I'm sorry, I couldn't read from your answer if the puppy you returned has recovered from the fur loss after being returned to the breeder? If you haven't called them, I'd do that before anything else because it would give you a REAL place to start. Otherwise we are all just guessing completely.

Dogs can be allergic to many things. Fungus, molds, spores, foods, carpet cleaning solutions, etc. If you know it's something in your environment, you can start excluding and changing things. If it is a genetic issue, then it's something else entirely.

Aaron,
My older GSD picked up some sort of mange. My vet did numerous scrapings and nothing showed. They decided to treat her with Revolution and within a week or so the improvement was unbelievable. The symptoms were exactly the same as your dog. Looking back now I think that my dog might of picked up these mites from a dead animal. I remember being out walking in the woods with her and she rolled on the carcass of a dead rabbit,,yuk!
Karen

Originally posted by Natalie Heath:
I don't anything about frogs but could it be possible that the dogs have contracted a fungus or bacteria from the frogs that isn't harmful to the frogs??

Do you always wash your hands after dealing with the frogs before touching the dog?

Natalie haha, no I don't handle the frogs. The oils in humans hand will mess up the membranes on his skin....

Originally posted by Jenn Kavanaugh:
I'm sorry, I couldn't read from your answer if the puppy you returned has recovered from the fur loss after being returned to the breeder? If you haven't called them, I'd do that before anything else because it would give you a REAL place to start. Otherwise we are all just guessing completely.

Dogs can be allergic to many things. Fungus, molds, spores, foods, carpet cleaning solutions, etc. If you know it's something in your environment, you can start excluding and changing things. If it is a genetic issue, then it's something else entirely. Well, here's the update with the last one. He said she is completely healed. He gave her one dose of Ivermac and sulphurdine ( his spelling, I couldn't find anything on it.) and today sent some pictures and she looks fine.

He said that the condition was all due to stress. That's it, stress.

I spoke to another chick and she said her dog did the same thing. She said she put the dog on an eating schedule, crapping schedule and sleeping schedule and after a bit cleared up.

So is this what I need to do? I am home at random times as I have classes at different times.

But I can put him on a schedule.

Also, to prevent stres, exercise also plays a role in reduction. How much should I be playing hard with him per day? 30min, 1hr, 3hrs? I can go jogging for about a mile and gradually get him up to it. He has a zillion toys. At least 25 animals, balls, squeak toys, and so on. I also have raw beef bones from the slaughterhouse that he fights with whch chewing also reduces stress.

So now I am on a new direction. What can I do to prevent stress...

Thanks

Originally posted by Karen Nesbitt:
Aaron,
My older GSD picked up some sort of mange. My vet did numerous scrapings and nothing showed. They decided to treat her with Revolution and within a week or so the improvement was unbelievable. The symptoms were exactly the same as your dog. Looking back now I think that my dog might of picked up these mites from a dead animal. I remember being out walking in the woods with her and she rolled on the carcass of a dead rabbit,,yuk!
Karen Now is revolution an Ivermectin product? or , hmmm, you know what I mean. You know in it as the active ingredient?

http://www.pawgear.com/den/fe.html

My husband's dog was always biting, scratching, chewing and licking at herself. Her nose was cracked and peeling from excessive licking. We always thought it was stress because she does tend to be a little neurotic (Showlines <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> )However when we switched to California Natural her coat looked much better and her nose finally healed up. Another benefit is that she loves that food and just about inhales it. Previously she would just pick at her food.

Aaron, a puppy smelling 2 days after a bath is NOT normal at all. Heck, I've only washed my pup 2 times and she's 9 months, and never stank. There is DEFINITELY something going on here, some kind of inbalance. Whether from stress, or food, or allergies.

I know too many baths can mess up the dogs natural oils. And most medical shampoos are EXTREMELY harsh because they are trying to fix a specific problem (medicated even). If I were you I'd maybe just use some human baby shampoo and try not to bath much at all for awhile.

Think you should also maybe pick one food and stick with it for awhile. Dogs tend to not have allergy reactions to the lamb/rice mixtures so you may try that. I've been pleased with Nutro Lamb and Rice but as long as it's a PREMIUM brand (not in grocery stores) you should be ok.

And work on having FUN fun fun with your puppy. Tug, chase, playing ball, off leash exercise if possible. Low key socialization with lot of new people and dogs. http://www.doberman.org/articles/puppy.htm You have to really do the socialization path because if you are suspecting stress as the basis for some of these problems, raising a dog to be confident and happy in all types of situations is a huge help.

 Quote:

Originally posted by Jenn Kavanaugh:
Aaron, a puppy smelling 2 days after a bath is NOT normal at all. Heck, I've only washed my pup 2 times and she's 9 months, and never stank. There is DEFINITELY something going on here, some kind of inbalance. Whether from stress, or food, or allergies.

I know too many baths can mess up the dogs natural oils. And most medical shampoos are EXTREMELY harsh because they are trying to fix a specific problem (medicated even). If I were you I'd maybe just use some human baby shampoo and try not to bath much at all for awhile.

Think you should also maybe pick one food and stick with it for awhile. Dogs tend to not have allergy reactions to the lamb/rice mixtures so you may try that. I've been pleased with Nutro Lamb and Rice but as long as it's a PREMIUM brand (not in grocery stores) you should be ok.

And work on having FUN fun fun with your puppy. Tug, chase, playing ball, off leash exercise if possible. Low key socialization with lot of new people and dogs. http://www.doberman.org/articles/puppy.htm You have to really do the socialization path because if you are suspecting stress as the basis for some of these problems, raising a dog to be confident and happy in all types of situations is a huge help.

interesting link. I have a question though. There are things I disagree with. I'll put them in a quote to show you. I am gathering that this is for people who have never had a dog or for the average persons that will most likely not get too envolved with their dogs as far as training.

 Quote:

Originally posted by Doberman Link:

"Therefore, you should not wrestle or play tug of war. "

"Wrestling, of course, communicates to your puppy that he is allowed to bite you. Tug of war sets you up in a dominance confrontation over an object. He learns that he can keep objects away from you. During tug of war games, puppies will often growl. Growling is a dominance vocalization, designed to warn another pack member that they better not confront the growler or he will bite"

"No mouthing of your body should be allowed and when your dog does mouthe, you should respond with a quick and sharp "NO!" or "No Bite!" Play that does not get rough is best. If you cannot keep the dog from getting overly excited during a game and he persists in biting at you, don't play that way. This will only stimulate additional dominant behavior in the future"

Do you agree with these terms? Or is this a basic overview of what a regualr dog owner shoudl partake in. B/c I hear that any dog that is planned to be worked on some sort of level should NEVER be told not to bite but to redirect his little butt. And praise him when he goes for that tug or toy. Am I accruate when saying this?