Please help my staff is eating my house!

Hello everyone. My 5 months old staff is eating my couch which is made of wood , a small wood cabinet I own and the base of my bed which is leather. I bought her bones and toys to chew on and she uses them but only when we're around in the house. When me and my wife goes to work and she's alone, she just eats the furniture.. I really don't know what to do and I love her. Please help me I'm all outta solutions.

Hi is she using a crate? they are great for when you go out and safe for her.Sounds like shes at the heart of teething!

A crate would be a very good idea, in the meantime maybe have a spray of bitter apple around your home, this is a great deterant. Does she have a good walk with some playtime before being left alone ? How long is she left alone for ?:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grannicks-118AT-Bitter-Apple-Spray/dp/B0002DHPRQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418407912&sr=8-1&keywords=bitter+apple+spray+for+dogs

As above. Crate training is a must in my experience.
I have read from various sources that a puppy can be left for 1 hour for each month of age, up to what I consider a personal max of 6 hours for any dog, certainly in a crate.

Sounds like boredom tbh perhaops a dog sitter or a relative dogsitting for some time during the day

We have always left Bane in the utility room with a stair gate when we go out. We tried giving him more space in the house and he got destructive.

Maybe if you try a crate or keeping her to one room that she can't do much damage, she will find it easier to settle while you are out?

A good walk before leaving them will also help them settle and probably sleep while you are away.

She stays alone for about 8-9 hours so I feel like a crate would be a little cruel for her. Also she's not fully potty trained, she goes on the balcony to do her bussiness So crate would be a little hard for her but I might try to leave her in a room where she can do less damage. Also my mom stops by sometimes but roxie still damages my furniture after my mom leaves. I'm also gonna try the bitter apple spray.

She probably needs more company so shes not lonely during the times when your not home, maybe try leaving a tv or radio on? or restrict her to just a smaller area of the home?

How many walks does she have? Sounds to me like she's bored and frustrated. Have you looked at getting a dog walker to pop in? 8-9 hours is far too long to be on her own it's no wonder she's chewing stuff

A long walk and a Kong filled with her favourite treats we leave beau out now just for a couple of 3 hours and she's great she's got the run of the house we leave her crate door open and she goes in when she wants a nice warm blanket on the settee and she loves it

8-9 hours for a 5 month old dog...???

That's why she is chewing things and causing mischief.
Staffys are very social animals and thrive off human company. You really need to get a dog walker or make arrangement's for someone to call in at least once during the day.
Is it a flat by any chance? as you mentioned a balcony?
How much exercise does she get each day?

I'm afraid I agree, 8-9 hours is too long, even for a mature dog. While I'm not against crate training and crating for short periods, I wouldn't leave a dog crated for that long. Radios and dog walkers may help, but I'm afraid I think this is now going to be a hard problem to solve as she will anticipate the stress of being left and will probably start worrying as soon as you leave the house.

The only other thing that crosses my mind that might help is the company of an older, calm dog, but it's unlikely that you'd get a rescue centre to rehome to you if you're leaving for so long regularly.

You may need to face the fact that your lifestyle isn't really suitable to having a dog. Sorry, I know that sounds harsh but I'm looking from a dog's point of view and being honest.

I'm in agreement with the others I'm afraid she needs social interaction and another walk mid way through the day to break it up she may have a run of the house but it's simply not enough. She's chewing because she's bored and frustrated at being alone so long and her behaviour won't begin to change until you change her situation. I'm going against the grain as I do believe you can change her behaviour but only if you do something so she's not alone so long.

Staffies are very human orientated they need human company more than most dogs so what you have I'm afraid is a very frustrated unhappy dog.

I agree with those above, 8-9 hours is too long to leave a dog alone, this is why she is chewing everything she is most probably bored and frustrated at being left alone all day.

Are you able to ask a friend or relative to pop in during the day to let her out for a toilet break at the very least ?

Would you be able to take her to work with you ? Sometimes this is an option although does depend on the nature of your job of course.