Job profile: avalanche dog handler

Avalanche dog handlers are an essential element of any mountain rescue team like the PGHM of the National Gendarmerie or the firefighters. These highly qualified personnel and their canine partners are responsible for searching and locating skiers, hikers and snowboarders buried in an avalanche.

Summary:

• Who are the avalanche dog handlers?
• Missions
• Dog breeds
• Training and education

Different mountain rescue entities can intervene in an avalanche, depending on the geographical area. The responders can be:

• The National Gendarmerie with the Mountain Gendarmerie Platoons or High Mountain Gendarmerie Platoons (PGM/PGHM).

• The National Police with the mountain CRS.

• The firefighters with the mountain group (GMSP) or the Hazardous Environment Intervention Group (GRIMP).

• Civilian avalanche dog handlers employed by ski resorts and dependent on the department.

The departmental mountain rescue plan defines several geographical zones that determine the responders called:

• Ski area : civilian avalanche dog handlers.

• Urban area (road, building...) : firefighters

• Mountainous area : the National Gendarmerie intervenes if no infrastructure is affected, otherwise it is up to the police to intervene.

The actors intervening on the same territory can also decide to share it alternately. Police officers can, for example, ensure duty one week out of two with gendarmes. Obviously, in case of a major event, all mountain rescue actors can coordinate to intervene together.

Highly qualified professionals, avalanche dog handlers work in mountainous regions like the Alps or the Pyrenees. It should also be noted that the number of dog handlers and rescue dogs can vary depending on the season and the level of activity of ski resorts. During peak ski season, more teams may be deployed to ensure the safety of skiers, hikers and snowboarders.

The missions of an avalanche dog handler vary depending on the season and the level of activity of the ski resort or mountain where they are assigned (medium or high mountain, etc). During ski season, which generally runs from December to April, the dog handler and their rescue dog start their day early in the morning, checking the weather and snow conditions to assess avalanche risk. When an avalanche is reported, the dog handler and their dog are sent to the scene to begin the search. The dog uses its sense of smell to locate any scent and signals to its handler when it has found something. The dog handler then uses specialized equipment (probe and shovel) to dig through the snow and debris to reach the buried person. Once the buried person is located and rescued, the dog handler and their dog return to their base.

Outside of rescue missions, the team trains regularly to maintain perfect condition. The dog handler can also spend time maintaining their equipment or participating in meetings with the different mountain rescue responders. Sometimes, the avalanche dog handler participates, with their dog, in demonstrations and participates in public prevention about avalanche risks. During the off-season, the avalanche dog handler can train, update their skills, maintain their fitness and that of their canine partner.

Overall, the life of an avalanche dog handler is a mix of periods of waiting and preparation, and periods of intense action when an avalanche is reported and they must act quickly.

Dogs used for avalanche rescue are generally breeds with a powerful sense of smell and known for their friendly, obedient nature and their tenacity.

Here are some of the most common breeds used for avalanche rescue:

• The Labrador Retriever: these dogs are known for their strong sense of smell and friendly temperament. They are also very easy to train and are often used as service dogs, therapy dogs and search and rescue dogs.

• The Golden Retriever: like the Labrador Retriever, the Golden Retriever is known for its powerful sense of smell and friendly nature. Many golden retrievers are found in service dogs, therapy dogs and search and rescue dogs.

• The flat-coated retriever: Gentle and devoted, the flat-coated retriever is an excellent avalanche dog if its handler manages to channel its enthusiasm and overflowing energy.

• The German Shepherd: German Shepherds are known for their high intelligence, powerful sense of smell and loyalty. They are chosen by dog handlers for roles as police and military dogs, service dogs and search and rescue dogs.

• Bernese Mountain Dog: The Bernese Mountain Dog is a mountain dog recognized for its powerful sense of smell and affectionate nature. These dogs are highly valued for avalanche victim search despite their imposing size.

• Saint Bernard: This breed is emblematic in avalanche victim search. However, the Saint Bernard is no longer used in mountain rescue because of its size that is too imposing for helicopter winching operations.

• Belgian Malinois : the Belgian Malinois is undoubtedly the most versatile working dog breed. It can be found everywhere : police dog, military dog, intervention dog, guard dog, herding dog... Not surprising that it is also found in a search and rescue dog position !

• Border collie: Lively, playful, intelligent and easy to train, the border collie is an ideal breed for searching avalanche victims, especially since its physique is athletic without being imposing.

• Beauceron: Powerful and enduring, the Beauceron can become an excellent avalanche dog provided that its handler knows how to manage its dominant character and provides respectful and non-violent training.

• White Swiss Shepherd: Powerful and robust, the White Swiss Shepherd has the same qualities as the German Shepherd, making it a partner of choice for the avalanche dog handler.

It should be noted that not all dogs are suitable for avalanche rescue and that dog selection is crucial. The dog must have a strong desire to work, good physical condition and the ability to operate in extreme conditions. It must not be too imposing to be able to be winched or carried by its handler.

The process of training an avalanche dog is long and requires significant commitment from both the dog and its handler. Dogs begin their training from a very young age, learning basic obedience commands and scent detection. As they progress, they are trained to locate specific scents, such as human scent, and learn to search for buried people on different terrains and in different snow conditions.

The role of an avalanche dog handler is both challenging and rewarding. These people and their canine partners play an essential role in ensuring the safety of skiers and snowboarders in the mountains, and their work can often make the difference between life and death. We know that it is possible to find an unharmed person buried (excluding injuries related to the avalanche) within the quarter hour that follows. Beyond that, the risks diminish, so every minute counts !

For civilian mountain professionals (ski patrollers, hut keepers, ski instructors, ...) and firefighters, it is the National Association for Snow and Avalanche Studies (ANENA) that handles the training of avalanche dog handlers. To obtain their national avalanche dog handler certificate, learners must pass two modules. The first 40-hour module (10 ½ days) takes place in person in the learner's department and consists only of field exercises. The second 88-hour module (11 days) takes place in person at the training center in Les Deux Alpes (38) and alternates theoretical phases with practical exercises.

For gendarmes, training takes place at the National Canine Training Center of the Gendarmerie (CNICG), located in Gramat in the Lot. Police officers, on the other hand, follow their training at the National Training Center for Mountaineering and Skiing (CNEAS) in Chamonix.