I reach to grab collar and dog slinks off, just out of reach, or acts, when I do catch him, as though he might nip as I attach leash. Fear-avoidance.
99% of the day dog is off lead but within 10 ft. of me.
Some situations requiring a sudden leash attachment:
e.g.: Mid-cow calf moving he's doing a super job off leash, and the calves suddenly get all wound up and begin zooming, decide to face-up to the dog, then zoom off, trying to "draw fire" in a playful way -- fine, except the COW sees no humor in this and can come back fast at both me and the dog, then suddenly we need a leash or we are going to get hurt....I can tell him "out" and he'll quit, but I really don't want him to quit, I just need him to ignore the "prey behavior" from the calf, it's a hard thing, and it needs a leash.
Or- I decide that he should be inside the bobcat, there is a danger he can't anticipate, eg. large bales being moved might be dropped on him, etc. He's not wanting to get into the bobcat because there are going to be MICE under that bale when I pick it up -
We've made great progress here mainly by my stopping "grabbing", his language understanding (get OUT, come, down etc) is so much better I dont need to grab him too much anymore, but sometimes I suddenly need to have him leashed. He will always come right to me, but when I reach down, he squirts off. Even if I have a treat, he might snatch it and squirt off.
What am I doing wrong and how can I fix this? Thanks.

Betty, have you seen the collar grabbing marker training video that Cindy does with one of her mals?

Chula is also reactive with her collar, and I did what Cindy showed on the video and it helped quite a lot. I'm going to try to find the video and link it, but it's just repetetive touching in the collar area, and marking and rewarding for each time you touch. Her (Cindy's) movements are quick, and serve to desentitize the dog to being grabbed/touched near the collar.

I'll go look for it and edit my post with the link...
http://leerburg.com/flix/player.php?id=58

I agree with Lynne, turn it into a fun training game. Multiple times a day touch the collar and reward with great treats. Or even start with just reaching toward the dog and rewarding until it stops cringing away. Work up to being able to roughly grab the collar without him minding.

Of course, start the training inside, away from the triggers that have made him bolt in the past. Play the collar grab game before anything that he really wants, like before his meals, before being allowed to go outside, etc.

Great advice, thank you guys! I forgot about that video, I worked on this before, in winter.
I've been doing it outside all day, have cat food inside my glove, 8-10 times today, bent, did sudden grab and treated.


Just going to have to do a LOT more repetitions, until he doesn't care no matter what.
THANKS.