Hmmm, some common causes that I know of-
1. Fleas. My dogs are also on a flea and tick preventative, but they still get ticks from time to time during walks in the hills. I think that these preventatives reduce the occurrence of fleas and ticks, but during tick season, for example, my dogs still get them. If there are fleas in the house or backyard, they could cause recurring itch issues.

I had a flea attack once when I was renting an apartment for the summer. We had the place flea bombed and that seemed to get rid of them. However, I made sure to have a long discussion with the people about the chemicals used, how toxic it is to dogs, and how long before it is safe for dogs. Some people also suggest using sprays, because that is more effective at getting under furniture.

2. Anal Sac. One of my dogs worry a lot on his rear area and our vet said it could be because of irritation from his anal gland. I make sure the vets check on his gland, and manually expel it if necessary during our yearly examination.

3. Tape Worms. Based on what I have read, tape worms can also cause irritation to the rear area. When my dog got tape worms, I could see them (little white grains) in his poop.

What does your vet say? (2) and (3) can be more easily checked for, so it is usually the fleas that are problematic.

he get’s a weekly bath sometimes 2-3 times depending on how muddy he gets

Interesting, I just asked my breeder about this, and wrote an article about dog bathing. Bathing multiple times a week may be too often. I have two Siberian Huskies and they have a double coat similar to the GSD. They are usually naturally clean because their outer coat is dirt repellent and water-proof. Too frequent bathing can strip the coat of its natural oils, and dry out their skin. Shampoo residue can also cause skin irritation.

My breeder sometimes bathes her dogs every week (for shows), but only with mild shampoo that is specially made for dogs. She says that once a week is ok to still maintain a nice coat.

With my Sibes I find that frequent brushing is sufficient to keep their coat clean. If they get really muddy, I just wipe them down with dog wipes.

What food are you currently using? Many dogs are allergic to wheat and corn. I feed my dogs a high-protein, grain free kibble, and they seem to do well on that.

Here are some of the things I looked at to address separation anxiety issues with my Shiba Inu.
http://shibashake.com/dog/separation-anxiety-dog-why-how-reduce-dog-stress

Thanks for bringing this up as another possible source of dog scratching and licking. I will definitely add it to the article.

I went to a specialist for my Shiba Inu’s cracked tooth, and also for my Siberian Husky’s crooked leg. Both times, the respective specialists were able to give me a clear picture of available options, and how to best move forward.

Hugs to your girl. Hope she feels better soon. Please keep us updated when you have the time.

Has he been digging?

My Sibe Lara loves to dig, and often, a bunch of dirt would get into her ear and she would scratch it a lot as a result. We started to clean her ear every day, before sleep time, and that seemed to help things a lot.

Have you taken your boy back to the vet for a checkup of his ear? I would probably have a chat with the vet, and see what he has to say.

Another possibility is environmental allergies. We can observe where our dog spends most of his time, and see if there is anything there that may cause an allergic reaction. Dogs can also get stung by bees or spiders, which can also cause discomfort, and itching. Are there any unusual areas or bumps on his face?

How is his energy level? Is he eating and drinking normally? Is his stool normal?

Thank you so much!