Defender of the Home

Athena – Goddess of wisdom, the practical arts, warfare, and the protectress of cities. A mighty name for a dog to bear. But the bitch beareth it well.

Athena, is our 6th month-old German Shepard. She came equipped with killer instincts and a deadly growl.

Every night, I peer through my window to see what Athena is up to. Sometimes she’s sleeping on her back with her paws in the air; other times she’s irritating our other dog – a pug, by running round and round and round him. But at her best times, she’s loyally guarding the main doors of her master’s home.

Her ears prick up, like she’s trying to catch and decipher the unseen waves in the air for any enemy intrusion. She gets up on all four, posing like she’s going to charge forward. Slowly, she puts her right paw gently forward. Like she doesn’t want the rustle of grass sounds to alert her unseen enemy and she makes a dash to the garden.

Without a sound, she pounces on something on the ground. Her nose starts to twitch as she deciphers her catch. As she lifts her paw to check on the enemy, it hops out of the her grasp.

What an exciting match to watch! The enemy seems to be confusing her with its zigzag hopping formation. She pounces after the hopping object with much vigor and speed. But alas, after 10 minutes of high strung hopping activity Athena loses her enemy into the dark side.

With a mixed look of wild excitement and defeat, she heavily pants her way back to the front doors of her master’s house.

Between laps of water from her bowl, she looks into the night to scan for more excitement.

The night is still young. The goddess of warfare will keep on defending her master's home without a shadow of doubt.