DogPaddle,
just like you said, slow progress is still progress. just take your time and enjoy training with your dogs and soon before you know it, you and your dogs will be competing and winning trials! :D
well i do protection work, obedience and agility with my Mals! me and my dogs have lots of fun during trails - win or lose! hahaha! :D
you are right about the Alpha thing! i bought Sage when he was 2 years old and was already protection trained. on the second day we trained when i was about to put the collar around his neck, he bit me! good thing i was wearinga jacket and that saved my arm! hehe! i guess he was just trying to see if he can be Alpha. but now he is as lovable as ever! :D
thanks for the warm welcome DogPaddle! :D
the problem with your friends Mal is they crated the dog so much! Mals need to expend their energies which some days seem to never run out! i train my Mals every morning and bring them with me to the office as much as i can during the day. when we get home i put them on the run for an hour then give them dinner and by then they would be tired and satisfied. i train my Mals in protection, obedience and agility. i'd have to say that they are very fast learners and the set back to that is they also bore easily, so you'd have to figure out a new challenges for them from time to time! :D
good luck on your new dog in 5 years or so! hehe! :D