Gimpy
The Living Force
FWIW I think when Gimpy said 'shave - down' she meant trim not a close shave.
Missed this a while back. To confirm what Herr Eisenheim is saying, we don't have Dex sheared like a sheep. ;) He gets a "Teddy Bear" cut that leaves a good coat behind to be brushed, without the risk of getting matts or 'dreadlocks'.
The humidity and heat here gets oppressive for any dog with a double coat, each time he's 'shaved' for summer he perks up and becomes his usual bouncy self again. Otherwise? We wouldn't do it.