Hyper and intelligent. They're one of those breeds that gets bored easily and when they get bored they destroy things. If you can handle that then they're great! A detangle comb, slick brush, and good set of scissors are the best for grooming. They're double coated so they shouldn't be shaved unless it's for a medical reason. Shaving a double coated dog is very bad for their skin and will actually overheat them instead of keeping them cool. I don't know about best toys, but I don't know a dog that doesn't love treat filled kongs, jolly ball products, and large rope toys.