If you want to reduce the time with grooming you can shave the tummy area down. Even with long hair you will not see it. It also allows the cool tiles to cool off that body of theirs. You can also clip under the arm pits and that will also reduce knots.
If your dog is marking and getting the coat wet with urine (no other way to put it). This happens when dogs are in heat, or they start learning to lift their leg etc this shaving the tummy and thinning out the inside leg does help. Not all will have this issue but those that do this helps greatly. I shave the bellies down on all but show dogs in the warmer months as it truly is easier. I leave the long coat and you can't tell.
Cleaning pads is important as your dog can slip with long hair at the pads. They also carry more heat that way. You shoudl also be cutting mails on a regular basis and drying the ear canals after each bath.
It's not as hard as you think and I can show you how or we can do it for you. No problem!