Glad to hear you are thinking of a Mal. When I was first looking, everyone tried to talk me out of a Mal seeing that I had a Golden Retriever, which are about the opposites.
But that made me even more determine to get one. (Probably not a good reason to get one.) Anyway, I read as much as I could get my hands on Mals. And he turned out to be better than most things I read.
The process of getting him was a bit much, though.
I had gone to see a puppy at this well known breeder who was highly recommended. When I got there, the place was sooo filthy. I couldn't even concentrate on looking a the puppies because they were just sitting in their own poop. Plus when I met the parents, the female was skiddish and snappy and the male was aggressive. Well, I left there without a puppy and them keeping my deposit.
I then contacted another breeder who told me he had sold all of his but told me that a older pair he sold to someone had pups. I went to see her and it was such a loving home. The parents were very friendly. The pups were always around her kids. It was a great situation. Fortunately, she only bred her pair once and that all her puppies went to loving homes. So I am sure that mine is a unique situation.
Side note - Mals tend to be subborn and have selective listening and even though mine was better than normal. He did have some issues. I use to exercise him like crazy and give him tons of love but no discipline. (Discipline can be as little as telling him to sit and having him to do it.) I've been to alot of trainers with him and everyone has different ways of training but seeing Cesar Millan (the Dog Whisperer) and going to his seminar and then implementing his techniques worked like a charm. Plus I've customize all the training to what works best for him. I feel like each dog is different with different personalities, so what I've learn is that there is not just one way that is correct but what works best for your dog. Plus I still give him more love than I'm suppose to and he still sometimes walks all over me.
Sorry for all this information but I hope it gives you some insight.
Here's a pic of my guy, Dewey.
