Milano Cortina 2026: Paralympic paw patrol - the top dogs supporting athletes
Six guide or assistance dogs are part of the team behind the team for Paralympians 13 Mar 2026
If gold medals were awarded for cuddles, Australian Paralympian Matt Brumby is adamant his assistance dog Willow would be on top of the podium.
Brumby, a Para cross country skier and biathlete, experienced a spinal cord injury at age 22 while serving in the Royal Australian Navy.
“Willow changed my life in a lot of ways,” Brumby told the IPC.
Willow is one of three guide or assistance dogs which are part of the Australian delegation at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.
Germany, Czechia and Great Britain have one each assisting athletes with everything from getting around to providing mental health support and more.
Pickle, an eight-year-old black labrador retriever, with Great Britain's team, has garnered a lot of attention fitted with a special canine team uniform in the same colours as the athletes.
At the Games, there are dedicated areas for guide and assistance dogs at the different competition venues.
“She picks up items that I drop when I'm on the snow... She'll bring my wheelchair back to me,” Brumby said.
The black labrador also makes life easier at home.
“I've got a couple of doors at home that she grabs hold of and opens and shuts,” he said.
The emotional support from Willow has played a huge role in Brumby’s Paralympic journey as well.
The high-flying pooch has joined him on multiple trips overseas to train and compete.
“She gives the best cuddles,” he said.
“If you're ever having a moment... you just call a dog over and they're all too happy to give you a cuddle.”
The duo has been inseparable since 2018.
At the Invictus Games in Sydney that same year where Brumby was competing in triathlon, Willow even got a royal pat.
“We met Prince Harry, and she's like, straight on her back, and he gave her a big belly rub,” he said.
From not being a dog person to instant love
Czechia Para biathlon silver medalist Carina Edlingerova has her trusty guide dog Riley by her side most of the time at Milano Cortina 2026.
“My guide dog means the world to me. Actually, when I lost more and more of my vision, I was really depressed,” Edlingerova said.
Before Riley became part of her life, Edlingerova admits she wasn’t really a dog person.
“It was instant love for me. It took, I think, a month, but yeah, now, like, he's my black gold nugget. And yeah, we are one love.”
Edlingerova previously represented Austria and Riley joined her on the podium at Beijing 2022 when she won a Para cross country sprint gold medal, his tail wagging a million miles a minute.
The moment went viral and brought joy to millions of people around the world who were grappling with coronavirus disruptions at the time.
As well as helping her stay calm and deal with competition nerves, Riley also helps her to recognise people because she has a hard time with her low vision.
“He's like a multi-tool,” she said.
“He helps find stairs, elevators, benches, rubbish, bins etc.”
Poodle cheer squad
Besides the six official guide or assistance dogs in Milano Cortina, Lithuanian Para snowboarder Rapolas Micevicius’s eight-year-old poddle D’Artagnan is a regular visitor to the Paralympic Village and even has an accreditation pass.
Micevicius has based himself in the Italian alps during the winter season with his girlfriend Brigita Janiulyte and the dog.
Dart, as the dog is known for short, is a therapy canine.
But Micevicius said the dog’s presence at the games has been invaluable.
“Best emotional support. If you feel nervous and anxious, you just give him a cuddle and a stroke,” Micevicius said.
“He calms you down.”
Where to watch and listen to the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games
Secure your tickets for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games
Milano Cortina 2026, which takes place from 6-15 March 2026, is set to be the most beautiful Paralympic Winter Games yet. Ticket prices start at EUR 10 for children under 14, with approximately 89 per cent of the tickets available for EUR 35 or less.
For more information, please visit tickets.milanocortina2026.org
