Thanks for the nice replies ;0) Gempress, your view makes perfect sense. He never gets shaved to the "skin", just a clip so he looks like a smooth-coated BC. I think I'm just going to talk with his groomer about it. I know clipping should not be done for shedding... Gonzo sheds very little thanks to his diet, anyway. It's mostly because he seems much cooler! His coat is particularly thick for a BC, almost Husky-like. I talked to his herding instructor the other day, and she made me feel much better about everything. She breeds Border Collies and has 8 dogs, all working dogs and house dogs. She clips their tummies herself when the weather is warm, and says she would take in 3 of her furrier BC's to get full-body groomed if it was economical. I really trust in her advice, so I might decide to get his whole body trimmed.
I agree that shaving a short-haired dog is pointless.
I agree that shaving a short-haired dog is pointless.