The dahlia should form a bushier plant once it regrows after cutting back. The bushiness will be a good thing and that should also allow the plant to produce a few more bloom due having more stems. I wouldn't cut it level with the ground--allow at least a foot of plant above the ground, if possible, before you make the cut/cuts.

Oh, there is also a Dahlia forum here in the Garden Forum section, which would offer extensive help, too.

Good luck!

Chris

or put a bargain sale price on them.. and watch them disappear and become someone elses issue.. lol ...

imo .. its more important to be offering the highest quality plant.. for the most amount of money ... rather than trying to save it ...especially if you end up having it around until fall .. and end up selling it at a bargain them ...

ken