Handlers and dogs of the Wanaka Search and Rescue
search-dog team at their first helicopter exercise for the
winter at Treble Cone yesterday. They are (from left)
Aspiring Helicopters pilot James Ford, team leader Matt
Gunn and Rocket, Brendan Kearns and Millie, Andy Wardell
and Tuki, Anna Easthope and Rua and Ra and Callum Grant and
Zeffer. Photo by Matt Gunn.
The avalanche dogs of the Southern Lakes region and their
handlers spent yesterday dangling on 20m strops, or long-lines,
beneath helicopters as they undertook a refresher course at
Treble Cone skifield.
Search and Rescue search dogs team leader Matt Gunn, of
Albertown, said the five handlers and six dogs came through
"exceptionally well".
Mr Gunn said the dogs reflected the confidence of their
handlers: "We're in work mode.
"We take it seriously. And the dogs pick up on that."
Mr Gunn said the handlers found it "very, very exciting" to
be lifted off the skifield car park several hundred metres
into the air, while the dogs were less enthusiastic but
well-behaved.
"They kind of give you the impression that they know there's
no getting out of it and they might as well just relax the
best they can and enjoy the ride."
He said the exercise was about refreshing the handlers in
protocols around helicopters and use of the strop, and for
the dogs, it was important to create a positive association
with helicopters.
Mr Gunn said on one occasion, a helicopter carried on its
strop - rated to carry 300kg - two members of the cliff
rescue team, one dog handler and a dog.
Dogs best suited to avalanche work were those with good work
ethics such as collie crosses, Labradors, pointers and
springer spaniels.
During the ski season, avalanche dogs and handlers are on
standby at all the major skifields in the region.
Mr Gunn said the dog team had one vacancy at present - for a
handler with search and rescue experience willing to train a
dog for bush searching.
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