Funny how dogs have some intuitive reactions. I have a lab that loves water, but hates "baths". She likes to play in the water and loves being "dried off". So we make a game out of bath time, outside in the back yard.
Oh, but pull out the nail clippers or the ear drops????!!!! She hangs her head, tail between legs and slowly slinks away as if she just turned invisible. It's the most pathetic thing in the world.
On that note, our vet taught us a trick for that too. Peanut butter on a bathtub wall while clipping nails and doing ear drops. Peanut butter is magic.
My lab is exactly the same. Loves water - especially dirty puddles - HATES baths. Loves peanut butter. Peanut butter in his Kong is one of his favorite things. It keeps him occupied for a good long while.
We have owned two Chows. Neither of them liked Peanut Butter.