What Do Avalanche Rescue Dogs Do?
From their rigorous training to their valiant missions, avalanche rescue dogs are truly extraordinary. Let’s uncover what makes these pups such incredible heroes in the mountains.
- All
- ADOPTION
- ADVENTURE INSPIRATION
- ADVENTURES
- ADVENTURES WITH DOGS
- AMBASSADOR FIELD NOTES
- AMBASSADORS
- BACKPACKING
- BIKING
- CAMPING
- CONSERVATION
- DEI
- FISHING
- GEAR
- HIKING
- HOW TO
- IMPACT
- PRODUCT DESIGN
- RETAILER SPOTLIGHT
- ROAD TRIP
- ROCK CLIMBING
- RUFFWEAR AMBASSADOR
- RUNNING
- SKIING
- SUMMER
- SUP
- SUSTAINABILITY
- TIPS & TRICKS
- TOP STORY
- TRAINING
- WAYPOINTS
- WELLNESS/FIRST AID
- WINTER
- WORKING DOGS
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Training to Be an Avalanche Rescue Dog: Our Life in the Swiss Alps
A Switzerland-based ski instructor and her dog Bolt are on a mission to make a difference. Read the heartwarming tale of Bolt’s journey to become an avalanche rescue dog.
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Special Tails Belong On Every Trail
When Emma was diagnosed with numerous, rare, chronic medical conditions at age 12 her life changed forever. But Zander, a four year old German Shepherd who is her Medical Alert Service Dog opened her eyes to new paths. Read their story and learn how to help ensure wholesome, safe and inclusive experiences for the disabled outdoors.
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Meet Ruddy: Mt. Bachelor's Playful Avalanche Dog
Ruffwear’s Content Creator, Erin Swanson, recently made the trek to Mt. Bachelor with our Videographer, Photographer, and Community Manager. Their mission? Learn about (and play with) Mt. Bachelor’s newest avalanche puppy in-training, Ruddy.
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Ronan to the Rescue
A member of four search and rescue organizations, Kate Fernhoff works alongside her canine sidekick, Ronan, a wilderness live find dog and human remains detection dog. This is the tale of their search for two lost hikers.
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Bento's Superpower: A Therapy Dog Delivers Joy to OHSU Hospital
Mark and his trained therapy dog, Bento, volunteer at OHSU Hospital to deliver joy to patients and staff. In this story, Mark gives a glimpse into a day in the life of a therapy dog.
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Detection Dogs to the Rescue: Saving the Mediterranean Tortoise
Can pups really help save the Mediterranean Tortoise from the brink of extinction? Ruffwear Ambassador Alfonso Pera Contreras introduces us to his detection dogs, Jara and Olivia, who are carrying out vital detective work to help this endangered species thrive again in Spain.
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Reading With Marv: A Therapy Dog's Greatest Gift
When not busy with their day jobs as Ruffwear’s Retail Brand Experience Designer (and the unofficial Director of Dogs & Culture for Marv), Mary and Marv are a therapy dog team for the Reading Partners Program at Elk Meadow Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. This is their story.
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'Tis the Season To Be Giving: Our 2022 Paw It Forward Winners
At Ruffwear, we believe in using our business for good. Our Paw It Forward program helps us cultivate a world where all dogs and their humans thrive in the outdoors. Seeking some giving inspiration this holiday season? Here’s a recap of our Paw It Forward winners for 2022.
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Go, Hugo, Go! A Journey From Guide Dog to Detection Dog
Abby Smith had dreamed of working as a conservation dog handler since childhood. But her German Shepherd, Hugo, started out on a different path. As a puppy, he trained to be a guide dog – with Abby as his puppy raiser. When a health test led to Hugo’s release from the program, Abby adopted him and started working as a handler for Rogue Detection Teams. Hugo joined her for the ultimate experiment: can a former guide dog-trained pup swing it in the detection dog world?
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Pups of a Paralympic Champion: Meet Gold Medalist Allysa Seely & Her Service Dogs
Paralympic Gold Medalist, Allysa Seely, attributes much of her success to her service dogs, Bentley and Mowgli. Here, we learn just how much support they've provided along her inspiring journey.
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Forever Changed: A Day with Guide Dogs for the Blind
In 2015, Ruffwear's Service Dog Channel Manager, Greg, visited the Guide Dogs for the Blind campus for the first time. This is the story of his immersive experience on their campus and how it jump-started his passion for supporting the guide dog community with Ruffwear products.
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We're Pawing It Forward ... And You Can, Too!
