There are very few here. What venue are you interested in, I can probably point you in the direction of a group. Dantero is on this board, she has many mals. I have 15 currently. (9 in a litter)
I train in SAR, hrd, tracking, narcotics and protection. Would be more than happy to help with the quirky mals if I can lol.
So many thanks for your reply, great stuff. Firstly there is just to much to tell about my Shiloh and her "issues: all I can say at the mo is that she is extremely anxious/temperamental/jittery/fearful etc etc in lots of circumstances. Thru lots of work she is settling SOMEWHAT. I have read that the Mal is or can be like this and not necessarily a abused dog because of their behaviour but I can tell when a dog has been abused in some way and my Shiloh obvously has to some extent.
In short I would like to do Agility and or dancing with dogs with her. I have taken her to dog obedience on the Mainland (I live on a Island off QLD) and she takes nearly a whole session to settle down but already passed first grade. She has travelled with me on the ferry (30mins travel) lots of times but alas she will not settle so at this present point in time I have stopped going to training. I have agility equipment here at home and she just loves it although training in the AFrame etc isnt the easiest of tasks.
I firmly beleive in what training method that works for one dog does not necessarily work for another so any help is appreciated.
I have had a interest in what you do for many many years also. Unfortunalty my life hasnt worked out in terms of being able to do this type of training and my German Shephard who I was teaching scenting and basic obedience died of cancer 3 years ago but even she would not have made a good guard dog in the true sense of the word - gun shy ban shy etc lol.
I just love my Mal to death but her nervous nature even tho doesnt drive me nuts does get to me at times as she is just so scared of lots of things.
To put it in a nutshell when I got her home last year (June) she had obviously never walked up stairs, not even one, never been in a house, ran for her life at the click of the jug, microwave and just went into a fearful state that sent ME outside to cry my head off. Her reactions to everything just made me literally die inside. I have never seen a dog so scared of anything in my life and I have been a dog trainer for many years off and on.
Thats bout it for now and thanks so much, so great to chat to someone with Mals. :whoo: