I have a friend considering a Border Collie as a pet.
Even though the dog will not be working she will have plenty of exercise and running each day in a rural location, my friend does not work so the dog will have company all the time, in fact it will be a lovely home ( trust me I am very critical of how dogs are looked after but this home will be good ) She would be very grateful for any pros and cons regarding this dog as a pet, and any advice on this breed as far as other dogs and kids are concerned. She will be looking for a pup so it can be socialised from a young age, but she is scared of taking on a dog that she won't cope with, which wouldn't be fair to her or the dog. So being sensible she is learning all she can beforehand.
Any advice would be gratefully received.

BTW she is not new to dogs, just new to border collies, so she is an experienced dog owner.

as or more important to physical exercise is mental exercise and they thrive if given a job to do - otherwise they will invent one.  No reason why she shouldn't get on ok with one as long as she doesn't get a very worky/herdy dog, there are plenty around but pick a health checked - importantly CEA, TNS - there are some lovely litters advertised on champdogs and I'd suggest show lines rather than herding lines although much care is needed even so.  If your friend would like to take up flyball, agility or obedience for example it would be of benefit....

I had a Border Collie before the breed I have now.  It lived to the ripe old age of 16 years.

She was a wonderful pet.  She was called Moss - a nice 'short, sharp' name.  She got on well with children, dogs, and generally anything that life threw at her.

Border Collies in my experience require a great deal of mental stimulation rather than hours of free running.  Of course, everything in moderation, a bit of both is great, but the brain-work goes a long way to make a good pet.  (I guess this can be said of most breeds).

The mental stimulation can be in the form of games with toys, simple obedience commands - sit, down, stay, paw, roll over, etc etc.

I guess much depends on the dogs' background, breeding etc.

HTH.  :-)

The best thing she can do is find a good breeder - far too many are bred because they are popular, and a great many are farm bred from iffy parents from what I've seen.  It can be disastrous - Phoebe is one of those, and she is horrendously noise-phobic and very reactive.

On that note they are sensitive to sound, so socialising to a variety of noise (and movement, too) is key, especially in a rural locale - your friend needs to get a pup used to traffic noise and movement and that sort of thing.  It might not seem too important but you never know when she might need to travel to a vet or the like and be exposed to that sort of thing.  That is what went wrong with Phoebe, she was never acclimatised to it in the crucial weeks.

Re. exercise - as the others have said yes, they are active dogs but mental stimulation is more important.  They learn very quickly but that means they also learn bad habits very quickly!  But, running is something she'll need to be careful with to begin with - a BC pup is still a pup, and will need time to develop and mature physically before anything high impact is done.  The same is true of things like throwing balls - that is very high impact.  If she was considering any of the dog sports she can start doing the foundation work right away - wait, recall, directional control.  It's never too early to start that.

I find search work is brilliant for tiring a dog's brain out and that's something a pup could learn :-)  Or something that requires them to really think - I'm about to start training (well, trying) triebball with Phoebe, it's a sort of herding activity using gym balls.  Uses the natural instincts of the breed (although any breed can do it) and great stimulation!

Agree with megslegs that mental stimulation is top priority.  Border Collies are not for your average pet home.

My boy doesn't need 4 hour hikes, they would only tire his body out.  But would do nothing for his brain.  And boy do these dogs have a brain.  As Nikita mentions search work is great.  I started with easy stuff at first with my boy.  They are a very sensitive breed, and you need to set them up to succeed.  My boy would be distressed if he couldn't get it right.  As far as other dogs go my boy does happily play with my Yorkies, but as soon as he smells me near, he's only interested in me.  They are a bit of a one man dog breed.

That's not to say he won't enjoy fuss from folks, but he likes me best.  :-)  Their loyalty is second to none, and for Border Collie lovers, the bond is fantastic.

Many thanks for the replies, the more I hear the more I am not sure this is the dog for her. Lovely as they are I know she will be ok with the exercise, however the time needed for lots of mental stimulation may be more than she can cope with. I will let her know all the comments and the choice will be hers, however this may be more than she is prepared for.
I know she wanted a smallish-medium dog with energy for lots of walks but to cuddle up on the settee with her for companionship in the evenings, maybe a dog where the running will be sufficient with normal play games and attention at home, but without the need for lots of mental activity.
Any ideas....

