Robin's Nest from American Humane - Coast Guard Courage: Meet K9 Ultra

Episode Date: February 16, 2026

In this episode of Robin’s Nest, we welcome American Humane Hero Dog finalist K9 Ultra and her handler, Alaina Whitaker.A four-year-old German Shepherd/Dutch Shepherd mix serving as a Coast Guard Military Working Dog, K9 Ultra is a highly trained detection specialist who can switch instantly from playful companion to mission-ready protector at the command “seek.” Together, K9 Ultra and Alaina share how military working dogs safeguard lives through explosive detection, motorcade security and force protection in high-stakes environments.From clearing a vice-presidential motorcade route to standing watch at home, K-9 Ultra’s story is one of loyalty, discipline, and the powerful bond between handler and K-9. This episode shines a light on the extraordinary, and often unseen, service of military working dogs who protect our nation every day.

In this powerful Robins Nest episode, a military working dog whose professionalism and adaptability truly set her apart. You're about to hear the story of K9 Ultra, a highly skilled detection dog who can shift from playful companion to mission-ready protector in an instant. Alongside her dedicated handler, Elena Whitaker, K9 Ultra's story highlights the extraordinary training, trust, and bond behind military working dogs who safeguard life. every single day. We're proud to welcome American Humane Hero Dog military finalist, K-9 Ultra and Elena, to Robbins Nest here at the American Humane Sanctuary. Welcome to Robins Nest. Many of us feel a deep bond with animals, from the pets we cherish at home to the endangered species in nature. Join us for lively, informative conversations where together we will build a more humane world. Well, I'm so excited about this episode,

episode of Robbins Nest because we have two very special ladies in the house today in the nest, K-9 Ultra, hello, gorgeous, and Elena Whitaker. Elena, I'm so glad you're here. Thank you so much. And congratulations on being this year's military working hero dog of the year. Isn't that amazing? Yeah, it's such an honor. Thank you so much. Oh, my gosh. Or we're talking about heroes on both ends of the leash. So, first of all, I want to thank you for your service to our country. And I want to hear all about it. And then I want to hear all about this very special girl that's with you, this very special canine hero, who, by the way, is the only female in all of our hero dogs class this year of finalists. Isn't that amazing? So I love it. I love it on so many different, like, ways.

But Elena, welcome. And please tell all of our listeners about you, first of all. So about me, I've been in the Coast Guard for almost 10 years, which does not seem like it at all. Three of those years so far has been with K-9 Ultra. And prior to being K-9, I was doing some counter-narcotic operations, which was such a blast. Truly once-a-lifetime type of unit. And then I got my dream job after my dream job and doing K-9. Wow. Tell me, what does it mean?

Well, first of all, counter-narcotics. That's brave work that you were doing. Can you tell me a little bit about that segment of your life? You said that was your dream job at that time. Yeah. So I'm sure everyone has seen the videos before of the guys in green jumping on submarines and getting some drugs off of boats. And it's been in the news a lot lately. Certainly, yeah.

So, yeah, just chasing drug runners. And that was you? That was me. Wow. Wow. So one of those guys jumping out of planes and helicopters were you. I love that. That is so amazing.

That takes such bravery and such courage. And then this next phase of your career has been as a K-9 handler. So tell me why did you transition? So the opportunity to be K-9 came about, and you're never going to turn that down. It's such a unicorn position in the Coast Guard, only being 18 dogs. So when a solicitation came out, I put my name in the hat and just kind of crossed my fingers, and I got it. Wow. Wow. Why do you think you got it?

I not to brag um but we want you to brag here it's all about you and your hair but I had a pretty good resume yes I think and I also had really great command um recommendations and I was so lucky to have such a supporting command um and supporting unit that really pushed me to put in for it um because they thought that I would be a great fit yes so really happy that they pushed me and that's wonderful it's a great story and it's a great you're a great role model for young women everywhere because of what it takes to do the job that you did and now what you're doing too, you're such a great role model. So I'm so glad to have you in in Robins Nest today sharing your personal story. But now we're going to pivot because we have a hero dog in the house, a gorgeous girl,

K-9 Ultra, who, by the way, has been grabbing little bugs in the air. We are in Florida in the middle of a beautiful little swampy area. There's lots of bugs for her to grab. Tell us about this gorgeous girl and what brave things she does yeah so ultra she is a five-year-old german shepherd dutch shepherd mix um she i love her name by the way she is ultra thank you yeah i didn't pick it but you know what i it fits her so well um and fits the job that she does yeah she is explosive detection canine in new york city with the coast guard um one of 18 and i think she's a rock star she is a rock star so you're based to New York City? I am, yes. But she does work

not just to New York City, is that correct? Correct. Yeah, so any major event that the Coast Guard sends us to, we go. So major marathons, New York, Boston, Chicago, as well as, you know,

Super Bowl, really any major event that they need explosive detection canines, we have the opportunity to go. Tell us what it is to be an explosive canine detection dog because I know our law enforcement dog this year is a scent detection for electronics. So explosives detection, we've heard of in the military before, very important during Iraq and the Afghan conflicts there to sniff out weapon caches. Tell us about what Ultra does.

