AN adorable video shows Scotland’s oldest avalanche rescue dog playing in the snow like a puppy – despite being the equivalent of 103 years old.
Coire, who turns 15 in two months, remains an active mountain search dog despite the life expectancy of the breed being 10-14 years.
The black Labrador was trained for the role as a pup and has found over 100 people buried in snow during practice sessions.
And as the Cairngorm Mountains experience the first significant snows of the season, video shows him playing with his counterpart, Druie, a two-year-old border collie.
Druie is still being trailed for the job and will replace Coire when he finally retires.
Owner Colin Matthew, operations manager at Cairngorm Mountain in the Highlands, said the young-at-heart dog still loves a “good old roll around” in the snow.
Playing like a dog half his age, Coire is seen pushing himself along the ground wearing a high visibility coat.
At one point in the video the greying hound even begins to eat some of the snow as Druie bounds around in the background.
The tail-wagging canine is clearly delighted with the recent snowfall on the UK’s sixth highest mountain as Druie comically throws himself into the snow trying to encourage Coire to play with him.
However, the OAP pooch brushes off his youthful pal and happily plods through the snow.
With Loch Morlich in the seen in the distance, Colin can heard in the short 36 second clip saying: “Happy dogs, happy to see snow back to the Cairngorm. Woof, woof.”
Another interesting clip shows Coire during a training sessions where he manages to find a person buried under a couple of feet of snow in 2015.
Speaking about the his beloved hound, Colin said: “They always have a good old roll around when we first set off.
“Coire was trained by myself and the ski patrol team as an avalanche search dog, he is almost 15, so we are now training Druie up now.
“I think being up here since he was a pup in winter and loads of summer swimming and big walks has kept him trim.”
Colin admits Coire is slowing down – and has a heart murmur – but added: “He is still a super happy dog, keen and plods away but likes the fireside and couch time.”
He added: “We have probably carried out over a 100 training live burials exercises and he has found every one.”
Currently the footage of the two dogs has gone viral with nearly 35,000 views and over 2,000 shares with over 300 comments.
Leo Wyatt wrote: “Oh happy dogs, thanks Ops1, and you even got Loch Morlich in the background.”
Rosemary Huggins said: “Some one likes the snow…”
Ashley Buffery commented: “Literally the best life a dog can have!”
The impressive dog will turn 15 years-old on January 31st next year, which in human years converts into around 110 in human years.
According to Visit Scotland, Cairngorm Mountain is renowned as one of the most beautiful and occasionally challenging places to ski in the UK, as well as boasting Scotland’s only funicular railway.
