Does my Jack Russell pup have an allergy?

Question
Please would you be so kind as to assist me?  I have a 12 week old male pedigree JR.  He is currently on Pedigree as a dog food.  He seems to have a horrible itchy rash from under is chin, over his tummy, right down to his back legs.  He scratches constantly & sometimes moans with the pain.  I have kept him on the same food as what he was receiving at the breeder, however we have recently started puppy school & the lady advised me to put peanut butter in the inside of a cow hoof to keep him busy - could this be a problem?  I know I should take him for allergy testing but I cannot afford it right now so I was wondering if there was another solution?  something I could possibly bath him in or rub on his tummy.

Answer
Hi Roxanne,

I'm so sorry about your puppy's allergies, and 99% of the time it is caused by the food they are eating... however, there are hundreds of things that can cause allergies (grass, shampoo, laundry detergent, yeast, dust and fleas). Lets rule out fleas first.
A way to check him for fleas is to have him stand on a few pieces of white paper while you comb through his fur. If you see little black flecks on the paper that look a lot like ground pepper, you've got yourself a flea situation. The little flecks are "flea dirt," and when you moisten them with water they'll turn dark red because they contain blood. If he does have fleas,
If it's not fleas, it is probably the food.  
The hardest part is trying to figure out WHAT is causing them. You do that by eliminating one of the items from his lifestyle at a time. Not an easy task.
I strongly suggest you first change his food and find a food that does not use grains or fillers. Wheat and corn are HIGHLY ALLERGIC to dogs. Peanut butter/peanuts are another highly allergic food too. I wouldn't give him any more peanut butter or hooves until I found out what is bothering him.  Here is a website that you can investigate and find the food that is proven healthy and is good for your dogs health.  Click on REVIEW and all the foods come up.
You'll see where Pedigree falls into a certain category.
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/

Please be careful because if the dog scratches too much, they are prone to skin infections and then you will HAVE to treat at the veterinarian. I hate to upset you but usually allergies are a life long condition that require specific cautions and care to keep the dog comfortable. Usually when they are allergic to one item, they are allergic to more. It's a big commitment and can be a big expense when treating the dog. Creams, baths, shots, special food, steroids, antibiotics, vet visits are unfortunately the "norm" for a dog with allergies. I'm hoping that in your case it's something very specific because he is still quite young to have systemic allergies. Allergies can however appear at anytime, but it's usually after a year or two of age.
First thing to do is find a GOOD FOOD - it can make ALL THE DIFFERENCE. I wouldn't feed anything under four stars (see DFA site above). Wash him in hypo allergic gentle dog shampoo when you have to bathe him. If he gets smelly ears you'll have to take him to the vet for medication for yeast infection.  I wish you (both) the best of luck, and hope with all my heart that changing the food will do the trick. I don't understand why breeders continue to sell puppies with allergies. You should ask the breeder directly if either parent or grandparents of the puppy has allergies. It's so unfair and miserable for the offspring (and owner!). Having said that, it might be something as simple as an allergy to the grass outside rubbing on his belly, or a fertilizer treatment on your grass. You need to become an investigator and get to the root of the problem. Allergy testing would be the fastest and most accurate but is extremely expensive. Good luck Roxanne, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!