I've had Border Collies for years before I got working cockers, out of them only one wouldn't manage in a pet home, plenty of lines would make wonderful family pets and some are real couch potatoes. I would advise her to do her research into breeders, be honest with them, a good breeder will not only only know if her/his lines will make good pets, but will also be able to pick the right puppy from a litter for your friend. Mental stimulation doesn't have to be as intensive as agility/obedience training, fun tricks with a clicker for 10 minutes a few time a week will do. Border Collies vary in how much they need, it's a matter of finding the right one. I think your friend sounds like a lovely home.

Another dog she may like to consider is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, which have a look of a collie about them if she is keen on collies because of how they look. They enjoy lots of exercise and benefit from mental stimulation as any dog does, but not to the same degree as collies

what about a sheltie? up for exercise and whilst they do well with mental stimulation it's not as urgent as with a border collie...they love to cuddle on the sofa :-)

Perhaps a cocker? They can do loads of exercise, but are happy for a snuggle in the evenings. :-)

I've BCs, I've only every had BCs, I wouldn't have anything other than BCs. Border Collies can make the most fabulous pets.

I'm afraid I'm not of the opinion that a pet home is better going to a 'show' line as opposed to a 'herding/working' line. The line is completely irrelevant. What is important is going to a good breeder (now, that doesn't necessarily rule out farm bred collies, there are many I know that have been very well bred), a breeder who puts a lot of work into the rearing of the pups, socialisation, noise de-sensitisation, etc, but more importantly looks at the home and looks at the pup - matching the two is what is most important.

Border Collies don't need endless hours of excercise. Like ANY breed of dog, they need training. If you don't train a BC, again, as in any breed, but give them hours of exercise then you just end up with a very fit untrained dog. Border Collies do need mental stimulation, but that can often achieved by just 'doing' ... there's now a Border Collie likes more than to mooch and do with it's owner :-D

I'm not sure what you're thinking 'lots of mental activity' involves. Yes they do need stimulation, but we're not talking hours a day! They should be trained, socialised, taught basic manners (but that applies to any breed of dog). 5 minutes of 'findies' games in the evening is a great stimulator and tirer out ... all can be done whilst sat on the sofa watching the telly :-) ... once the effort of teaching the 'findies' game has been put in.

As said though, the important thing is to get a pup from the right breeder. I've got pups that are competing in obedience, agility, working trials, and doing the work they were bred to do. I've also got pups in the most fabulous pet homes. Some of those homes are first time dog owners! I would not place a high drive, or very strong dog, into such a home so the puppy and the home has been carefully matched. I look for active pet homes - where the owners are willing to do basic training, preferrably continue training, even if just games or tricks, and they are active, ie enjoy plenty of walking or hill walking, I'm not talking homes where they think they have to do hours and hours of endless activity though.

I'd suggest she gets to know some people with Border Collies, gets to meet some breeders, go see some litters and take the opp to talk to the breeder. Ignore the manic Border Collies - they're frequently manic 'cause they have manic, misinformed owners ... who think they need endless amounts of exercise and tons of winding up!! It is literally a case of getting the right pup for the right home (as, surely, is the case, or should be, with any breed ;-) ).

I have seen so many different temperaments in the collies I know.  Some people have quite placid loving dogs while others are more hyper and reactive - my first one is - but I made lots of mistakes when I was bringing her up.  Thought I had read all there was to read at the time but nothing prepared me for the dog I had.  I had 2 Setters before but could not say I was an experienced handler - having a collie made me realise how little I knew.  I love having a collie (now after a huge learning curve and nearly giving up several times in the last 8 years) and when I started looking for another agility dog I went for another collie.  Tried to make sure that this one was a sound temperament as possible and from a very good home - well bred - well thought of parents and grandparents - good lines.  I chose this one because he just loved to be stroked - and at nearly 13 weeks he still does.  But he is the only one out of the litter that has shown a temper - when he wants to have his own way he lets everyone know it!   However I am working hard with him and he is responding to training really well - he gave me 99% focus in our second puppy class.  I am learning by my mistakes!!!  You don't go into having a collie unless you are willing to give 100%.  My second choice would have been a spaniel.  The other thing I now have is a good support group around me too - which I didn't have first time around. 

> good support group around me too

Which includes the breeder I hasten to add!

