DOGS THAT NEED A JOB
The dogs that serve on ski patrol aren’t your run-of-the-mill house dogs.
Patrol members look for dogs that have high drive – ones they say make “bad pets.”
“We want dogs that really need a job,” Pinkham said.
The handlers work with breeders and agencies to find dogs suitable for the position – Graupel comes from a line of working dogs including parents that both serve on the Canadian border patrol looking for explosives.
“Many pet owners want their dog to hang out and cuddle on the couch. We look for dogs that are kind of fiery and have a lot of drive to search and hunt so we can ask them to perform these longer, harder tasks in mountain environments,” said Chase Allstadt, ski patroller and dog team coordinator at Alpine Meadows. “That’s what I share with my handlers – you are getting a dog your spouse may not love.”