Smelly Dog With a Red, Scabby Patch on the Neck

The red, scabby area on his neck points to a skin problem rather than his anal glands. A musty, "old socks" smell that comes back within days of a bath is typical of a bacterial or yeast skin infection, often triggered by allergies. A thick double coat like a Vallhund's traps moisture and makes this more likely.

Anal glands can add a fishy smell, and sniffing where he sat could be a sign of leakage, so ask your vet to check them at the same visit. The vet can take a tape or swab sample from the skin to look for yeast and bacteria; medicated shampoos work much better once the cause is known, and the underlying allergy often needs treatment too.

See dog anal glands and allergies in dogs.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.