My first border collie was rescue (at 8 weeks) from a farm and a better dog no one has had... he had his moments, but a smashing dog - we did agility together and at first he hadn't a clue how to relax, 5mins sleep in 24 hours was excessive, but he learned to chill with my GSD whom he idolised... after that I bought a pup from a friend and now I have 7, soon to be 8 and have bred 3 litters.  Some are doing well in agility, some are being active pets, but they're not necessarily for the feinthearted... I sold one to couple allegedly knew collies and ran their own business so he'd go to work etc etc but he came back to me (having been a fab pup) as being untrainable and I was glad he was back, it was clear they hadn't a clue and the father who had collies also hadn't a clue (the collie he had was more like a stuffed toy!).  He's now in a fantastic home (as a pet) but after a few weeks he was walking off lead and really relaxed... the right home is critical! 

I love my collies - one is dual registered and others have ISDS on merit and Int Sup Ch not too far back, but they are all lovely pets but with lots of energy and mental ability....

Like others have said, border collies make fab pets...yes they need mental stimulation but that can be small things...teaching tricks, a few mins of obedience training, using activity toys, playing ' find it'...all things that can be done while half watching eastenders lol :) The most important thing is to find a breeder (whether show or working) who knows their lines and their pups and who can help match personalities with the right owner :) As in any breed personalities differ....My first collie was show bred, had a beautiful temperment and loved to train, be it tricks or obedience, he was never over the top and loved cuddling in front of the tv :) the 2 after were both farm bred, one was possibly the laziest dog I have ever known, the other was again a fab family pet :) the youngster I have now is totally different, comes from working lines and is probably most peoples idea of a nightmare dog ;) he doesn't stop, he does everything at 100 mph and is strong eyed and strong minded, but with a fab temperment! He is my perfect dog but he is a dog that needs a job....which is exactly what his breeder told me...not one of his litter went to purely pet homes. A good breeder will help your friend find a collie thats right for her :)

Well I've got a couple of boys here who must be descended from lines bred to be foot stools, so chilled /laid back are they. One of my lads doesn't even bark - he just 'talks'. I've done PAT work with my guys and never had a collie who was hyperactive in any way. They love their walks and their times watching TV on a sofa.

I would say, however, how important it is to find a breeder who is breeding for temperament and health. There are so many health issues in the breed and not all are being addressed. Your friend should find a breeder who does annual eye checks for CEA ( Collie Eye Anomaly) CPRA (Central Progressive Retinal Atrophy ) and PLL (Primary Lens Luxation) . The parents should have had Gonioscopy at /around the time of first eye check -this is a one-off test to check for signs within the eye that indicate a predisposition to Glaucoma (Goniodysgenesis). Your friend should feel free to ask the breeder whether any dogs in the parents line have been affected by Glaucoma . We know it  is hereditary but do not yet understand the mode of inheritance. I avoid any lines related to affected dogs . The parents should have been DNA tested for CEA ,TNS (Trapped Neutophil Syndrome ) and CL (Ceroid Lucofucidosis) or be DNA clear/normal by parentage/hereditarily. The parents should have been hip scored and have an acceptable score for the breed. The puppies should be eye tested at around 6 weeks of age for CEA and Coloboma and hearing tested using the BAER method -only available a certain centres in the UK. There are also reported issues of Epilepsy  but no DNA testing is available for this.

Border Collies are beautiful dogs and can make excellent pets . They must be included in family  life and not shut away and left to their own devices which will lead to destructive and antisocial behaviour. When I got my first collie many ,many years ago I was told 'you have to know what a collie is up to'.

Thank you all so much. I have printed all the replies for her and she can browse and then decide what she wants to do. I think she realises that a good breeder is essential to get the dog that is right for her ( she was looking at websites before, but she has been persuaded to avoid byb dogs now) So I am sure she will find a beautiful dog which ever breed she ends up with. I think she is still leaning towards the BC though, but her choice

I have owned collies for over 30 years and they are not a breed for your average pet owner. They are the Ferrari of the dog world and just as quick to learn bad habits as good. Hence so many owners looking to get rid of them because they chase cars, herd the kids, are shy/sharp, show various phobias etc. Look at any internet site and you will see them literally being given away for free when people realise the mistake they have made. Doesn't help when BYBs and puppy farmers are advertising them as 'ideal family pets'. They are very easy to come by (no pun intended) and cheap in comparison with other breeds. Unless your friend is willing to put the time in with brain work and to learn how to channel any herding instincts, I would advise her against this breed. Don't get me wrong, there are fireside examples of collies who aren't adrenaline junkies but I would not take the risk. If you want a quiet, easy going breed look elsewhere. 

