Golden Retrievers. Their training is no walk in the park, either. The goal? To teach them to locate buried individuals using their noses, detecting what the human eye can’t see beneath the snow.

The history of avalanche rescue dogs dates back to the 1600s, and their impact is undeniable. One of the most incredible success stories came in 1982 when a German Shepherd named Bridget helped locate a survivor who had been buried under an avalanche at Alpine Meadows for five days. 

Today, avy dog training remains just as rigorous. According to Mt. Bachelor’s ski patrol, a pup’s first year is all about building obedience and getting comfortable navigating the mountain—riding lifts, maneuvering deep snow, and staying focused in high-energy environments. By year two, it’s all about muscle memory—repeating rescue drills until responding to an emergency becomes second nature.

To get a closer look at these four-legged first responders, we caught up with Shayna Silverman, Senior Communications Specialist at Vail Resorts, to learn more about the avy pups at Breckenridge and Keystone in 2022.

Ski.com: How many dogs are on the Ski Patrol team for each resort? Can you introduce them and their breeds, and describe their personalities?

“Breck has 5 trained and certified avalanche rescue dogs. Boudreaux, Golden Retriever, 9; Suga, Lab-Border Collie Mix; Ava, German Shepherd, 5; Ripley, Mystery Mix, 5 and Huckleberry, Blue Merle Aussie Shepherd (with a tail), 1.5. Then, new to this season are Geeter, Golden Retriever, 8 months; and Lume (pronounced Lu-mi), Golden Retriever, 14 weeks old.”

“Keystone has 2 dogs, as well as one pup that will be introduced this season. Scout, 6, Australian Shepherd; Maia, 2, Golden Retriever and Lisi, Golden Retriever, 4 months (her first week on the job was the last week in November!).

All our Avy dogs have a second equally important role alongside being a key member of our patrol team, they're also pets and great companions! All our handlers are members of the Breck or Keystone patrol and are also the dog's owners. Most often, the dogs absorb the personality of their handler because of how much time they spend together.”

Ski.com: What does the training for avy pups look like?

“Our team of avalanche rescue dogs are trained to be deployed via Flight For Life helicopters into the backcountry to facilitate search and rescue missions. When the dogs are sent on rescue missions, they often take place in the backcountry, outside of the ski area boundaries.

It typically takes about two seasons of training to get a dog ready to test for their Avalanche Rescue certification, though it does vary and could be less or more. When this process is complete the dog and handler are cleared to be deployed anywhere in the state via a fielding agency (Search and Rescue or sheriff generally).”

Ski.com: Who names the avy pups and how is the decision made on when to add new ones to the team?

“At both Breck and Keystone, the handlers name their dogs because they're the dog's owner. The decision to add new dogs is made by both patrol directors and dog handlers.”

Ski.com: Who takes care of the avy pups when they’re not in training or on duty?

“All avalanche rescue dog handlers are members of Breckenridge or Keystone Ski Patrol. Both Breck and Keystone’s Avalanche Rescue Dogs are trained at the resort by their handlers and the training begins with a lot of familiarizations with people and their environment.”

“While avy dogs are not officially employees in the same way their human handlers are, internally they are definitely considered employees and part of the team! Some of the patrollers stay with us over the summer, and the dogs do too. They're integral members of our team as both companions and working dogs.”

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Ski.com: What would you like skiers and riders to know about avy pups and their training process that they may not already know?

“Breckenridge and Keystone's Avalanche Dogs are important members of the team and well-trained for search and rescue, one of their most important roles is being friendly faces and ambassadors of safety! Our avy dogs make our patrol more approachable, so make sure to say hi when you see them around the base areas.

But please give our pups and patrollers space while they work on the mountain! Ask before you approach our working dogs. And if you do approach patrol dogs at the base areas on their breaks, watch your feet, ski boots on paws aren’t so nice.”

Ski.com: Anything else you’d like to add about this year’s ski season and the new avy pups?

“Currently, we have all female dogs on Keystone Patrol, and all Breck’s Golden Retrievers are related!”

Avalanche Dogs: Paws on patrol this season

Ruby, a Black Labrador Retriever, is one of the newest avy dogs at Beaver Creek Ski Resort—and she’s already making a name for herself. Her handler, ski patroller Toby Harrison, describes her as a playful pup with boundless energy, known for literally jumping straight into the air when she gets excited. Ruby is well on her way to becoming a key member of the resort’s avalanche rescue team, where her enthusiasm and sharp instincts will help keep skiers and snowboarders safe on the mountain.

Telli, a Golden Retriever also on Beaver Creek’s avalanche rescue team, just earned a big promotion—she’s officially gone from rookie to rescuer! Her handler, ski patroller Gavin Mastell, says she’s as sweet and loving as they come, but when it’s time to work, she flips a switch, locking into full focus mode. Telli is ready to put her training to the test, using her sharp instincts and keen nose to help keep skiers and riders safe out there.

Cashew and Jetty, two Golden Retrievers, are the newest members of Mt. Bachelor’s avalanche rescue team—and they’re already stealing hearts while training to save lives. Each year, Mt. Bachelor Resort hosts a Meet and Greet event where you can get up close with the avy dogs, learn about their vital role in mountain safety, and maybe even snap a photo with these four-legged heroes.

Want to support Mt. Bachelor’s Avy dog program? Pick up an Avalanche Rescue Dog T-Shirt at the top of the Pine Marten Lift, and 100% of the proceeds go directly toward food, insurance, and certification programs for the dogs. Plus, with your purchase, you’ll score a set of Avalanche Dog trading cards—a fun keepsake featuring the skier responsibility code or avalanche safety tips on the back.

Keep an eye out for these cuddly, four-legged ski patrol pros if you’re hitting the slopes this season! Ready to plan your next ski getaway? Get a free quote today and let our Mountain Travel Experts take care of all the details—from lift tickets to lodging, so you can focus on the turns (and maybe a few avy dog snapshots along the way).