Athena

Age: 1-2 years

Color: Black & Rust

Ears/Tail: Flopped/Docked

Intake Source: Shelter

Dogs: Only dog or SLOW INTRO with a male sibling

Cats: Not a cat gal!

Crate Trained: Yes

Potty Trained: Yes

HW: Negative

Velcro Meter (1-5): 4

Activity Meter (1-5): 3

Cuddle Meter (1-5): 3

This gorgeous, smiley, girl is around 1-2 years old and full of playful, loving energy. Athena is super sweet and thrives when she has clear rules and boundaries. She’s the kind of pup who can zoom around the yard and then settle down quietly to chew a bone in her own space—though she’d much rather be by your side when given the choice.

Athena loves her people and is eager to please. She’s incredibly food motivated, which makes training a breeze—seriously, she’d jump through hoops (literally!) if you taught her to. She thrives with structure and direction and genuinely wants to learn. Whether it’s basic obedience, fun tricks, or working on her leash skills, Athena is all in and ready to work for a snack and a smile from her person.

Athena is dog reactive, which means she gets overstimulated or overexcited when she sees other dogs, especially at close range. She may bark or pull when passing dogs on walks, but this is something that can absolutely be worked through with time, consistency, and positive reinforcement. She’s not phased by loud noises, bikes, or people—just dogs. The good news is that with regular training and clear communication, she’s already shown signs of improvement. She walks beautifully when there are no dogs around and responds well to gentle redirection when she gets too excited. Athena will need to be the only dog in the home unless her adopter has significant experience managing reactivity and is prepared to do a very slow, structured introduction with a compatible male dog.

Athena is smart, affectionate, and just waiting for the right person to come along and help her be the very best version of herself. If you’re looking for a loyal companion who’s as eager to learn as she is to love, Athena might be your perfect match.

*As a 100% volunteer-based organization, we request a $25 application fee to ensure that potential adopters are committed to the adoption process.

For more information or to begin the adoption process, please visit: https://www.dogwooddobermanrescue.org/adoption-process