As I've said and another poster has said. Border Collies can make excellent pets, so long as you go to the right breeder with the knowledge and ability and who is prepared to match the right puppy to the right home :D

I think the emphasis is on 'can' but I would add that the prospective owner has to be honest over their intentions over training and amount of time they're prepared to put in, and that the breeder/owner should accept if none of the pups in the litter they're considering is suitable...there are some couch potatoes out there, but mostly they do need time and effort... mentally and physically...

Ahhhhhhhh, I'm about to blow a gasket, so I'll duck out of this thread. This is driving me loopy, as many similar threads on CD re Border Collies are concerned. Where are all the other people who really know the breed? I do not recommend Border Collies for everyone, the are the most special of breeds EVER, but let's get it clear, there are some fab BCs out there in some fab 'pet' homes. Maybe some of the posters on this thread have just been plain unlucky, or not done their research well enough. The owner of a BC does not have to be an Olympian athlete nor do they have to be in the top 5% of MENSA. Right breeder - right puppy - right home. No more, no less, not rocket science ... though as a physicist maybe I look at it in a different way to most ;-)

of course there are, but people buying them have to be aware of their needs and the need to be careful where they buy them from AND sure of their decision to buy one... no point in saying how great pets they make for folk who're not going to give them what they need... so many in rescue :-(

Personally I've been exceptionally lucky with my collies, I love them to bits, but carefully screen anyone wanting a pup from me and I don't recommend them as a pet without advising of their requirements ;-)  as a breeder I don't want folk to take them on, don't treat them right and then hand them back at 18months old with their heads screwed up....when they start out with so much promise...

I have explained all of this to my friend, she is very sensible and will really do her homework. When she takes on a dog it is always for life, she would never give up and get rid of it. She has coped with some pretty unstable rescue dogs in the past but this is her dream to get a good pup and to train from the start. Whether she chooses the BC or another breed she will decide, however she will know all the fact before deciding, and she will discuss all her needs and the dogs needs with good breeders before taking the plunge. She is an experienced dog owner, just new to BCs

Thanks for all your advice and opinions, they are very helpful and to get opinions from across the board is the best way to see all sides.

she sounds sensible and hopefully the comments here (good and bad) will help her decide, good luck to her and I hope if she goes for a collie that she has half the pleasure that I've had from mine ;-)  it really is a fab breed (although I was unsure to start with as a lot of pressure back then to 'have a collie' if you did agility, hopefully not so much these days as there are a lot of good agility dogs to choose from)... I've never regretted the decision to have them :-)

Of course they don't all need super duper people for owners - but there are SO many bad breeders out there, like Phoebe and Holly's, churning out pups to make a few quid (as with all breeds), that for me at least, I think it's very wise to point out the potential problems as sadly they can be very big with a badly bred BC.

Despite Phoebe's problems she has converted me to the breed and I'm sure I will have more (and I am neither an athlete or in MENSA ;-) ) - they are fabulous dogs, very cuddly and loving as well as smart and active, I just feel it's important that people know what can go wrong if they aren't careful with who they go to for a pup.

Border collies can and do have an off switch as well as the need for stimulation and exercise they do curl up beside firesides and adore their slaves. Get a bond with a BC and theres nothing like it they will be faithful no matter what and be happy to please. Calm consistant handling with training even such as basic pet obedience, ball retrieving being involved in everything you do going out and about can make for a healthy happy BC but as has been said picking the breeder to start off with is so important.

I've lived with collies for over 40 years, first my Mums then my own. I've never had one from a good breeder, that would change now if I wanted another but my current girls are 8 and 11 and hopefully will be around for a long time yet.

Mine all came through local ads, mostly from farms, cheap pups handed over in exchange for money with no questions asked. In fact my Meg was a present, a friend paid for her and when I went to collect the pup she was handed over on the doorstep!

Now, I'm not recommending this way of purchasing a dog, far from it, but it was just what I was used to. I would spend vast amounts of time studying pedigrees and viewing litters to decide on a new borzoi, and the collie was always the first litter I saw when I wanted another one.

My point in saying this is that all these collies have been fabulous dogs, all were hardy, healthy dogs who lived into their late teens and all were wonderful to live with. I wouldn't have swapped any of them. Yet the free ads are full of collies given away, usually at the teenage stage. Collies are definitely a breed that require a lot of time and interaction, not just as pups but all through their lives, they are definitely what you make them. Hounds by comparison as so undemanding.

