Blazer will be three in May. He is ready for a haircut, I keep him in a puppy cut and it's getting shaggy! I groom him myself, it's easier, cheaper, and I know he'll behave!
He doesn't tend to tangle too badly, I really only notice it when I've had his sweater on him for a long time. I kept his hair long early on, too knot and everything, but then he discovered his first snowfall and it's been a puppy cut ever since!
The texture definitely is different when short versus long. I do add conditioner or argon oil to his hair after his baths, I think he tends to dey out otherwise.