Dog-handler dynamics influence avalanche search team's performance.

Avalanche search dogs represent an irreplaceable resource in case of environmental disasters. The “Alpine Rescue of Guardia di Finanza Project” is a broad research project aimed to identify limiting factors affecting teams’ performance. This work focused on behavioral dynamics between dog and handler during a simulated avalanche search trial. A warmed up scent article was randomly buried under the snow (-20cm), avoiding olfactory pollution, in fields prepared to resemble an avalanche fall environment (10mt x 15mt; 2170masl). Twelve dog-handler Units were individually video recorded and videos were analyzed through focal animal sampling of behavioral categories related to the dog-handler relationship (dog-handler tactile and visual communication, reciprocal position and distance). Nine of the 20 trials analyzed (45%) were successful with a mean latency of 148s. Principal component analysis included 15 behavioral traits and extracted three principal components (PCs) explaining 71% of the variation. PC1 mainly included items describing orientation of the dog compared with the handler and vice versa. PC2 included items related to dog’s spatial position within the field in relation to its handler. PC3 included handler-directed behaviors of the dog. High score of PC3, indicating frequent visual and physical contacts, reduced the likelihood of success (odd ratio= 0.144; 95% CI= 0.034–0.612; p=0.009). These findings suggest the dog’s behaviors directed to the handler may indicate insecurity during an avalanche search and negatively affect team’s performance. Dogs less dependent on their handlers spent more time interacting with the environment and performed better during the avalanche search trial. Keywords: avalanche dog; dog-handler relationship; search performance