^{April, 2007; Chay-Da is the 5th. German Shepherd dog that I have owned and trained ( starting at 8 weeks of age) for Search and Rescue and the 3rd dog I’ve trained for narcotics/bomb detection work. In comparison to previous dogs I've owned, his aptitude for learning and his intelligence is the highest. His hunt and prey drive are the perfect combination for producing an excellent working dog. His work ethic and desire to please is excellent. His drive and personality give him the potential to become one of the best working dogs I’ve ever seen.
At the very young age of 1 year, Chay-Da certified as a bomb dog through the NPCA. I have since switched him over to Narcotics as there was not enough calls for bombs. At 2 years of age, he is certified in tracking, wilderness, cadaver/HRD, evidence, water and avalanche. His tracking skills is the best of any dog I've owned. Last week on a Law Enforcement callout, he tracked the driver of a vehicle approximately 1 mile and found him in the bushes.
Chay-Da has normal social behavior towards people, children, and dogs. His personality is very well rounded which makes him an excellent candidate for any discipline. After he was a year old, I tested him on the sleeve for bite work. His grip is excellent and he would make a good apprehension dog had I prepared him for this line of work as a pup. (Due to search and rescue aspects, I will not be teaching him that discipline).  He has wonderful strength of nerve and has absolutely no problem working in different environments and floor surfaces.  His retrieve drive is also very high.
I have had numerous opportunities to watch other dogs work that were acquired from Sapphire Shepherd's breeding program and all of them demonstrate tremendous hunt and prey drive and are great working dogs. They are very quick learners and are highly trainable. If you are considering buying a working dog you will receive an excellent dog from either Sapphire Shepherds or from Chay-da. You can expect (after ratings from puppy tests) a puppy with excellent retrieve, hunt and prey drive, an excellent even temperament and a great desire to please. You won’t be disappointed.
Janet Wilts}

5-23-05; Update on the puppy..  So far he is quite fun....and a terror....His confidence is very good...he has gone down slides on his own... (he wouldn't go down the covered circular one)...jumped across small streams...played in streams....gone up and down metal grilled stairs (that were open)  gone up and down rocks and boulders....and jumped across gaps in the rocks.....(I did this with my three year old dog when he was the same age ..and he wouldn't jump and just yelled) so I know his confidence level is above Mahko's.....yeahhhhhhh.  I'll let you know his other traits as I find out about them.... thanks again for the pup
Janet

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Hi Ramona,  I thought I would send you a quick update on Samara. 
We began tracking classes a few weeks ago and she is enjoying it immensely.  She is definitely a dog who likes to work, to have a purpose.  Our trainer has remarked several times that he believes she has a lot of natural talent in this area, and that he is very pleased with her performance.   She seems to know exactly what is expected of her and puts her nose to the ground and heads off when asked, despite the many distractions of other dogs and people milling about.
I have not begun formal obedience training with her, which goes against all my inclinations with a pup, but I have been advised by several knowledgeable people to go easy on her until I make a final determination about what I would like her to become.  This is not to say that she doesn't know the basics -- she walks well on lead, does her sits and downs without hesitation and is very comfortable in the vehicle.  She is a very easy to live with pup.  I have not started any competition-type obedience with her though, as it seems people believe it makes the dog too dependant on the handler and may inhibit some of her natural tendencies, especially in the Schutzhund work.
Her winter coat is coming in and she is really gorgeous.  I will try to get some new pictures of her at one of her training classes in the upcoming weeks.
I have been unable to find a suitable retailer who will get in the food I like -- Samara and my older pup, Grissom seemed to especially loved the Sojos sample you had given me when I picked up the puppy.  I have found that the recipe is fairly easy to duplicate however,  using ingredients and supplements at local human health food stores.  They get that, along with a healthy amount of elk and chicken.   I have had a few people, notably veterinarians and other dog trainers,  remark on what beautiful coats they have and how clean their teeth are.  Thank you for the introduction to the great supplements to the raw meat.
Hope all is well with you.   I peek in at your website often and love checking out the new pups. 
Jacqueline