Sam, the dog
7/5/2009 - Mary Johnston
My husband has been gone all week visiting his mother and I’ve been left alone with Sam, our one hundred pound yellow lab. Sam and I have a complicated relationship. He belongs to my husband who is a true dog lover. I, too, am a dog lover but by association. I guess you could say I married into it. Before 1980, the year of our nuptials, I would never have imagined a dog in my house. Now I’m his sole caretaker and while I usually love him from afar, I now have to love him from up close.
The complications are due to Sam’s size. I simply can’t control him and he knows it. When we take our daily walk on the leash (even with a Gentle Leader) I am no match for his adrenaline fueled muscular body. One winter he saw a rabbit and took off, dragging me over the ice like a toboggan. The only thing that saved me was my hatred for cold weather which compelled me to wear four layers of cushiony clothing outdoors that day.
But my all time worst memory, which almost evokes PTSD, happened several summers ago. We were on our walk, Sam in the lead and me trying to keep up, when he saw a large furry rodent in the trail ahead. The only thing I remember is the jerk to my shoulder socket. And he was off. A few minutes later he emerged from the thicket with a huge animal in his mouth, draped over both sides of this jaw and almost touching the ground. The animal was alive and terrified. Sam trotted to the house expecting to enter his cozy room with his furry prize. Fortunately, nature took its course. The rodent played dead until Sam dropped it on the ground, then it bit Sam in the face and waddled away.
7 Comments From Other Members
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| 7/5/2009 |
from wrote:
I'm smiling as I read this, Mary, although it is no fun being dragged by an animal. Even twenty years ago when I was much stronger, I once tried to pin down a week-old lamb and was surprised when it overcame my efforts and dragged me through the mud! So I can somewhat relate to your story.
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| 7/6/2009 |
Dorothy Sander from Durham NC wrote:
And so can I! My 35 lb. 7 month old shepherd has nearly dislocated my shoulder, cut off the circulation in my ankles and drowned me with slobber on more than one occasion. As hard as I try to be the alpha dog, for the most part he just laughs in my face. The only thing that I have going for him is my pocket full of treats. He's a dog who loves to eat! and I use that to my advantage. But, when push comes to shove he usually wins. And I hate that!
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| 7/6/2009 |
Christy Steiger from Crown Point IN wrote:
Okay, Mary. Here's advice from a non-dog owner: Watch the "Dog Whisperer" on the National Geographic channel if you can. Sam thinks he's the pack leader!
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| 7/6/2009 |
Mary Johnston from Solon IA wrote:
Thanks Christy. I'll give it a try.
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| 7/7/2009 |
LeAnn Farley from Mt. Pleasant IA wrote:
My only advice would be for future reference. How about getting a smaller dog? I am a dog lover only from afar. My son has two indoor dogs, both with something like pit bull in them. They are very affectionate and loyal but also very strong. He loves them to death and can physically control them. He is the alpha dog. However, I wouldn't have a dog that I didn't feel I could control.Those natural instincts can be very dangerous to others.
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| 7/7/2009 |
Hetty Sturdivant from Matthews NC wrote:
7/7/09 Hetty Sturdivant from Matthews, NC
Well Mary, I seem to have a similar problem that I'm trying my best to work through. I'm a dog lover who fell for the cutest black lab. I got her at 8 weeks and she's now 5 months. I still can't prevent her from jumping on everyone and for me to walk her instead of her walking me, she has no problem eating her leash, chair cushions, plants,trees and on and on. I'm hoping that once she's spayed she will calm down and accept her training a little better, as a last resort I will pay a trainer to train her, maybe that will work for you also.
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| 7/8/2009 |
Mary Johnston from Solon IA wrote:
Hetty, your situation sounds quite similar to mine. We got Sam when he was so cute and LITTLE. Thankfully, my husband returned yesterday and has responsibility for leading Sam's pack again.
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