This adorable puppy is training to save lives in California’s mountains

Today, this adorable golden retriever puppy is sure to make you smile—but before long, she’ll be saving lives.

Bear Valley Resort has welcomed the newest member of its ski patrol team: Gallatin, or “Gallie” for short, who has just begun her training to become an avalanche rescue dog.

The resort shared photos of Gallie on social media

last week, noting that she’s currently focused on the basics—obedience, socialization, and getting comfortable on the mountain.

“At this early stage, she’s learning through simple, fun games like ‘hide and seek’ to build a solid foundation for her future role,” resort managers said in a Facebook post.

Avalanche rescue dogs are used around the world for their remarkable ability to detect human scent beneath snow, allowing them to locate buried victims far faster than people or equipment alone.

Gallie is named after the Gallatin Range in Montana—the home state of her handler, Patrick Kamman, who also serves as Bear Valley’s Assistant Director of Ski Patrol.

“We’re excited to watch her skills grow and know she’ll be an incredible addition to our patrol team, our snow safety program, and the resort as a whole,” the resort added.