Dog of the Month - September ‘25

Nala (German Shepherd)

Madrona, Seattle

Nala is a senior pup with adventure still in her heart. At the end of any trail, instead of resting, she runs in wild circles, barks in high-pitched excitement, gulps water from chilled mountain lakes, and somehow finds a stick three times her size to drag around. She loves fetch, but also ‘shred and bury,’ and always is hilariously inept at the task.

In one of life’s cruel ironies, Nala has the most softest, huggable coat, but she’s not much of a snuggler—Why are you petting me? Throw the ball. She’ll tolerate a moment of cuddles before returning to her post at the edge of the bed, watching the door in quiet, guard-dog meditation. On rare occasions, she rests her head on your leg, a precious gift of closeness.

Gentle and trustworthy despite her aloofness, she happily accepts pets from children at Madrona Park playground. But make no mistake: squirrels and crows remain her sworn enemies.

Through a decade of wild walks with Zen Dog Walking, she remains calm and carefree, yet always an adventurer at heart—a pathfinder, a guardian, a true friend.