Have to agree,too,jean!

> They just need a brush through about once a week

Oh - that's interesting :) My 'younger' dog is an Aussie and needs quite a lot of grooming particularly when she is moulting to avoid matts :) Perhaps I'll add the Lapphund when we start looking more closely at breeds for us :) :) Thanks

See now by the looks of them I would have thought the Australian shepherds were easy groom (though I notice they seem to be trimmed in the ring).

> I would have thought the Australian shepherds were easy groom

As I've only had the one I can only say what I find :) Tara has been spayed so maybe she is worse than those not. It's mostly the areas around the ears, under the legs etc that matt - the main coat isn't a problem. She produces huge amounts of hair when she moults - easily a carrier bagful in one quick groom and the hair comes out in handfuls as well :) The moults seem to go on for ever :) :) Unfortunately, my daughter used to do most of the heavy work of the grooming for years, so I really notice now when I have to do it all - Tara prefers my daughter to me :) :) I'd rather help my OH with the DIY :) :)

Spaying with many breeds makes grooming harder and increases the undercoat.

In my own breed it doesn't seem to affect the appearance and volume of coat, but it does as you have said seem to mean the moult lasts ages, stops and starts and you never seem to be able to get it out cleanly in one fell swoop.