Ulka working a track during a snow-free December 2023

Half-brother of ULKA makes the news! All of us at Sapphire Shepherds join the many others in below press release, in celebrating K9 Taro and handler Adams fine work. Sapphire Shepherds is very proud of the multiple generations of dogs we have bred and owned here in Montana behind this police K9. PRESS RELEASE: In Pepperell last week, a missing 5-year-old child with autism wandered from home, prompting a large search with police officers, including K9 Officer Adams and K9 Taro, swarming the area. With a brook nearby and knowing that some people with autism are drawn to water, the urgency for police was high. K9 Taro quickly picked up a track and within 45 minutes led officers to the child, police said. An officer then carried the child back to their family. “We set a perimeter. K9 Taro established a solid track into the wood line, where we found the young child going down a hill toward a stream,” said K9 Officer Adams. “It’s a great feeling. It’s a good outcome for the family, it’s a good win for everybody that’s working.” The family “couldn’t say ‘thank you’ enough,” Adams told Boston 25 News. K9 Taro is a dual-purpose K9, trained not only in locating missing people/tracking but also evidence, narcotics, protection & obedience. “It’s a game for him,” Adams said. “He just thinks he’s playing this fun game and gets his reward at the end.” K9 Taro is the town’s first police dog, launching the K9 unit two years ago. In his short career, working in Pepperell and assisting agencies in several surrounding communities, K9 Taro has already located more than 20 missing people, it’s been an extreme blessing for the town, Adams said.

Kona (sire of Ulka) almost 11 years in this recent photo! He is similar to a number of our dogs that are well into old-age and still going strong. Never a sick day in his life, still moves, acts and looks like a much younger dog. And to top it all off he has produced a large number of titled, healthy offspring for our program.

Ulka

In the pedigree of Ulka, hiking with our SG LARY BRET - BETT 1st Breed Class 5Y1/N, 0/0, ZVV3

Ulka & mom Yazzy who is 10.5 yrs old in this photo.

Yazzy's bother Yukon titled; BH TR 2 UPr1 IGP2 HIT, NADD Master Title 24 ft. finished the year in top 5 German Shepherd ranking.

Search & Rescue K9, half-brother of Ulka.

Beautiful Yazzy, mother of Ulka.

Kona, sire of Ulka.

Ulka

Ulka as a pup. Having fun in the desert with a group of our dogs.

Ulka on the pier.

Grandmother of Ulka, Flame. Lived into her 15th year of age, working security dog.

Ulka

Ulka working a food track.

Fall 2023 family photo, Ulka with parents Kona & Yazzy who will be 11 years in 2024.

Exceptional Agility competition dog. Half-sister of Ulka.

Young Ulka

From our breeding program, Police Dual Purpose K9, half littermate of Ulka.

A pup from Ulka.

Half-brother of Ulka. SAR K9 Cato of Sapphire Mountain CGC IPWDA Human Remains Land, Human Remains Water, Crime Scene. *2019 recipient of Award of Merit from the International Police Working Dog Association (IPWDA), only 3 K9 teams are chosen each year for demonstrating Professionalism, Discipline and Notable Find. Honor for the dog, handler and breeder.

A pup from Ulka.

Young Ulka

An exceptional dog! Top Nose work competitor, half-brother of Ulka.

Desert exploring with young dogs. Ulka on left.

Young Kona (left & young Ursa (right).

Young Kona.

Kona

Finley and Kona.

Kona

Ulka working a track.

A beautiful, half-sister of Ulka.

Brec crossing bride.

Ulka, giving our very tolerant Xurk a headache.

Ulka in Idaho.

Young Kona.

Yazzy and Ulka.

Brec

Yazzy and young Ulka saying hello to my hardworking grandkids.

Ulka and dogs with us splitting firewood.

Brec & Ulka

Ulka on the trail.

Ulka, always great full grips.

Ulka early obedience

Ulka, desert beauty!

Young Flame & Danny. Flame (grandmother of Ulka) lived into her 15th year of age!

Xurk, with females Reykja and Ulka.

Ulk & Brec on the trail.

Young Kona on left with 2 females.

Kona with Touché.

Yazzy

Lovely, exceptional half-sister of Ulka.

Danny with Lary (Ulka's great-grandsire) and female Natasha.

Kona, practicing a down stay for his CGC title.

Yassy, great brood, never a c-section, fostered pups, never a sick day in her long life, producer of successful working offspring in Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue and family.