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When the chairlifts stop and the snow melts, avalanche rescue dogs across the country shift gears—but they never stop working or training.

Summer brings new routines, fresh training opportunities, and well-earned time to play. Here’s a look at what some avy dogs have been up to as the seasons change.

Down in Deer Valley, Maggie recently celebrated her second birthday. During the Summer, Maggie works as a mountain bike patrol pup.

First thing in the morning, she often joins her handler on trail checks before settling in at the base of the lift near the first aid station. On trail maintenance days, she rides in the 4x4 or takes the chairlift to their destination. On warm days, Maggie gets to cool off with a swim in the resort’s snowmaking ponds.

When she’s not helping out on bike patrol, she’s soaking up life on a regenerative produce and cut flower farm. Between river swims, digging at the beach, and enjoying backyard barbecues, Maggie’s summer is full of fun and fresh air.

In Big Sky, Montana, Goose has swapped a patrol vest for a fly rod and chairlifts for drift boats. He and handler Lance are guiding on the river. As a companion, Goose interacts with clients and “guards” the boat from waterfowl—although Lance notes that his skills as a fish finder have yet to pay off.

They are also keeping up with training in creative ways. Without snow caves, they use construction culverts and tall grass to run search drills and maintain obedience. With two new puppies in the pipeline, Goose is also helping introduce the next generation of rescue dogs to the work.

Summer looks a bit different for avy dogs in Alaska. Raven at Alyeska has had an adventurous start to the summer. She is currently on snow, patrolling for summer ski camps.

She’s also hard at work on advanced obedience skills, refining her recalls and long-duration stays, even learning to load up on her handler’s shoulders. She’s continuing scent training on dry ground and hopes to get more snow time as conditions allow. Off-duty, Raven enjoys hiking, biking, boating, and even sporting a pair of sunglasses for the rare sunny day in the Alaskan rainforest.

Cudi at Crystal Mountain is celebrating a major milestone—she recently passed her operational test, officially qualifying to respond to avalanche incidents at the resort and in the surrounding area.

Summer for Cudi is about living her best dog life while continuing obedience work and learning new skills. She spends her time hiking trails, swimming in lakes and rivers, and playing scent-based games like finding toys or people hidden in tall grass. This year, she’s also working on behaviors that will support more advanced article search training in the future.

The Avy Dog Team at Summit at Snoqualmie stays busy year-round. With mountain bike season gearing up and ongoing construction projects, patrol dogs get daily exercise while shadowing their handlers across the resort.

Whether trotting alongside a new chairlift installation or tagging along for helicopter work in remote areas, these pups stay sharp with obedience training, fitness, and socialization woven into their summer schedule. They also know when to rest, catching long naps in the sun between play sessions with sticks, frisbees, or whatever they can find.

While the snow may be gone, these pups’ commitment to readiness never takes a season off. Whether chasing disks, hiking trails, or practicing drills in the sun, avalanche dogs across the country stay active, engaged, and ready for the season ahead.