DESCRIPTION:
Samson, a 140 pound, 14 month-old Malamute and new addition to our family, meets my trumpet for the first time. Note that when I was playing in the same room he was in, I was playing about as quietly as I can (at about the same volume as a quiet human voice) as I want to acclimate him as positively as possible to the trumpet since like it or not, it's going to be a part of his life. He clearly prefers Irons' Flexibility Exercises (played at the very end of the video) to Maynard's "Hey Jude" (at 3:26). I LOVE how he reacts to the wolf sounds I make at 0:44 - and how he makes my wife holding the camera about jump out of her skin when he barks for the first time ever in front of us at 0:49! And at 2:43 he's actually looking at me through a full length mirror on our front hallway closet door. He alternates between the mirror reflection and looking over toward me - maybe I'm just a "proud parent" but I don't think that many dogs understand the concept of a mirror. He seems to.

Until last Wednesday when he officially moved in with us, Samson was living at a warehouse facility since he was a few months old - the original owner bought him from a championship kennel in Washington, apparently not understanding what life is like with a Malamute puppy (let alone a full-grown Malamute). So after just a few weeks, he was relegated to the family-owned warehouse facility. A kind plant manager took him home on weekends and spoiled him ROTTEN with toys, treats and people food. :-) Unfortunately, other than learning to sit (for treats if and only if he wants one), lay down (for treats if and only if he wants one) and stay (for treats if and only if he wants one), Samson has had absolutely no obedience training. He weights 140 lbs. He is still growing. Oh boy...

Things are going well. After just 5 days, he tolerates having his anti-pull harness, collar and leashes (two are required) put on him without a wrestling match, and sometimes he doesn't pull like a locomotive. But just sometimes...

He's super sweet and we're blessed to have him. With three one-hour exercise walk/runs per day followed by training sessions, we are making progress.