The art of the treat! Taking the lead!

I said this next blog was to do with training the dog for the leash but you could name it train the dog with a treat for anything.

Let us start with the bath.  Eventually you will want to bath your dog.  Either he rolled in something, got muddy or simply needs to be groomed.  If you have oodles of money you may opt to pay someone to do it for you but a bath does not have to be a test of wills.

Long before you have no choice in the matter is the best time to train the dog.  Start by taking the pooch into the bathroom and place him/her in the tub.  Place him in the tub.  Reward him/her.  That's it.  Do nothing else.
Do this for a few days where you introduce the new environment to him/her.  Each time allow him/her a few seconds at first then 30 seconds and then a minute to sniff and get the reward.  The dog will eventually associate the bath as a great place to be for a treat.
After a few days, the dry run I'll call it, then introduce running the tap.  Again he she will be startled at first but with the treat reward he/she will get used to it and again it is a great place to get a treat.

Introduce the shower and soak the dog whilst you praise the heck out of him/her for being soooooo gooooood.

Eventually with consistency your dog bathing should become memorable rather than a challenge.

Chevy actually jumps into the bath because he knows what is coming his way.

Don't have treats?

Kibble from their dog bowl will suffice.  People are so conditioned that specialty items have to be treats.
A dog can't read a label.  When we go to bed the dogs get a final treat and are so conditioned to it that we sometimes have to substitute with kibble because we ran out of their treats.

Taking the lead is basically the same routine.  First get a collar.
some recommend harnesses, some say muzzle and others say a collar works well.
A dog whose nose is on the ground is in hunt mode and will no listen to you thus it is incumbent on you to ensure his head is up and his attention is on you.
Obviously a puppy is being introduced to a collar.  This will be a challenge and he may resist and scratch at this new item wrapped around his neck
Place the collar on and leave it on and reward the put but don't go overboard.  By leaving the collar on and pre-occupying the pup with something else like chasing a ball or stick in the back yard will suffice.

Once he/she is used to the collar the next step is placing the lead on him.
Remember you are the pack leader.  You should exit the door or gate first and the dog should follow.  If you choose the other way, you indicate that he is the pack leader and that is where the mixed signals begin.

Initially a pup will cower and fight the leash.  Re-enforce the good behavior.
Your first walk may just occur in the confines of the back yard.  Eventually he will get used to the lead.
Use the word, "Heel" and as soon as the dog is at your side give him a treat.  When you get to a crosswalk or need to stop for any reason have the dog first heel and then sit.  Now give the reward.

It is all about the treat and rewarding the right behavior rather than the wrong.
Grooming or brushing the dog's hair follows the same pattern.  Use baby steps.
Bring the brush out.  Let the dog sniff it.  reward him.  Repeat without brushing.
Eventually, you may brush the dog and reward him.  Quite often the brush itself is reward enough because it feels so good.

Anything you choose to do with the dog is best broken down into its elements.  Start slow and gradually introduce the items to the mix rewarding the good behavior along the way.