Avalanche Search

Overview

Avalanche search dogs are deployed when people are buried under snow or debris. They function as biological locators working alongside avalanche transceivers (LVS), probes and helicopters to swiftly pinpoint casualties.

Organization & Training

Training and certification are provided by organizations such as the German Red Cross, ASB, JUH, Malteser Hilfsdienst, and the BRH Federal Association for Rescue Dogs, whose units are integrated into regional disaster-response structures. Courses cover transceiver operation, snow-and-debris tactics, and mandatory field exercises in winter conditions.

Alerting

Alerts are issued by police, mountain rescue, or fire-service control centers via radio, pager and digital alarm systems. In high-risk winter areas, avalanche teams often remain on call to deploy within minutes.

Search Methods

Searches follow a stepwise approach: signal search with LVS, coarse search of the avalanche cone, fine search near the signal, and pinpoint location with the probe rod. Simultaneously, the dog canvasses the area freely to locate victims beyond technical range.

Indication Types

• Barking: The dog barks persistently at the site to mark the find.
• Digging: The dog digs narrow trenches in the snow to draw attention.
• Retrieve: The dog brings an attached retrieval item back to the handler.

Equipment

• Avalanche transceiver (LVS) as a technical supplement to canine detection.
• Probe rod for pinpointing buried subjects.
• Snow shovel for rapid excavation.
• Search harness, sturdy leash and reflective markers.
• Insulated, weatherproof avalanche clothing and boots.
• First aid kit for dog and handler in alpine terrain.
• GPS tracker for continuous location monitoring.

Exams & Continuing Education

Certification includes a BRH or IRO-standard avalanche-search exam and annual refresher courses in alpine areas. Evaluation criteria cover transceiver signal search, debris exercises and complex real-world scenarios.

Statistics

According to BRH data, there were 1,055 rescue-dog missions in 2023, of which approximately 150 were avalanche searches (~14 %). Over 20 buried individuals were successfully rescued by avalanche teams.