Athena, Lowcountry's Most Talented Dog

Athena, Lowcountry's Most Talented Dog!

Photos by Southern Vintage Photography

If you made it out to our annual Magnolia Plantation Adoption Event in September you might have caught the PUPPIES GOT TALENT competition we had searching for the Lowcountry's Most Talented Dog! Well meet our winner Athena, a shepherd mix. Athena was a last minute entry in our contest and amazed our judges with her routine. Athena, formerly known as Leah and Blondie, was rescued by her mom and dad, Hunter and Sarah, from Friends of the Animals, a local humane society in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. When Athena came into Friends of the Animals shelter at 2 years old, she was 15 pounds underweight and heartworm positive. Unfortunately after several promising trial runs with potential adopters, Athena was returned to the shelter time and time again. Although Hunter and Sarah had initially intended to foster Athena until a foster home was found, the day they got her it was love at first sight and they couldn’t let her go.

Athena, A German Shepherd mix adopted in New Orleans

She was named Athena after the Greek goddess of wisdom and skill because of her high intelligence. One of Athena’s many skills is being able to get out of her crate despite it being locked or ziptied. Luckily, she only escapes to lay on her parents bed. Hunter and Sarah have had Athena for 5 years and she is now heartworm negative and turning 7 years old in March! Shepherd mixes are known for their high energy levels and intelligence. When rescuing her at the age of 2, Sarah and Hunter knew that they would have their work cut out for them in training her so they started strong and consistent. They worked on agility training with her and she is now able to weave through poles, climb the A frame, jump through a hoop, run through a tunnel and balance on a see-saw. Sarah found that training with Athena helped them develop a special bond and she learns best when training with her mom. “I try to challenge her and pick a new behavior to train her on every month or so,” Sarah said. She also knows spin around, stay, give kisses, sit, lie down, paw, up, place, jump, other paw, put-em-up, play dead and can balance and hold a treat on her nose. Athena is loved by many and gives it back in return!

Athena's routine was amazing

Playing dead

Doing criss cross between the legs

Our Content Coordinator, Julie Murray, congratulating Athena and her owner Samantha

Athena and her humans

Athena and her prizes from Tito's Handmade Vodka