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Pups to the Rescue!

When there’s danger on the slopes, these specially trained dogs can help humans survive.

February 16, 2026
By Alex Winnick

As You Read, Think About: What makes dogs especially helpful during rescue missions?

Avalanche Dogs at Work
Watch a video of these dogs in action!

On March 31, 1982, more than 10 feet of snow and ice crashed down a mountainside. The avalanche slammed the Alpine Meadows ski resort in California. About a dozen people were trapped beneath the heavy snow. 

Anna Conrad Allen was one of them. The walls of the ski lodge she was in collapsed, leaving her stuck and alone. Nobody could hear her calls for help. For five days, Allen fought to stay calm and alive.

Luckily, a rescue team was looking for people trapped under the snow. With them was a German shepherd named Bridget. The team had already rescued three people and were looking for others. Bridget used her powerful nose to sniff the air. She picked up Allen’s scent and led the team to her. The rescuers dug through the snow, opening a small space. Allen pushed her hand through the hole. She had finally been found! And Bridget was a hero. 

Humans have been training dogs to help in emergencies for centuries. The pups that help at many ski areas across the United States are known as avalanche dogs. 

Courtesy of Beaver Creek Resort

Lisa Keim and Honey, a breed called a small Münsterländer

Sniff and Search

Lisa Keim is a handler with the Beaver Creek Ski Patrol in Colorado. She’s training her dog, Honey, to become a certified avalanche dog. 

“Dogs are incredibly effective in avalanche searches,” Keim says. “Their sense of smell far surpasses ours, so they can find people buried under snow.”

In fact, a dog’s nose can be up to 100,000 times stronger than a human’s! Dogs are natural hunters and searchers. They can pick up smells from a buried glove or boot that people might miss. 

Most canines can also run faster than humans. After about 15 minutes buried in an avalanche, a person’s chances for survival drop greatly. A dog’s agility can mean the difference between life and death. 

Shutterstock.com

Avalanches can happen with little or no warning.

Practicing Pups

Training a rescue dog takes about two to three years. Honey started when she was a puppy, playing on and climbing snowy mountains to get used to the environment. She also practiced running through deep snow and riding in rescue helicopters. 

One of the most important drills is practicing rescues and finding buried objects. Keim hides a rabbit toy for Honey to find. Sometimes volunteers hide under the snow and wait to be found. When Honey succeeds, she’s rewarded with a fun game of tug-of-war.

Avalanches are rare—but rescue dogs are always ready. When she’s not on the job, Honey hangs out with Keim or practices drills. 

“Off duty, Honey loves the outdoors, especially fishing by the river,” says Keim. “She’s living the dream!”

Snow Disaster

Heavy snowfall, wind, and the movements of people and animals can all trigger an avalanche. This diagram shows how most avalanches happen.

Scholastic Art Dept.

1. Heavy new snow piles up on a weak layer of snow. 

2. A thick block of snow, called a slab, breaks free from the top layer. 

3. The slab suddenly slides down the mountain, carrying ice and rocks with it. 

4. Once the avalanche stops, snow settles and hardens like concrete, making it difficult for a trapped person to escape.

1. What is the meaning of the word surpasses as it is used in the article? Describe a context clue in the article that helps you understand this meaning.

2. Based on the article, how is an avalanche dog trained to find people trapped under heavy snow?

3. According to the diagram, “Snow Disaster,” what are some things that can trigger an avalanche?

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