Jasper is a one-year-old German Shepherd that came to Highland Canine Training LLC’s care in the early springtime of 2023. The trainers were first contacted by a local GSD rescue hoping to send an 8-month-old dog through our second chance program. This program works with local shelters, rescues, and families to offer free training to the community for dogs with behavior problems. 

The GSD rescue informed our trainers that the young GSD in their care had been abandoned at a dog sitter’s home a few weeks prior. Unfortunately, the dogsitter was unable to contact Jasper’s original owners. After several weeks they contacted the rescue for help placing him in the right home. It did not take long for the volunteers to realize they needed assistance with Jasper because of his unusual behavior problems. Jasper struggled with reactivity to a wide variety of things including dogs, cars, and people. Jasper also would chase and try to mouth the legs of whoever was handling him. Due to these behaviors Jasper was scheduled for an evaluation and in kennel training through Highland’s second chance program. 

Originally the Trainers at Highland Canine Training were hoping to train Jasper to the point of making him adoptable. Yet upon meeting and evaluating Jasper, the plans changed very quickly. It was clear that this confident young Shepherd was displaying unwanted behaviors due to his natural prey drive. Jasper not only looked to be from working lines, but also passed the initial drive test for detection and trailing with flying colors. After the evaluation Jasper was adopted by Highland Canine Training to enter into the Police K9 Training Program and be donated to a department in need by Highland Canine Connect.

Over the next several months Jasper was trained to reliably search for and indicate on PCP,MDMA, Cocaine, Meth, and Heroin. Jasper has also been trained to have both on and off leash obedience, trailing and article searches. With proper outlets for Jasper’s drive, his sweet and goofy personality has shown and his potential is high! He has truly never met a stranger, from groups of people to new dogs to play with. 

Now that Jasper is reliably working in a variety of environments and with multiple different distractions, he will be looking to partner with departments in need. Jasper will be donated to a department where he can serve his community while getting to work every day. This is all made possible by your generous donations to Highland Canine Connect! 

If you are part of an agency in need of a K9, or know of one who is, the application for the donation of K9 Jasper is attached below!