We get asked to shave Huskies and Shepherds down every summer, and we push back every time. A double coat regulates temperature in both directions — the undercoat traps warm air in winter and insulates against heat in summer. Shave it and the regrowth often comes in patchy and takes a full season to recover.
De-shedding — pulling the loose undercoat without cutting the guard hairs — is more work and slower, but it’s the version that doesn’t cause a second problem to fix the first one.