poodle skin problems

Question
Zac is a 6 year old mini poodle,over the last 12 months has developed very dry skin,dull coat, scratching all the time. He mainly eats chicken (raw and cooked) and alternate days of Supercoat and Royal Canin Poodle 30 dry food.I am wanting to start his diet from scratch.I saw your recipe (with brown rice,sardines,spinach etc)and thought it would be worth a try. 2 questions. What is the meat content least likely to cause allergy? Is the cereal(wheat content)likely to cause allergy and can you suggest an alternative.
Also would you happen to have a recipe for dry food (or dog biscuits) without any allergy causing cereals or ingredients.
With Thanks in advance, and also for the recipe you have already given which has to be an improvement on what he is having now.

Answer
Hello Anna,
Here is the recipe again even though you have seen it.  I made changes on it that might benefit your dog best.
1 lb Lamb or Turkey meat (cooked and drain 3/4 of the fat off)
1 can Sardines in Olive Oil
1 cup Spinach blended with the oil of the sardines
1 egg scrambled
1 1/4 cup Special K or Total Cereal (start off with a 1/4 cup, then you can go up to 1/2 cup)
1 Apple Blended (or you can use 1/2 cup of Applesauce)
1/8 tsp Garlic powder
1 grated carrot
1/2 cup brown rice, cooked using chicken or beef broth for better flavor
1/2 cup Cottage Cheese (optional, don't use if you think your dog will get diarrhea because of it)

This recipe is for a large dog, but if you think this is more than you would use in a week, it freezes nicely.  I would use 1/2 of the dry foods and 1/2 of the above recipe.  
Feel free to play around with this recipe, add more of a favorite or less of something you might have concerns about.  If your dog does seem to have a reaction to something, you can give her a 1/2 of a benedryl to help.  
Lamb meat is less likely to cause Allergies, try the cereal if you think your dog will be alright with it, but if you are unsure the dry dog food will provide the needed Vitamins and Minerals.  I mainly suggest the cereal if the dog is unhealthy or sick.  It is ok for most dogs, but you do have to watch for signs of an allergic reaction in those who tend to have allergies to other things (fleas, outdoors, etc).

As for sites with recipes there are too many to count, but I found a couple that look really promising.  
Check them out:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/1011/dog.htm
http://www.dog-treat-recipe-exchange.com/wheat_free_dog_treat_recipes.html
http://www.twodogpress.com/dogfood.html

I have to say that this was fun for me also because I have made treats for my dogs before but never like what some of these recipes contain.  They sound great.  I am going to make some new things for my guys this evening.  

I hope this helps you some.  If you have other questions for me, please feel free to ask.

Thanks for using AllExperts.com,
Kim