If you want a dog as a constant companion, loyal and fun and are willing to put the time and work in then a collie is a perfect pet.

> Border collies can and do have an off switch as well as the need for stimulation and exercise they do curl up beside firesides and adore their slaves.

Absolutely, visitors here often comment on how calm my girls are in the house as they've met manic ones before, they are well exercised and do a little brain work every day and are happy to lounge around the rest of the day :-)

I don't think anyone is saying that no border collie can be a great pet in a pet home. There are loads that can. But any new prospective owner needs to know the pitfalls of any breed and there are an awful lot of bcs in pet homes who are not suited for it. A lot of them do need a job and the jobs they invent for themselves if they don't have enough mental stimulation can be soul destroying for the owner and the dog. Once misplaced obsessive behaviour takes hold it can be really difficult to stop. Of course finding the right breeder and the right puppy is the way to go, but a novice in bcs might find it hard to distinguish between dogs and breeders and make the right choice. Because of this it isn't a breed I would recommend for anyone who just wants to go for long walks and cuddle in the evenings.

Excellent post Zan. They say if you don't give a collie a job, he will go self-employed! It can be as simple as ball-throwing but most (not all) need to feel like they have 'done' something and, yes, they go OCDish quite easily lol.

What about Finnish laphunds, a herding Spitz breed, a bit smaller, and less hot than the Border Collie from my experience.

> Get a bond with a BC and theres nothing like it they will be faithful no matter what and be happy to please.

Totally agree.  It is the best feeling ever.  They just live to please you.

> What about Finnish laphunds, a herding Spitz breed, a bit smaller, and less hot than the Border Collie from my experience.

But they're hounds, they're nothing like collies at all, less hot yes but also a lot less likely to obey your every command :-)

My silken windhounds are quite trainable and quite obedient, but they are hounds. If I whistle my 4 the collies will come running straight away, as fast as they possibly can and sit in front of me. The hounds will look at each other, look around then start heading back to me. If they start running chances are they'll forget they were coming back and go into a game of zoomies instead. It will probably take another whistle and maybe even a command before they come back. Then they expect a treat for coming back, and a treat for sitting. If I let them all go and play again and whistle them again a minute later the collies will come racing back, they'd do that all day but the hounds will be even slower - they don't see the point, they've just done that :-)

> But they're hounds, they're nothing like collies at all

Finnish Laphunds are not hounds, they are a Pastoral breed.

Wikki on the breed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_Lapphund
They certainly appear to be a trainable and obedient breed.

Temperament: The Finnish Lapphund is a very intelligent and active breed. Finnish Lapphunds take well to training due to their intelligence. ........

In Finland, at least two dogs have won national championships for obedience (Obedience Champion Hiidenparran Tielkka and Fin and Nordic Obedience Ch Kettuharjun Elle, both owned and trained by Rauno Nisula).[2]

Finnish Lapphunds are also suitable for agility. In the UK, Elbereth Taika has been awarded an agility warrant, and has represented England at the 2005 Kennel Club Nations cup, where she achieved a second place.[3]

Doh! For some reason I was thinking Finnish Spitz when I wrote that, time for bed I think :-)

> But they're hounds, they're nothing like collies at all

Finnish Laphunds are not hounds, they are a Pastoral breed.

Wikki on the breed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_Lapphund
They certainly appear to be a trainable and obedient breed.

Temperament: The Finnish Lapphund is a very intelligent and active breed. Finnish Lapphunds take well to training due to their intelligence. ........

In Finland, at least two dogs have won national championships for obedience (Obedience Champion Hiidenparran Tielkka and Fin and Nordic Obedience Ch Kettuharjun Elle, both owned and trained by Rauno Nisula).[2]

Finnish Lapphunds are also suitable for agility. In the UK, Elbereth Taika has been awarded an agility warrant, and has represented England at the 2005 Kennel Club Nations cup, where she achieved a second place.[3]

> But they're hounds, they're nothing like collies at all

Finnish Lapphunds are not hounds, they are a Pastoral breed.

They certainly appear to be a trainable and obedient breed.

Wikki on the breed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_Lapphund

Temperament: The Finnish Lapphund is a very intelligent and active breed. Finnish Lapphunds take well to training due to their intelligence. ........

