Fear of Baths

Question
Hello, I hope you can help with our dog problem. We've adopted a 13 month old border collie cross bitch who *hates* water, she even avoids puddles when walking. We want to bathe her but at the moment she won't even go near the bathroom and runs away and cowers from us if she sees us emerging from it or can hear running water. We don't want her to see it as some punishment for something she hasn't done and therefore ruin the trust we're building with her. What do we do ?

Jamie

PS: To complicate matters further she has one other problem, a *severe* need to chase cars which we've been told (as a last resort because nothing else has worked) to gently spray her with water when she lunges at a moving car, this is starting to work but seeig as we're using water as a training aid surely this will just complicate batheing ?!

Answer
Don't use water to train her from chasing cars...you are helping to build the fear. Walk her with a choke or pinch collar..as soon as she even perks her ears when a car approaches, give her a sharp correction. Don't even allow her to think about chasing. Catch her before the chasing begins. The BEST training advise you can get is from Cesar Millan (The Dog Whisperer) He is on National Geographic channel friday nights.  His first season is also available on DVD. He deals with the very thing on his show.  As far as the bathing. Wait for awhile until she is comfortable in your home and with you. You just need to make her face her fear. Carry her to the tub..don't spray her in the face anything harse, but also DO NOT say "its ok" if she is struggling or scared...you are telling her its ok for her to be acting that way.  Be very matter of fact about the bath. Don't get all emotional with her, you will just feed her insecurites. A sharp NO is ok if she is acting up.  I highly recommend the DVD to you.