For the hernia, the ear, the scratching, either your vet will have to help, or you need to find one that will. Pull the hair forward at the base of the tail and look for dark reddish specks. If you see any, your dog has fleas, even if you haven't seen any. Talk to the vet about which of the modern, effective remedies is best for you.
There should be no need to soften the food at 3 months. Be careful not to let it get too fat, see
LongLiveYourDog.com - Life Span Study - Rate Your Dog
I think you would be better off using the crate and teaching the dog to go outside. You don't have to have a yard, you can take it out on a leash in a prying lot. You do need to try to avoid an area with poorly cared for dogs. You can't let the dog push you around. The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts. Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at
Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete For more on being top dog, see
Establishing and Keeping Alpha Position, Letting your dog know you are the boss
''Elevation for small puppies: Sit on the floor and gently put your hands around your pup's middle, below his front legs, and lift him up. He is facing you. Hold him for 15 seconds. Repeat until he no longer struggles. If he is past 10-12 weeks, lift his front feet off the ground, but don't pick him up.
Cradling for small puppies: Hold your puppy gently on his back, as you would cradle a small baby. If he struggles, hold him firmly until he quiets for 10-15 seconds. With larger pups, you can do this as your sit on the floor, with your pup between your legs.
Quiet lying down: Place your pup on the floor on his side, with all 4 legs pointing away from you. Use your hands on his neck/shoulder area and middle, to hold him in this position. When he is quiet, praise him. Lengthen the time that you keep him quietly in this position. When he accepts this position well, handle his paws and muzzle, while keeping him quiet.''
The quotes mean this isn't my original work. It is copied from my Puppy Raising Manual. I have long used these or minor variations of them, and they are very effective. You may want to give him a belly rub while he is on his back too. Helps bonding. There is a big difference between him rolling over and demanding a belly rub, and you choosing a time to roll him over and rub his belly. The latter cements your place as pack leader.
There is much more you need in the sticky at
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/i...tml#post251802