Hi I have an 8 mth black lab, Blaze. When we first got her she took a while to house train, i was advised to crate her, which worked brilliantly.  About 2 months ago we started allowing her to sleep in our room with us, (which is what we had both wanted from the beginning), we have had no problems with house training since. We kept using the crate for another 2 weeks or so, but our house is not that large, and we were struggling to find the space to keep a large crate.  We decided to stop using it all together so we could buy a table (we have 3 kids and really needed one!)  Our lab has the run of the hallway and landing, we keep all other doors closed and I check everything ie shoes etc have been put away so she has no temptations. I then leave her bed, water and toys, lots of them for her. At the beginning she was great, only my mail got chewed which i guessed would happen, but over the last week she has ripped up my laminated floor and chewed a dinner plate sized hole in one of my doors!!!! I am not sure what to do.  Do I need to go back to the crate, if so how long do you need one, are we talking months or years? Also where do people keep their crates I can't be the only person on here struggling for space.  She is a lovely dog and is doing so well, can anyone give me some advice Thanx Jay

Hi Guest, You know the answer, don't you. Get the crate out again. If space is such a problem couldn't you fold the crate away when you are in the house, and only leave it up when the dog is in it.i.e. when you are out of the house or in bed overnight.
Good Luck.
Dawn R.

As I see it you have two options - go back to the crate, or discover *why* she's doing what she's doing and either train her through it, or manage it so it doesn't distress her.  It may be that there are outside influnences (such as the postman, or kids kicking a football against an outside wall) that are disturbing her, and as she can't stop the problem, she's resorting to taking her frustrations out on your furnishings    :(  You may be able to manage this by housing her elsewhere in the house away from the stimuli, turning a radio/TV on (mainly music chanels seem to work best, rather than unknown voices talking).  Alternatively it may be distress at you leaving her alone.  Sometimes an article of clothing you've been wearing (an old t shirt for example) can be a comfort.  Dog Appeasing Pheramone plug in defussers (DAP defussers) can also help - they emit a simulated pheramone which is said to be the same as the one a bitch emits to calm and comfort new puppies - see your vet for these.  These are all management solutions. A change of routine can also help (ie leaving by the back door instead of the front, without your coat and saying good- bye)
To train her (desensitise) to the things which may be addecting her means you need to know what is the problem - I would suggest making a recording (video is best, but audio can help) to identify what is causing the problem - it may well be obvious if it's something like the postman,  a recording can also be helpful to identify the difference between pure boredom, which can also cause this behaviour, and so called 'seperation anxiety' as SA usually starts within minutes of the owner leaving, boredom some time later - if it's boredom then a stuffed Kong or two (taking food from the daily diet, not in addition to it ;)) is often all that's needed - a scared dog won't touch the Kong :( ))  If an outside stimulus is causing the problem then you need to enlist the help of friends to replicate it, and for you to reward her whenever she ignores it......  SA can also be helped by training if you can teach her slowly, step by step to settle in her bed and be on her own for periods of time - start off by aiming simply to get to the door of the room she's in without her moving (I use the command 'stay' meaning don't move until I return, as 'wait' means I'm going to ask you to do something else so please stay alert ;)) If she moves, re issue the command, return if you have to, and lure her back - when she is in the correct position take a step away and if she doesnt' move - reward her! Build on this, step at a time, short sessions of maybe 2 or 3 minutes will be enough to start with if repeated several times during the day.  If she moves at any time, repeat the previous step successfuly before moving on - eventually you should be able to get to the front door and out of it - then start increasing the time you wait outside the door before returning to reward her IF she's still in her bed (or where ever you put her).  You can then start to take short walks (maybe just next door to start with) so she gets used to you going away, but coming back again........  It can be a long process, but the benefits are worth it if you come home to a dog whose not stressed :)

The chances are that her season is due - some of my girls get distructive before it starts or more clingy than usual.

It if is this then once the season is out of the way she should revert to normal.  Put something down - blanket - that you don't mind getting demolished and that won't be too difficult to clear up when in minute pieces

could you keep the crate under the table?  I have missy's crate under a desk in the bedroom and she often chooses to go there rather than her bed, my bed or the sofa.  this would mean you could have everything you want in your house and wouldn't have to compromise.