German Shepherd - shaving

Question
I have an elderly german shepherd (10 yrs), and he just loves swimming.  Now that it has become hot again, the dog often haves a swim (he swims laps).  My problem is this - he doesn't appear to dry as easily as he used to, and I will often find him shivering and shaking at night, while remaining half wet still after an early afternoon swim.  
I think that it might be in his best interest to be trimmed (by that I mean shave half the length off (a No. 3 maybe).  What is your opinion on this?  He also battles to get out of the pool now, when his coat becomes sopping - it weighs a ton on his poor back legs when moving from non gravity situation in the pool to out.
What is your suggestion?

Answer
Do you have him on a senior formula dog chow?  It might keep his coat in better shape and then shed water better.  You could even add a table spoon of liquid cooking oil.  It is rich in the linoleic acid dogs need to keep their coat in good shape.  

If it doesn't seem to help, perhaps go ahead and shave him.  If it doesn't work out well, he will grow a new coat in the fall, and don't do it next year.