WBR Attends the ARS Avalanche Dog Handler Training Course in Andermatt, Switzerland

Every year the WBR selects one avalanche dog team and one handler to attend the ARS Avalanche Dog Handler Training Course in Andermatt, Switzerland.  This year, Sean Hopewell and Parley from the Utah Olympic Park along with Dan Costaschuk from Canyons were selected to attend.  This agreement between the WBR and Alpinerettungshweiz is essentially an exchange program where WBR handlers can learn training techniques from one of the oldest dog programs in the world.

The course was from January 13th through the 20th and incorporated all the skills necessary for avalanche rescue including transceiver searching, mountain travel skills, and of course searching with a K-9 team.  Throughout the week, all teams were tested on each of these disciplines.  The WBR team was paired off with the Swiss Level 3 (the highest level the Swiss can achieve) group the entire week.  Over the course of each day, all the teams in the group ran search exercises with their K-9, set up exercises for the other K-9 teams, and assisted in evaluating their performance after the exercise was complete.

The Swiss method of training focused on two main ideas: the Swiss 4-Phase progression and food reward.  The 4-Phase is a process in which the K-9 is motivated to dig by using the bond between the primary handler and the K-9.  As the K-9 increases in motivation, the higher phases switch to a "stranger" as the target for the K-9 to dig for.  The Swiss are famous for using a specific type of sausage to reward their dogs for a proper alert.  What K-9 doesn't love sausage!

Some highlights of the week included a flight on the Swiss Medical Service Augusta over Gemstock-the main peak looming over Andermatt, a night mock avalanche search, and of course the hospitality of Marcel Meier and the Swiss dog teams.  Parley, Sean, and Dan would like send a heartfelt "thank you" out to Marcel and the rest of the Alpinerettungschweiz crew!