In Finland, at least two dogs have won national championships for obedience (Obedience Champion Hiidenparran Tielkka and Fin and Nordic Obedience Ch Kettuharjun Elle, both owned and trained by Rauno Nisula).[2]

Finnish Lapphunds are also suitable for agility. In the UK, Elbereth Taika has been awarded an agility warrant, and has represented England at the 2005 Kennel Club Nations cup, where she achieved a second place.[3]

> Doh! For some reason I was thinking Finnish Spitz

Blimey, yes they are probably less reliable than ours for recall.

Sorry Barbara, I clearly wasn't thinking :-) Interestingly I met a Finnish Lapphund up the Pentland Hills a few weeks ago, lovely dog, first one I've seen :-)

Don't let my lot here you, but had they come into the country before I had the Elkhounds I may well have had them, even though they are rather smaller breed than I prefer.

Wow I have checked out the link to photos of the Finnish Lapphund.  I find them extremely attractive.  Never seen them for real.

Definitely a breed that I would consider.

Here in the UK the colour I have seen most of is solid Tricolour and also Rich shaded Red/Red sable.

I have a Finnish Lapphund. She is now just over a year old. Having done Agility and Obedience competitively I would say a lot less fizzy than some of the BC's I have met.
She is bright as a button, eager to learn, happy to go for a walk with my larger HPR breed, or cuddle up on the sofa.
They are a lovely breed, very friendly with people, other dogs and she adores children.

My little girl came to me at nearly 8 weeks, and I set about training her to recall with a gundog whistle, and this is working well. She has been very quick to learn, and is currently doing most of the KCGC Gold exercises consistently. I think having the other dogs and copying them has also helped.
There is a wide variety of colour variations, and some of the males I would say are similar in size to a BC.
There are not that many Lappy's bred each year, so it can be quite a long wait for a puppy.
The Finnish Lapphund Club of GB has a website which list breeders, and gives details of expected litters.

> There are not that many Lappy's bred each year,

They compare rather well with our breeds regsitraions 68 in 2011, and 63 in 2012, compared to the Elkhounds with 42 in 2011 and 62 in 2012. 

Lappies have had a steady increase since they canme into teh UK, ours are a third of what they were only 20 years ago.

I find it interesting that the bitches are quite a bit smaller than the dogs (ditto Finnish Spitz) where the desired height in my breed there is just an inch difference.

> I'd suggest she gets to know some people with Border Collies
> Where are all the other people who really know the breed?

To the OP   If you ask on a forum like this you're bound to get a diverse response: from people who own and adore collies, from people who wouldn't touch them with a barge pole and all others in between!  Perhaps a better question might be where can my friend find out more about this breed?  If you tell us where your friend is based some of our more experienced owners might be able to give accurate advice based on geography too (although you should tell your friend she will need to travel for research).  You could also ask for tips regarding what questions your friend needs to ask about health, temperament etc

Good luck.  Helping someone find a breed is often an exercise in frustration as so many of them ask but don't listen :)

I've deleted my original post as I was getting in a muddle !!!!

>I have a Finnish Lapphund

How do the Lapphunds differ from the Vallhunds ?? We are considering getting a Vallhund. The Lapphunds look as though they have a longer coat ? As we are getting older here, I'd prefer to have a shorter coat :)

Yes the Laphunds coat is something like a lighter Keeshond coat, with profuse feathering, certainly would need regular grooming, maybe more than would a heavy coated Border collie or Golden retriever.

Certainly more than an Elkhound, Buhund or Vallhund who have thick close lying double coats but not feathered so don't tangle.

> Vallhund who have thick close lying double coats but not feathered so don't tangle

Thanks, Barbara - I think we'll stick with looking at the Vallhund as it sounds like Bramble's coat which is a lot easier to manage than Tara's :) :)

Finnish Lapphunds have a double coat, but are very easy to look after, certainly a lot easier than my sadly departed Golden retriever was his coat  needed a lot of attention to stop it matting, particularly when he was moulting.
They just need a brush through about once a week, mine has just moulted and there was a lot of hair, but it came out in quite big clumps.
My other breed who have silky feathering the hair is more inclined to tangle, and collect burs. But the Lappy rarely picks up twigs and undergrowth like they do, if she gets muddy I just rub her down with a towel, and a quick brush when she is dry, and the mud drops off.
There is no bathing or trimming on a Finnish Lapphund for the show ring, just brush and go.

Yes definitely easier than a golden to have for show, and of course being smaller the grooming is hardly onerous.