Members Training

WBR hosts a three day Dog School open only to WBR Members on even-numbered years, as well as offering monthly training days at various WBR member ski areas. Regular group training ensures that both dogs and rescuers work well together during actual rescues. WBR is proud that its dogs can be transported together in close quarters and work avalanche sites in proximity to each other without incident.

The Member Dog School is specifically designed to enhance the skills of WBR dog teams. The format for the Member Dog School is similar to the International School. The School is divided into daily field sessions followed by evening debriefs and lectures. The Member Dog School is an opportunity for WBR members to initiate a new dog team into the WBR program, prepare for WBR testing, improve search skills, and interact with rescue teams from neighboring areas.

Monthly training days are held year-round at different member ski areas on a rotating basis. Topics include obedience, socialization, progression training, wilderness search, night search, article training, helicopter orientation, early puppy training, ranging, and many more. Monthly training days are a great opportunity for motivated newer handlers to be able to work with more experienced handlers and increase the novice handler’s knowledge base.

The current schedule is defined by which year we are in. This year the WBR dog school will be open for WBR members only and the application and itinerary will be posted as we get closer to the season.

In 2021, we will be hosting the International Avalanche Dog School.  More information on this school is here.