Adolescent Avys: The Dogs of Vail Mountain

A documentary on Mookie and the Avalanche rescue dogs of Vail Mountain. Created for University of Colorado, Boulder School of Journalism.

[@jacob_1554]

The greatest of good boys

[@bobawesome1504]

Apparently during actual rescues (9/11) rescue dogs like these were distressed because the amount of survivors they found were so minimal that rescuers actually went into the rubble so the dogs didn't feel discouraged

[@CT1010101]

Did you learn that from SYSK??

[@waynevihaan5742]

instablaster...

[@Nathanfx2006]

True story. It was more due to the amount of dead bodies being recovered, it's not the outcome they're trained for. I'm more than certain they understand what the deal is.

[@ritualkitty3017]

I lost my dog a little while ago who was my best friend for an amazing decade. His name was Mookie! So excited to see another amazing Mookie, and doing such amazing work! I hope you all stay safe and thanks for making me and my parents smile ❤️

[@tobyk.7703]

I can sadly relate to the somewhat recent loss of a dog I had for a decade as well, I'm sorry for your loss friend. I know how deeply it hurts even over a year later. I'm glad you got to see your dog again through this Mookie though!!

[@BosToNsiKEsT]

Where do I sign up to be buried in the snow and saved by these dogs?

[@DJFRITTZ]

any double black diamond patrolled by dogs. just look for bad snow conditions and send it

[@headphonic8]

Henry is so cute and sweet. It's so interesting to hear about all the dog's different personalities and how they deal with stress, this was a wonderful and unexpectedly interesting documentary.

[@fivesow8037]

I just found out Henry retired after 11 years what a good boy

[@JohnDoe-xu2vx]

Even though it can be dangerous, what a fantastic way to make a living.

[@ech22r95]

Miami/k9 LEO team here 15yrs experience. Absolutley a force multiplier for vail. Our k9's cost us around $50k to get purchase/cert. I would say at some point that first yr the light bulb in the the dog comes on. After the k9 applies his knowledge/job the k9 alone is paid for. HUGE PR, with mountain safety, and any skepticism of costs will be put to rest when rescue personel are facing an unstable slide with victims having only minutes. We use the k9s to not only save the public, but the at risk first responders. Vail, you absolutely made the right choice. My family enjoys winter vail, and we thank you with all our heart.

[@snowboarder4700]

My local ski resort used dogs! They are so loved! The dogs absolutely love all of the love and attention they get from the people and especially the kids! The kids adore the dogs and there are times on the mountains where the ski patrol lets the dogs out to play and all the kids gather around and just play with the dogs and they just love it!

[@ccriscat]

My black lab pepper is in love with Mookie and this video

[@lordgunther4674]

ccriscat i have a black lab named gigner lol

[@bryanmurphy2291]

Lord Gunther I think you mean ginger

[@SHBueche]

Wonderful video, makes you feel as if you are on the mountain witnessing the exploits of this courageous team!

[@1SNOWMANNH]

Vail sucks!!! Shane rules! 5000 daily extra credit points for urinating Vail patrollers. G.N.A.R.

[@beetlejuice2725]

God I miss these dogs. One thing Vail never disappoints on is the patrol dogs

[@snowboarder4700]

I love black labs! My cousin had a black lab named layla! She was such a sweetheart! Unfortunatley they recently lost her to health issues that she had and it was such a knife in the gut to lose her. She will forever be remembered as one of my favorite dogs that I’ve ever met!

[@heidim6468]

Rocky and Mookie what great hero's love this video......

[@kingcuan5261]

Mookie the rookieeee ❤️❤️❤️❤️ oh my lord what a beautiful soul

[@JohnDoe-xu2vx]

I raise Lab pups for a non profit Guide Dog Org. In totally get having an investment in your dogs success, wanting him to be able to do what he was bred and trained for. It gets emotional. Only about 30% graduate to become guide dogs for the blind.

[@saintpizza69]

There little vest wiggling on there back I soooooooo cute 😊

[@FXNorthWest]

Spent some time in Vail and met these cool avalanche rescue dogs. Was very impressed.

[@rich8561]

I have a working cocker spaniel who loves to flush as a gun dog!! But better in searching for people etc who he loves. Brilliant on a response of a find and he's always rewarded. Very fast in any situation I love him. Great videos guys

[@Inazuma68]

As a Swiss I am exited that in northern America theyalways use our flag, but do you know why it is called the red cross 😁🙌🇨🇭

[@u9gaming244]

Inazuma MR i actually don’t!

[@normferguson2769]

We use it because it is easy to draw. The Norwegian flag is tough!

[@MW-qr8bu]

Winter Park ski patrol uses border collies. It's funny seeing them run 25 mph across the slopes.

[@joshwilliams9248]

I Absolutely Love That Passion 😊

[@belladriver258]

These dogs are not taken care, the dog in beaver creek ritz Carlton is never walked and poor thing is always begging for food.

[@cal27834]

Caroline, my son and I rode down with you and Henry last week. Thanks for sharing!

[@fitofito1001]

Too much human talking

[@ethans7917]

Would you rather have the dog do all the barking?

[@kevinmendoza5035]

@@ethans7917 yes

[@labradorphobospathfinder]

I hope we can help found victims too

[@stevenmyers1436]

Wheres the Avy turf at Vail? East Vail chutes OB? Go Tele at BC!

[@surfk9836]

I used to raise Seeing Guide dogs. The vest is important as work time - play time training.

[@Nathanfx2006]

11:37 caught myself saying "you're a good boy" here.

[@johnnyc.3261]

I need this job! This is so great!

[@brendaweaver4212]

OMG! No Fear!! Great Job! What an adventure! Kicker!!!!!

