It's all about deciding what you want in a dog. What qualities are important to you and a realistic view as to how much time and effort you'd like to put in. Realistic being the key word. I really do think that time devotion is the first point of consideration.
It really irks me when lazy people get working dogs. I'll never understand it. At the very least, every dog needs food/water and a walk or some form of physical exercise every day. That's it. If someone is not willing to do even the bare minimum, why get a working dog? Actually, why get a dog at all? It makes no sense to me. They're not yard ornaments or pillows to set on your sofa. It's weird when people use animals as status symbols.
Smart dogs are great, but I prefer a step down from that... the simple dog. The dog that always does what its told, the dog that listens and doesn't try to be clever (because it's just not), the dog that just wants approval — the predictable dog. Lou is that dog. Easiest dog I've ever had. I know how he will react in every situation. He never deviates. He's not Mr. Personality, but I'll take him over the clever dog any day!
Yeah, I hate when people get working dogs and then just let them suffer in the house or whatever. Even a walk around the block is torture for the true working dogs. They need wayyyy more exercise, like running, but beyond that, they need mental stimulation too. I almost think the mental stimulation is more important for a lot of dogs. For some dogs, like huskies, a lot of physical exercise might be enough, and they more need that, but others, like the Malinois and Border Collies, are so so smart and really need the consistent training, working, a job. Which is the exact reason I won’t get those dogs. At least not now. I probably could provide a good home for them, in fact, probably better than most, because I love training and incorporate it into daily life/practically everything we do through one way or another whether it’s a game or on a walk or whatever, plus I am interested in agility and nose work, and trick training, so I probably could provide for those dogs, but in my mind, I couldn’t. Idk. I’m just not 110% sure I could or even want to and I just don’t think it would be fair to them so I haven’t gotten one. They are A LOT of work and I am not sure I want a dog that NEEDS that amount of work. One that can do all that would be nice, sure, but I don’t think I would want one that would go ballistic without work, you know? Drives me mad when I see people get huskies, border collies, even corgis, and yes sometimes Malinois, because “they are so cute” or “I want a smart dog like that!!” And then get annoyed that it’s too smart, too energetic, too untrained (cause they didn’t train it), etc.
sooo many people see pretty Instagram posts or flashy YouTube videos or a canine actor in a movie or whatever and think that dog looks cool and they want/need one NOW!!! Not realizing that dogs don’t just come born like that, it takes A LOT of time, effort, and training to get there, and that people don’t post the negatives of having that dog or the challenges they’ve faced with him!! Plus the fact that not every dog even has that great potential even from the same breed or litter even. Then it’s somehow the dog’s fault when it doesn’t work out and they rehome him!!! Drives me mad!!!!
But sorry for the rant LOL
I think I want a dog that can do tricks/train a lot, possibly do nose work and/or agility, can hike/long walks/adventure, etc., and still just want to snuggle/be close to me at the end of the day, or at least interested in me and my emotions/in tune, etc. but problem is lots of dogs fit that very basic mold lol
And it is funny you mention clever dogs versus simple dogs because Libby and Franklin are exactly that lol Libby is so smart and learns tricks and new stuff soo fast which was very fun when she was younger but now that she’s older and more rebellious, she also sometimes uses her smarts for bad and like knows how to be bad and plots how to get away with stuff and whether she wants to listen to today. She can be an angel for days, even weeks on end, and then one day just wake up and decide today is the day. Of course, I also personally think she still needs more training and consistency, but still. She actively chooses whether or not to listen. And she is more independent and less snuggly but she does like it sometimes. Meanwhile, Franklin has always just been sooo snuggly and obedient and listens to everything you say. And honestly I think he is too dumb to purposely be bad LOL he’s cute and sweet but not the brightest and takes longer to learn. Although I personally kind of think that could partly be because he is so easily excitable and distracted and it can be hard for him to focus so he might not really be “dumb”, just hard to focus and we haven’t had as much time to devote to him since having both. With Libby, everyone worked so hard and so much with just her. But having the simple dog is definitely easier lol although Libby is starting to somewhat negatively influence him.
So I went out to collect the 2 eggs that happened to be under her so she didn't have anything to sit on. She pouted and came out of the nest box lol. I picked her up and checked out her belly and yeah, her belly was pretty bare and smooth. I told her that I didn't want to let her have babies because I already bought babies and don't need any more. She's not happy but she'll get over it. I'll keep an eye out for her just in case she decides to sit in a nest box a little too long that way I can shoo her away. 
Hubby doesn't think Bowie is getting the job done effectively anyway. He thinks he is too small and the girls are too big. I told him they aren't THAT big. 
