Sam
was just over a year old when we rescued him from the
pound. Apparently someone had gotten tired of the "cute
little puppy" that suddenly ended up bigger than
them ... and was untrained, had no manners, and no respect
for people. He was such a big sweet teddy bear ... all
158 happy playful pounds of him. Happy-go lucky, enthuiastic, teething, virtually destroying everything chewable, and happily slobbering anything that meowed.
Things
I have learned from Sam, Note 1:
115 pound humans make GREAT "Squeaky Toys"
for 158 pound overgrown mastiff puppies!
Even
more fun than playing with (bowling over) the other
dogs, the best part of Sam's day was whenever "Human
Squeaky Toy" (AKA: "Me") dared to venture
into the yard to: go to work, feed the horses,
get the mail, water the trees, fix
the fence, PLAY WITH SAM!
Things
I have learned from Sam, Note 2:
A 158 pound mastiff can attain a velocity
of approxamatly 35 MPH while hurtling thru the air towards
your chest.
[Photos
taken shortly after we adopted Sam]
Sam has since settled happily into life
at About Time Acres. He learned some manners, and he
learned to show respect for people and their space,
(Yes - even for "Human Squeaky Toy"!). He
began to worm his way into my heart, and he earned himself
a place in our lives and out hearts for good. Sam has
grown in the past year or two as well. Currently I'd
be willing to bet he weighs upwards of 220lbs - no fat
there though - he has filled out as he matured and is
all muscle!
Today,
I look out my window (from the un-sloberable safety
of my house) and even I have to admit it is quite comforting
to see his big black self patroling the yard. Sam has
"adopted" us and all the other dogs as "his"
... and good luck to anyone who wants to mess with us
now! He takes his job of patroling the yard quite seriously,
always making sure everything in his kingdom is as it
should be. If we leave, his place is in the middle of
the driveway watching the gate until we return. And
for all his size, he is surprisingly gentle, sure to
be slow and careful with the little puppies. He is always
by my side whenever I walk out the door, and nothing
makes his day like a pat on the head and some loving
from "mom". I swear, sometimes that big loveable
goof can read my mind. The other day I was really sad,
I kid you not, he walked right up to me, gently nudged
his head under my hand, and gave me this look that was
so intense I would swear he was trying to talk to me.
Even
the most serious and devoted guard dog has to take a
break for a nap in the sun every once in a while!
He keeps us on our toes though. Somewhere
along the way Sam learned how to give Wedgies! Feel
free to laugh, but I am serious. He will allow anyone
in the yard once we give the "ok", but for
some odd reason he seems to think strange men that he
doesn't know are "Sam Toys". He's never mean
or rough, he will just carefully pick them up by the
seat of their pants and carry them around the yard until
he's done with them!
The look on the guys face the first time
I saw Sam pick up a 250lb man by the seat of his pants
pants and walk off with him (his feet were clear off
the ground) was pricless! But hey, every dog deserves
his quirks.
So for now, thats where I leave you. Sam
is happily living the life of a king here, and loving
every minute of it. Be aure to check back as updates
and pictures will be added to this page occasionally
as well.
He's a great dog - Just
don't let yourself in the yard un-invited!
Back to "Everyone Else"
page.