[@captainkielbasa5471]

did all this for shitty journalism dept at CU? lol nice

[@lukecw62]

I luv mookies almost matt black nose

[@julesmpc1314]

next time show if the dogs get full medical coverage and retirement....I have taken in already 8 former working dogs that either got injured or old and their "human teams" and agencies never have the money for treatments and meds (long term ones they just dont care)...and old dogs they just ask for adoption but they usually have requirements for having worked many years...and their past co-workers/agencies just pretend they cant cover costs. ITS CUTE NOW BUT THEU DUMP THEY LATER?

[@prestoneasley7546]

And holy crap the park skier at 15:19 in the green and blue pants and orange nordica boots is a rider at my local ski mountain in North Carolina!

[@RealTEdits]

Which mountain?

[@lexlife3273]

preston easley sugar?

[@prestoneasley7546]

Lex Life app ski mtn

[@lexlife3273]

preston easley oh awesome

[@willbennett8799]

Nice cadaver dogs, keep up the good eork

[@cassiefriedman8685]

11.7 seconds thats amazing

[@mpstenz3520]

This is great to know........ at my age I ride the boulevards. See you at the end of March....

[@slobama]

You leave a scent hole while practicing isn't that cheating a little bit? I mean in a real situation there probably would be no hole.

[@kalleroseworld1919]

they need to learn in small steps. u help em less and less till they can do it alone. they need alot of good experiences to wanna keep going and not lose interest

[@julesmpc1314]

its training....its to teach the dog what to do: pick up the scent and look for it under the snow+dig. It teaches the basic skills. This is done in a "play" mode so the canine can make a positive association and increase the drive. We increase the challenges in stages: increase distances, add different types of snow, add distractions and scents...only after succeeding in all these training phases can the dog be put in a real rescue op. The human handler is also being trained on each step, as its the human whom has to keep the dog focused, playfull and unharmed. The dog never performs these tasks alone as the animal thinks its playing and the handler led it to a pick of excitement, the canine can easily get hurt, lost or wearout. Same way a police track dog works...

[@petergarcia8225]

They take the leadership traits.Anti social doesn't meant aggressive

[@adamporter3742]

Datsa goo boy!

[@ElectricityTaster]

I have a soft spot for black dogs. Mookie

[@jimmccormack7507]

Any weather.

[@petergarcia8225]

Need dog parks and stays for outdoor recreational vacinities.

[@samburke8595]

At the 6 minute mark, ALL THE crap I GET FROM OTHER SKI patrol, WTF!!!! They should be jealous of you!!!!!!

[@alexmitchell5232]

A’DOG’ABLE

[@riverpuryear3509]

Those dogs are so cute

[@jaspervanhaandel5647]

cool

[@markmd9]

Did they tried to make a kind of sonar that will work better than dogs

[@martykirch]

Nice work Caroline!!! Great story! I've got black labs... They're the best!

[@apollomorris9920]

M Kirchhof yellow best.

[@nikkilarsen506]

So cool :-)

[@tritchie6272]

It might be better if they could do one person for a dog. I'm not sure.

[@sescuba6405]

A great video!

[@j.jarvis7460]

Wouldn’t hound dogs be better?.

[@dan-ml7rl]

please put on a snow gun and let the dogs play!

[@C05597641]

It thought this was Switzerland...

[@ProFettMoHaMett]

Robot HandLove we are friends😊😊😊

[@apollomorris9920]

Its to bad Vail is not steep Enough to have an avalanche.

[@codyk.8104]

Apollo Morris hahaha

[@CP-fz4sr]

I don't know this, but do dogs get cold? I mean they don't seem to put anything on the dogs, no covers, nothing. I always wondered if they get cold...

[@delinhuo381]

Yes, dogs can get cold too, mainly on their feet, but it depends very much in the breed and the fur they have. Most dogs like three retrievers have a double coat, especially if they stay outside a lot: the upper fur sheds the water and so the underlying fur that is very fluffy stays dry longer. If you look again, the isolation is so good that the snow doesn't even melt on them. And I'm sure that if there was any dangers they'd even train them to wear boots if necessary. The snow isn't a problem for their feet. But salt and rubble is. As long as they keep moving they'll stay warm. But not all dogs are like this. Personally I have a rescue dog from Spain who doesn't have such a double coat, only a very light upper coat and none on the the belly, even in winter. So as soon as the temperature drops he's shivering all over. He likes to be out, even in winter, but has to keep moving so as not to completly freeze. I never thought I'd be so "crazy" as to let my dog wear a coat, but he needs it and actually likes it. Not for fashion, but for health. Hope that explains a bit.

[@anthonysears871]

Does Vail have terrain steep enough to slide? Come to Aspen. They do.

[@MollyMitchell]

I live around there so i met the dogs

[@travisk5589]

That dog should have hearing protection and other ppe.

[@apollomorris9920]

I was working at Vail so i could ski over the winter in 1992-93 ski season. Working one night carrying a vacuum cleaner from one shop to another a nice hi class women was laughing at me. Funny i was consider the second best skier on the mountin and rated 5th in the country that year. A women in a fur coat got cought steeling from a shop there. The snow great icey days on the ski course was fun. Made the front page of the vail news they did a small story about me and a large photo, to bud they used some else photo in my story. The head ski coch brother wanted me to come to the ski teem and coch there skiers when i walked into the office it looked like it was the home of pig pin. Any one know Mo Dixon is he still singing and coaching there? i will never go back there.

[@codyk.8104]

Apollo Morris vail is full of people that are full of themselves. I honestly wish Colorado would put a ban on vail resorts.

[@og1689]

GREAT VIdEO ABOUT THESE WONDERFUL AND HEROIC DOGS!