chewing and scratching

Question
I have a 11/2 yr old german shepherdwho for quite awhile has been chewing himself. Recently i have noticed bald spots where he has chewed the hair off his hindquarters and the other day a large part of the hair on his tail. I'm sure it is not hotspots, its just bald. Is this a nervous habit?

Answer
To keep a dog's skin and coat in good shape, feed a decent dry dog chow and little else, brush regularly with a soft brush, and seldom if ever bathe it.  When you do, use a dog shampoo, and carefully rinse out every last bit of it.  

Even if their skin isn't irritated, some dogs will chew on themselves out of boredom.  When you have to leave it alone, give it a Kong filled with peanut butter. Better yet, If you are gone much of the dog, try a doggy day care.  It will be too busy playing with other dogs to chew itself.