High Altitude Rescue Dogs (HARD)

High Altitude Rescue Dogs (HARD) is a specialized group of seasoned professional canine handlers whom deploy specifically in difficult mountain environments. The teams consist of highly conditioned and certified human and canine partners and support personnel.

HARD support personnel includes the following professional teams; professional ski patrollers, avalanche forecasters, physicians, wilderness medics,  swift water technicians, law enforcement agents, pilots, AMGA mountain guides and navigators.

Our K-9 search and rescue teams deploy to avalanche, cadaver, water, and wilderness searches.   HARD members are mission ready and may be requested by other agencies to facilitate the recovery of missing individuals through the governing law enforcement agency.

Purpose of Organization:

Provide law enforcement agencies, search and rescue teams, and distraught families  highly skilled and competent canine search team that have the ability to solve and conduct missing person searches in difficult and dangerous mountain conditions.

Training and contintued skill development  is essential for canine teams responding to remote and difficult search situations. HARD is a non profit organization where in kind and monetary donations and grants will be used to expand and improve upon training, skills, and education to volunteer search dog handlers who respond to life and death situations in mountain environments.

Puppy training for a career in search