Jessika- I could hug you for posting this! I have a neighbor and a couple of friends that shave down their dogs and a cat. I NEVER hear about how it is benefitting to the dog or cat, just how much less hair there is. They do it year round- so, bull-pucky that it is just to keep the dog cool.

JenL, you raise an interesting point, but, again, I never hear, "oh, the dog is so much more contented now"....just the less hair issue.

I see a big difference between a puppy cut, or, a trim and the full blown 1/4 inch bald look.

Get a picture of a dog if you can't deal with the hair (and, I feel totally comfortable saying that as I have 7 cats, 6 of them long haired, a small house, and lots and lots of hair).