Dog Training

For the first exercise with our dogs in avalanche training, we leave the cave open, just as in the rubble. That is to say, the entrance will not be closed with snow. The dog can now reach the helper easily to pick up its prey, the ball in the sock. The next time, the entrance will be about a quarter covered with snow; the amount of snow can be increased a bit more every time. The longer a helper, or victim, is buried under the snow, the more the human odor is absorbed by the snow and brought to the surface.

After a while the helper’s odor will permeate the snow in and around the hole, which will make it easier for the dog to locate it. When someone sits in a hole for a longer time, the inside will form a layer of ice, and because of that less odor will be passed on, although there will still be enough places to let odor through, especially through the entrance. Closing the entrance of the cave step by step makes it more and more difficult for the dogs, especially for the first dogs to search. You should regularly change holes or dig new ones to give the dogs some variety and challenge.

While somebody is working with his or her dog, there should be other people waiting to close the cave again. This should not be done by the handler, who has to praise the dog, play, and after that take the dog back to the bivouac for prey sharing. Fellowship and helping each other are important in working in the snow.

Figure 12.8 The more snow used to cover the entrance, the harder the dog’s task.

Figure 12.9 Here, the entrance is sealed with blocks of snow to leave an opening about one-third the original size.

Figure 12.10 The entrance should be sealed off gradually from one exercise to the other.

Figure 12.11 Having opened the hole, the dog can reach the helper to receive its sock toy.

Figure 12.12 The opening should be tailored precisely to each dog’s experience and progression in training.

Avalanche Probe

In addition to working with the dog, the handler has to learn to work with other devices. The first is the avalanche probe, which is a thin metal stick about three yards (3 m) long that is usually split into four lengths of thirty-one inches (80 cm). These sticks always have to be put together carefully, without forcing or damaging the threads of the screw cap. One piece has a handle, two pieces form the middle, and the final piece forms the end. When working with the probe, the training leader decides how many sections of the probe to use.

There are now folding probes, with a strong metal wire inside, that can be easily put together, but these aluminum probes are thicker than the traditional metal probes and can be harder to push through the snow. Sometimes the aluminum probes are also stickier in the snow.

Once the probe is put together, it is very long. When you’re walking with it, just hold the handle and let the rest drag behind. The people with probes, called the probe crew, form a straight row, shoulder to shoulder, and step forward on command. They then prick with their probe in the snow until there is resistance. Stone or rock bottoms feel hard, and when one feels something soft or elastic, that can be a human body. Bushes and other growth can also feel soft.

Figure 12.13 The probe crew form a straight row, shoulder to shoulder with each other, and step forward on command.