when were you ready to welcome a mali into your family?

hello all! i love dogs, and am planning to get certifications to become a dog trainer over the next year or two.

my dream for my second dog is to rescue a young mali or dutchie (mix or not). my partner is on board as long as we do our research and are in the right spot to support and care for a mali, and i strongly agree.

our current pupper is only eight months, so we won’t be ready for our second dog until he’s out of his puppyhood/adolescence. he’s a kelpie x bully x sighthound x dane, so we have experience with big, strong, and energetic dogs (i also volunteer in an animal shelter). but we know he’s absolutely nothing like a mali in terms of drive, the need for a job, level of training involved, etc.

i’m trying to figure out what sort of position we need to be in, to be ready for a mali puppy. working from home full-time? having the funds for a professional trainer? things like that..

i would really love advice and people’s experiences when it comes to when is the right time to adopt a mali (or dutchie). thank you :)