okk... I do shave my BC. I know a LOT of people have said it will ruin his coat, but it seems to grow back thicker every time. He is also not outside during the day for long periods of time at all (he goes to the park in the mornings and evenings and he lays in the cool house all day),so sunburn is not an issue with me. He also gets about 1/2-1" left on. However, shaving close is a big deal and it,erm, looks good on some dogs and strange on others. LOL. which is why I'm thinking of not getting Gonzo fully shaved any more I'm sure Sam will look cute if you do!!

Another option is getting a shedding treatment... some groomers do this,others don't have the supplies for it. There is a special rake called a 'Furminator' and special shampoo and conditioner. It helps take out the entire undercoat really well and shedding and dense coat can be very very reduced for 1-3 months. Other groomers rake and brush out the dogs as much as possible and it helps a lot with excess fur. They also clip the hindquarters, flank area, legs, tail, ears, wherever the fur is long. Regular brushing will help alot! I know a lot of people with herding/working dogs that shave their bellies and the inside of their hind legs so that when they get into their baby pools to cool down after working, they're immediately cooled. There are a lot of options... I hope Sammy has fun getting all pretty for her B-Day