"I have a great example that we use when a client asks this question and we simply say, On a nice warm sunny day throw a fur coat or a winter parka on and go for a stroll or brisk walk around the block and see how you feel when finished. I have a Golden and I keep him shorter in the summer (not shaved ) just shorter and it seems to make a difference..."
this example is wrong actually. its a good example of how a dog feels when they are one big matt, but not when the dog is just in full coat. no dog with undercoat should be shaved (unless for a medical reason) and doing so is only satisfying the owners need to feel like their dog is cool. it doesnt make sense to most people, b/c one would think that more hair=hotter dog, but this isnt the case. a dog with undercoat needs his coat, and even dogs that do not need their coat for the same purpose need something to keep the sun from burning them.
"hoenstly, opinions on this really differ! some say the dogs are more comfy with shorter hair in the heat, others say the longer coat protects them in the heat. personally i clip mine short for the summer, also cause i prefer it. and they seem to do well with it. the only thing thats for sure is, you have to be careful, if you clip them short, that they dont get sunburnt. since you like your dogs coat, i'd suggest, just leave it, and see how your dog handles it... "
i want everyone to focus on one line from the above statement, "also cause i prefer it, and they seem to do well". people do this for themselves, and then dont see that their dogs actually arent doing well. most people who shave their dogs have absolutly no clue about how it actually effects their coat, and the sad thing is that they usually want to remain ignorant. learning something else would mean that they would actually have to brush their dog.