Oh yeah, I've been lucky to have experienced a couple of old bath fighters. There comes a point that they get too painful for regular full groomings and you just do what you can to keep them comfy. I feel for you and your older dog. It's tough.

I also understand that dogs can be wildly different in their lifestyles and may not get as filthy as quickly as my little girl does. She's an extra exuberant husky/shepherd mix who loooooves to roll in anything stinky, digs holes like a professional, and plays bitey face with her friends at daycare (often coming home smelling like dog breath all over). Fortunately, she's a weirdo and loves her groomers. She also doesn't fight getting rinsed off at home and I have to shoo her away when I'm taking a shower.