Samson’s Story: A 140-Pound Mastiff Learns His Manners

At one year old Samson already weighed 140 pounds. His owner had the rope burn to prove it.

Samson · One-year-old American Mastiff · 140 pounds · Trained by Carissa

Where Samson started

Samson is an American Mastiff. At one year old he weighed 140 pounds, and his owner lovingly described him as a “140lb slobbery monster pup.”

A puppy brain in a body that size is a real problem. Samson pulled on the leash hard enough to leave rope burn on his owner’s hands. And there were worries every time he was around small animals, children or people he did not know. With a dog that big, a friendly lunge can still knock someone down.

The training journey

The first thing Samson’s owner thanked our team for was the assessment: finding the right training for this particular dog. His owner wrote that it “was key to his success.” We agree. A giant-breed adolescent needs a plan built around his size and his age, not a one-size program.

Samson then trained with Carissa at Off Leash K9 Training Columbus. His owner’s verdict on her: “Carissa needs her own tv show!”

What actually changed

• No more leash pulling. And no more rope burn.
• No more worries around small animals, children and unfamiliar people.
• Samson pays attention. His owner wrote that “Sam is so attentive now and on the right path to a wonderful life.”

★★★★★

“Your ability to assess the right training for Samson (1yr old American Mastiff) was key to his success. Carissa needs her own tv show! She was able to make a 140lb slobbery monster pup turn into a 140lb slobbery sweetheart. Sam is so attentive now and on the right path to a wonderful life. No more worries around small animals, children and unfamiliar people! No more leash pulling and rope burn on my hands!”

Trekurself Duran, Google review, July 2025

Read the review this story was written from, on Google

What it changed for his owner

Samson is still 140 pounds and still slobbery. His owner says he went from a slobbery monster to a “slobbery sweetheart.” The dog did not get smaller. He got easier to live with, and safer to take places.

One more line from the review stays with us: the training “made me a believer.”

Why Samson’s story matters to us

Big dogs get less room for mistakes than small dogs do. Teaching a giant breed to walk politely and stay calm around kids and strangers while he is still young is one of the most useful things an owner can do, for the dog and for everyone he meets.

Not sure which program fits a big, strong young dog? Compare board and train with our private obedience lessons, or see every program on our pricing page.