Bonsai off season / side hobbies ?

[PastryBaker]

Corn snake? King?
I’ve got a little cinnamon bun.

That is a albino San Diego Gopher. In the height of my collection, I had 15 snakes. I would get in 300 frozen mice every 4 months.
Your's is a beauty.

 

[Paradox]

Good on you that you are interested in learning dog training. It actually has a lot of similarities to bonsai. You have to be consistent 100% of the time for real success. You have to be aware of the details and be observant. And you have to practice a lot to be successful. Good luck! Start with your current dog, because it's never too late.

The thing most people don't consider about working dogs, including the herding breeds but especially Malinois, is that their only focus is you. All day. Every day. They don't want a life outside in the yard or even in another room without you. They never lose that focus, which is very different from a regular pet.

Totally understood on the consistency and practice part of dog training......I keep trying to tell my husband that because our great dane mix gets away with murder with him because of his lack of that.

Your second point about Mals being focused on you and only you 24/7 and not an outside dog or not want to be anywhere but with you is why I would only consider one when I retire and can be home with it almost every day. I know about those videos you mention about all the cool things that Mals do. The thing people dont quite get is pretty much any dog can do most of those things too with the right training and time put in. They might not be quite as fast to pick it up or as good at it as Mals but they can do most of it very well.

 

[shohin_branches]

After over 30 years as a veterinarian, IMHO no one should ever own a dog that is more intelligent than they are. It is true there are no bad dogs. It's also true there are many bad, foolish and stupid owners.
Those of us who have chosen to share our lives with a very intelligent dog breed have a special obligation to make that pet's life full, challenging and interesting every moment we are allowed to share with them.

Tonight my dog got her favorite dinner game "cups" where I split her dinner up into five plastic cups to hide around the house. She gets so excited when I start prepping them.

I feel like a polar bear trainer planning enrichment activities every day.

 

[PerryB]

After over 30 years as a veterinarian, IMHO no one should ever own a dog that is more intelligent than they are. It is true there are no bad dogs. It's also true there are many bad, foolish and stupid owners.
Those of us who have chosen to share our lives with a very intelligent dog breed have a special obligation to make that pet's life full, challenging and interesting every moment we are allowed to share with them.

This is our third standard poodle, so I know about smart dogs. Beau is 3 years old and his first summer someone in our neighborhood (who had know our 2 previous poodles) said, "I could never have a dog that's smarter than me." My thought was that she was fairly insightful to recognize that.
Thirty years ago at neighborhood party, someeone asked about Nash, our 80 pound poodle. I said that he had more personality than some people I knew. The couple I had in mind got up and left the party!
Here's Beau, 84# of energy:

 

[Paradox]

After over 30 years as a veterinarian, IMHO no one should ever own a dog that is more intelligent than they are. It is true there are no bad dogs. It's also true there are many bad, foolish and stupid owners.
Those of us who have chosen to share our lives with a very intelligent dog breed have a special obligation to make that pet's life full, challenging and interesting every moment we are allowed to share with them.

I agree with this sentiment but I would also add "lazy" into the list of undesirable qualities in a dog owner.

An intelligent, active dog doesnt usually do lazy for long