Yeah, so we are military, but we are a little bit different. So we're not going overseas to you know, Iraq and protecting soldiers. We are going to major cities and protecting the public. So, wonderful. Yeah, major events, you know, after everything that happened in Boston, it kind of puts things in perspective.

You know, the people there are just so inspiring of how something tragic can happen. But we, you know, move on and we come at things with even more excitement and are proud to do what we do. Absolutely. Elena, can you share with us one of you and Ultras great stories that really touches your heart?

By the way, she's just gorgeous. I don't want to scare her, but you are just so gorgeous. Yes, you can smell me all day long. Yes, you can. The first thing that comes to my mind is during the United Nations General Assembly, this past year. We were tasked to search the vehicle, dignitary vehicles before they went and picked up the dignitaries. And we were searching for probably two plus hours. And I could tell she was getting exhausted and needed a break, kind of just was done for the day. But the very last vehicle,

so I had thought that, you know, like she's not really searching anymore. She's just kind of like lagging around. For the last vehicle, she sat on. EOD came and cleared it. I mean, it was a box of flares. Wow. Does have explosive properties. So it's awesome to see that even when I think she's not working anymore, when I think she's exhausted, like, she's still sniffing. She's still doing the job. She's still doing the job. And how old did you say she is? She just turned five in December. How long will she continue to work? So our working life is six years. Six years. Yeah.

So she has another three before she retires and then I adopt her. Oh, I love that. Yeah. I love that. Will you think that you will continue on the Coast Guard and get another dog at that point? So unfortunately, the Coast Guard is one dog, one handler. Yes. So I will continue in the Coast Guard.

I'll just move to a different job. A different job. Yeah. But she'll have her for her ever-loving retirement home, which I think is terrific. Yeah. She'll become a pet and a couch potato. I love, I can't imagine her being a couch potato. She's always on, always, always on.

She is until we get home. Her nickname's actually bug because she's such a cuddle bug. When the vest comes off? Vest comes off and we're on the couch. She just cuddles up right next to you and passes out. I love that. Well, she works so hard in the day and she's certainly keeping the general public safe and keeping all of us safe at all these incredible events that we feel so fortunate and

privileged to go to. It's teams like this, hero dogs and hero handlers like this that keep amazing. America safe. It's so incredible. I think you both are such role models. And I have to ask you, what is your superpower and what is ultra superpower? I'm asking you both. Yes. What's your superpower? I would say personally, for me, it's resiliency. I think that I put a lot of effort into my job and into my day-to-day life that I'm not going to be told no. And that's not going to be a stopping point for me. One I'm going to ask, why are you saying no? And if I don't like that answer, I'm just going to keep going until I get the answer that I want.

Superpower for her, her ability to keep working. So I guess kind of the same. That's right. That's right. Yeah, she is just like a little powerhouse. She's small, but she's mighty. Yeah. Well, like you are.

I love that. Well, I would say you both have dogged determination. You know what I'm saying? That's wonderful. And resilience is such a beautiful. word to describe a superpower. I love that. Thank you. And an example is what she just did it with the UN, you know, and that convening and still being so tired, but she still pushed on through. And it's just wonderful. It's incredible. So now I have to ask you, you brought a little something here. Can you

share? I did. I brought a, we call it a little mini ultra. It's funny because on the West Coats, it's a mini-nicki from last year. Yes. But yeah, so that's a, little mini ultra. Oh, I love it so much. This is so precious. You know what I do have to see is a big shout out to the military working dogs and the Coast Guard. Hero dogs, only 18 of them. And each of these dogs does do very, very special things. And I'm so proud that American Humane Hero Dog Awards is honored two of these amazing, three of these amazing dogs. That's exactly right. Name all three. Canine Buddha. Knaw Nikki. And then now canine ultra.

Three of the 18. I love that. It's a great track record, isn't it? Absolutely. Way to go to Coast Guard. We've got 15 more Coast Guard. You get on the ball to nominate for next year. What does it mean to be Hero Dog of the Year?

It's an honor and it's very humbling. Being able to highlight Ultra's story, but not just Ultra. All the Coast Guard canines that are working behind the scenes to protect the public. And we're small, but we're mighty. That's exactly right. That's so true. I want to thank you from all of us for your service, for Ultra's service, and most importantly, thank you for keeping America safe.

Of course. Thank you so much for this opportunity. This has been incredible. It's our privilege. So great to have K9 Ultra and Elena Whitaker here in Robbins Nest. Thank you for tuning in to Robbins Nest. We want to hear what you think. Please make sure to review the podcast on your podcast platform.

Watch for upcoming episodes that will include new and new. exciting discussions. If you love animals, you'll love this season of Robbins Nest.