At Ruffwear, we’re purpose driven – we believe in using our business for good. Cultivating a world where all dogs and their human companions thrive in the outdoors is part of our DNA. Looking for ways to give back this Giving Tuesday? Here are some of our favorite organizations we’ve given back to recently.
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How Rogue Detection Dogs Inspired the High-Vis Web Master™
Rogue Detection Dog Bounders (handlers) Heath and Jennifer had some great words and pictures to share with us about their history with the Web Master, and how their work and partnership contributed to the development of the High-Vis Web Master.
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All Work & All Play: Avy Dog Inspired & Tested Toys
As snow blankets ski areas across North America each winter, avalanche rescue dogs are clocking in and going to work on the slopes. These highly-trained dogs and their ski patroller handlers train at their home mountains every day during ski season.
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Let's Go Find It: On the Job with Rogue Detection Dogs
Rogue Detection Teams bring the conservation detection dog method to the forefront of scientific research. They provide knowledgeable field teams and hands-on instruction for researchers, aspiring dog handlers, and citizen scientists, fostering collaboration and community involvement in the world of conservation.
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Staying Cool the Rogue Dog Way
Rogue Detection Dogs are happy to work all day traversing plains, climbing up mountains, trekking through snow, and clambering over rocks and fallen trees, all with the expectation of playing with their ball – their reward for successfully locating wildlife scat. Ruffwear proudly supports and partners with Rogue Detection Teams by providing gear to all of the dogs.
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Rogue Detection Dog Field Notes: Suzie & Skye in Yosemite
In the summer of 2019, Yosemite National Park’s Terrestrial Wildlife unit secured special permits for three conservation detection dog-handler teams from Rogue Detection Teams. The goal: systematically survey the Park to detect and collect scat from the Sierra Nevada red fox, the cougar, and the fisher. As a research scientist and detection dog handler, I was ecstatic to be a part of this project.
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Finding Soul River
Veteran Chad Brown struggled with severe PTSD. Then, after a life-changing fishing trip, he decided that he would dedicate his life to giving back to others who might find healing, connection, and purpose in nature – specifically, inner city youth and veterans. He founded the nonprofit organization Soul River, Inc., through which he brings at-risk youth and veterans into the outdoors.
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Nancy & Abbie
Blind from birth, Nancy started using a cane at the age of 6 and taking buses at the age of 10. Now, Nancy has had a total of 4 guide dogs. They’ve guided her on some grand excursions: summiting 14-ers in Colorado, hiking the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim, exploring countless miles of trails, and paddling alpine lakes.
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Richard & Klinger
Richard Hunter is a blind endurance athlete who has made it his life’s work to encourage blind athletes to participate in sports and other activities that push the limits of their comfort zone. His guide dog, Klinger, was the first graduate of Guiding Eyes for the Blind's Running Guides Program.
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Pam & Maida
If anyone is born a runner, it’s Pam McGonigle. She was also born with visual impairment, but that never slowed her down. She was hooked on the sport after winning her first race in 6th grade and went on to compete at the Paralympics, winning gold. In 2008, Pam got her first dog from Guiding Eyes for the Blind.
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Forward Together
The Guiding Eyes for the Blind Running Guides program graduated its first team, Klinger and Richard, in 2015. These specially trained dogs enable people who are blind and visually impaired to run with only their guide’s support. For the first time, runners with vision loss don’t have to rely on human guides.
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From Shelter To Science
Imagine being a dog. Not just any dog, mind. A dog with boundless energy and so much drive, you struggle to fit into normal family life. Unfortunately, this means you might spend your whole life in a shelter. Wait, there’s good news! Your intense focus and insatiable urge to play make you a great fit for the Conservation Canines, an organization that rescues dogs from shelters and pairs them with human handlers.
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Worked Like a Dog: In the Field with Conservation Canines
We sent Alli, our resident ultra runner and ski mountaineer, to California to spend a few days in the field with the Conservation Canines. Her mission was to get to know our CK9 partners a little better and gain first-hand experience with the work they do. She was also collecting feedback on our products and their performance in the field.
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A Golden Boy With A Magical Nose
Hello, my name is Chester. It has been 8 years since I have chased a chicken. That's because I am fully employed as a Conservation Canine, and I have been part of this program for 8 beautiful years. In my long career, I have studied bears in the Pyrenees, cougars in Washington, wolves in Alberta and bobcats in Wisconsin. I'd like to tell you my story.
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An Interview With Conservation Canines' Lead Dog Trainer
Ruffwear has been working with the Conservation Canines since 2008. The more we get to know both the people and dogs who make up the organization, the more we are proud to call them a partner and ambassador. We recently got a chance to catch up with Heath in between trips to the field to ask him a few questions about the program, the dogs involved, and the work they are doing.
