Best way to clean the ears...

[Kyoko]

Charlie has this blue ear wash and the drops for her ear infection, and she absolutely hates it.
As soon as she sees the bottles, she knows what they are and won't let me take care of her.
I tried giving her peanut butter kong, etc... to get her to cooperate, but does not work. She gets snappy and starts to nip at me.
Does anyone has any suggestion or trick that worked?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I know a lot of people love the blue ear wash, but I'm not a fan. A plain simple cleaning solution like Epi-Otic is all you need for maintenance. If you massage around the outside of the ear after you put the drops or solution in, they usually love it; some will make little moaning sounds of pleasure, lol! Use gauze pads for the cleaning, and try to make sure the solutions don't run out onto their face, neck, etc...some dogs don't like that sensation. Try not to insert anything too deeply into the ear.
If Charlie is being aggressive when you try to handle her in any way, though, that's a separate issue that you really can't allow. You are going to have to be able to handle any part of her for her entire life, and snapping or mouthing of any kind should not ever be permitted, period. That really falls into the category of training issues, I think.
Is there anyone else in the house who could help you by holding her head/mouth still while you tend to the ears? If not, my first inclination is to use a soft muzzle-type thing to keep her mouth closed when you have to treat her ears, but I am not an expert with the methods recommended for this kind of behavior, and that would only be a temporary solution until you can get some advice for addressing the aggression. It does need to be stopped now, before she starts using her mouth any time she doesn't like something. Hopefully, someone who has dealt with this will have some advice. Good luck!

[Tammy & Gracie]

Gracie hates ear cleaning as well. I hesitate to use the blue stuff since I am afraid of staining bedding, walls and my cream colored dog. I use a wash from the vets office. I make a nightly game of her grooming needs. I grab one of her favorite cookies and take her upstairs. She is allowed on my bed for this exercise. I massage her all over till she relaxes. Then we brush, comb or do ears, whatever is needed that particular day. After I am through, I give her the much anticipated command to "Kennel Up!!". She jumps off the bed and runs to her kennel spinning around to wait for me to get there and reward her with her cookie. She still does not like it much, but knowing the cookie and sleep are next, she puts up with it.

[Kyoko]

Thank you so much for the advice!
Now I see that I am dealing with two separate issues.....

Charile is basically fine with any other hendling like grooming. She does not really care for it, but as long as she has her Kong with her favorite stuff in it, she lets me do anything. She does fine at the groomers and at the vet's office...
Seems that when she is in a panic mode, she gets nippy. Once prickly burrs got stuck on her foot sticking her like needle, she paniced, did not want me to get it off for her either.
Mountain Rose Herb website is very interesting. I also just saw at the pet store HALO makes herbal ear wash as well.
I think I am going to try one of them. I am thinking that, I must have stuck the nozzle on her ear too far, or squarted too much solution or something, because the first time I did it, she was fine with it....Somehow, it turned out to be an unpleasant experience for her :(
Tonight, I am going to play the game we did at the Puppy K. It is like "Simon Says", touch and examine various body parts ans reinforce with treats....Hopefully, we can fix this negative association....

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

When Honey had all her problems with the infections and ear mites, she hated getting her ears done, she would snap at you, growl, bite, and you couldn't hold her down, she was that strong willed. I actually would lie part way on her and get her into a submissive state on my bed holding her muzzle with one hand and would bring my leg into a bending position on her body, and doing her ear with my other hand. It looked like we were playing the game twister....Because I kept being persistent about doing her ears..she finally gave up and now she is no problem to do her ears. Also when she was bad she was corrected with "Bad Girl" I would also tell her "Don't you dare growl at me or go to bite me" and she would stop...when she was doing good I would constantly tell her "Good Girl" even if it was 50xs and she did'nt get treats during cleanings till she left me clean them.

[Linda,Yankee & Finn]

Now that's a pose I'd like to see!