12 month old behaviour getting worse - any suggestions please?

We have had a rehomed staffie called Bonnie for about 4 months now. She is about 12 months old. We rehomed her from a family who had a change in work circumstances who adored her and we're not aware of any previous 'issues' with her. At times she is adorable, great fun, is great off the lead and best thing of all gets on brilliantly with our 4 year old. However, as the weeks have passed, her behaviour is getting worse. She is constantly on the look out for things to steal, and I mean steal anything. If you haven't got to her within seconds, (everything is taken under the dining table)the items are usually destroyed. This can range from catalogue books, toys, socks, wood, charity bags, shoes - the list in endless. She has also started chewing door frames, skirting boards and pulling up the carpet. A lot of this happens when we're in the house and not when we're out. She has two good runs a day. She is left at times during the day in the week but family come and visit and let her out, play with her etc. she has toys to play with. She knows she has done wrong but we can't continue living like this as we're getting more stressed.

Apologies for the long message but any suggestions would help.

Opps.. Your living with a Staff puppy still, everything is a toy including those brand new tasty trainers

The best advice is to remove anything that you don't want chewed to a safe place, either up high or in a cupboard. This phase will pass but in the meantime remove all temptation.

As for the skirting boards etc, there are sprays that you can buy to stop the chewing and some have used Vicks. If you type chewing into the search bar at the top of the main forum page you'll find plenty of suggestions.

When you get a min, pop along here and say Hi:-
https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/f7-new-member-introductions

great advise from Ian,at this age they do like to test you to the limit,you say she has 2 runs a day but for how long?

Extra mental stimulation might help as well. Toys are lovely, but even more lovely are those toys when we play with them together. Teaching some tricks might be fun too.

As well as toys, maybe give her things she can chew. Rawhide chews and things like that are great to replace the shoe or whatever.

I don't think dogs really do know they've done wrong, by the way. They start to learn that a certain behaviour might get a negative reaction from us, and they also pick up our body language that indicates we're upset with them.

Get yourself a crate and crate train her. And as others have said, what are two runs? You need to make sure she is totally flaked out when she gets back from walkees. It IS hard work, stick with it, it will get better

Don't make her another statistic in a rescue

Oh, and get her booked in to obedience classes, they can be great fun for dog and owners and did wonders for my dog in obedience terms!!

Hi

Thanks for your comments and suggestions. We rehomed Bonnie and although it is stressful have no intention of putting her in a rescue. In answer to your questions, she is taken out over a park and fields for 45-60+ minutes twice a day and runs around like mad. She is great off the lead, isn't really that interested in other dogs or people and comes straight back to you when you tell her it's time to have her lead on. The previous owners didn't really have her on the lead walking around streets as they had woodland at the back of their house - we are booked on to obedience classes starting in January to help pulling on the lead etc. 95% of the time when she is left - she has a room attached to the kitchen with her bed and a settee she doesn't take or chew anything. I have left washing on a clothes airer the odd pair of shoes and she's not bothered with them. She becomes mischievous and testing when we are in the house with her. I have been at a meeting tonight, my partner is away so my mom has spent the evening looking after my little girl and Bonnie. My little girl took her new school shoes off, they put them up on a shelf (only accessible from jumping and stretching off the back of the settee) and whilst they went to the kitchen to fetch a drink, Bonnie took one of them and has chewed all the strap so I need to buy some more tomorrow. We are trying very hard to put things out of Bonnie's reach to stop the temptation and even my 4 year old won't leave anything lying around as she now has a few one legged Barbie dolls. We give Bonnie rawhide chews which she loves and they keep her amused. We play fetch with the ball and tug as we want her to be a part of our family. Thanks once again - no doubt posting again soon.

One legged Barbies made me laugh but I bet your daughter isn't best pleased. This will pass, I know it's frustrating and hard work but you will, as I'm sure you know, have the most loyal, loving dog

Well that sounds not bad compared to my dog!!!
Sometimes he is left in his room (which has his crate in but is a utility room) and over the past year has had a chew on skirting boards, architrave, anything he can grab off the side, clothes,his bedding x 4 times.
More recently he has broken the catch on the condenser dryer so it needs taping shut and he has also 'nearly' chewed through the washing machine dial rendering the washing machine useless!!

he is very inventive at getting to things when bored or restless.

He can also let himself out of the back door (if his room door is locked to the kitchen which it is sometimes if we are cleaning etc), run round the side of the house, jump the neighbours fence, run down there drive, back up my drive , open the front door (yes, he stands up and paws the handle down very effectively) and run into the lounge looking all triumphant!!!!!

So you are not doing badly in summary!!!

... You can't beat a Staff for entertainment can you

Oh my life.... Bonnie is a little angel in comparison. Joys and entertainment of a Staff like you say

Yep Staffie pups are a new type of destruction. Having two from same litter I feel you all the way. Mine ate all my spindles, carpet most of the paper and started on the plaster. Even made looroll snow for my coming home last week because i forgot to close the loo door. Mad but I'd not change them for the world x