Suggestions Required..
 

Hello,
I have a 11 month old GSD. We havent trained him, he eats royal canin twice a day, keeps scratching his ears, belly, sheds too much of hair, we vaccinated him when he was 3 months old or something, stinks too much (bad dog odour not the odour of an infection). We give him a bath once a month sometimes more than a month. This is our first dog ever. How do i go ahead with him and make him a nice, well groomed, Friendly-Service dog.

Please helpp fellas im in deep s...:help::confused:

Start with food... Change it either to something like acana dog food or if you can afford it switch to raw. That can help with the smell, hair and itching.

Then hire a trainer. That will help with the friendly service dog you are looking for.

Research research and then research some more.

guys, dont automatically jump on the FEED RAW train. Not everyone can keep up with that or wants to.

If your dog is showing signs of allergies or has an unpleasant smell to him, try a diet change. By a diet change, switch to a different food. Often times, a dogs smell can be associated with how their body reacts to the quality of the food they're ingesting. Your dog could also be suffering allergies. Shedding profusely can be attributed as well to the quality of the food the dog is getting. Switch your dog to a different food and see how it works over a time span. You'd have to give it a couple weeks before you'd start to notice any changes for the better or worse.

Its also possible for your dog to have environmental allergies. If you choose to try RAW feeding, research thoroughly. It needs to be balanced appropriately which can be difficult for some to manage. You also have to consider the space needed to store raw products for your dog. A lot of people have a seperate freezer just for their dogs meals.

As for training, why is this pup 11 months old and untrained? Thats similar to handing a loaded gun to a child and telling them to play nice and not hurt anyone. A pup that has basic obedience is not only easier to handle but a much more pleasant member of the family to be around. Just like with kids, animals need boundaries. Its far easier to start training a pup than it can be to encourage an older dog to follow the rules and behave themselves and seperate themselves from undesirable habits already formed. Get involved with a quality trainer and train that pup appropriately!!!

Best of luck.

Why did you get the dog?

Be prepared to spend some money, get a trainer to help you with teaching him. Send him to a groomer for a good wash, dry and groom. Then be prepared to spend more $ on some better quality food for him.

My dog stank on RC he was switched raw 2 weeks after i got him and we never looked back.

Often, the itching can be caused by parasites such as fleas, or a food sensitivity. The smell may be a secondary, related issue. It is possible that the dog has a staph infection, and/or yeast infection.
I would recommend a vet visit first.

Fleas- Just because you don't see them, doesn't mean they aren't there.
I like to use Advantage on a monthly basis. I supplement with a Capstar tablet as needed. (I get the "off brand" capstar at littlecitydogs.com )
Outdoor area, house, and kennel should all be treated, then retreated in 2 weeks, then every 6 weeks. (in my experience).

As to food, everyone has a different opinion, even veterinarians. I personally prefer a no grain food like Canidae Grain Free Elements. I have used the fish and sweet potato formulas with good results, such as Natural Balance.
If the dog is actually allergic, then you would need to try a novel protein, limited ingredient diet for 6 weeks to confirm.

And if you still have issues, a veterinary dermatologist is the way to go.
Good luck!