crate questions

Hi misty is adorable, I love her to pieces but she is a monkey. Left alone she empties the bin, chews or rips stuff up, nicks the cushions off the sofa etc, etc, normal staffy stuff. She isn't massively destructive, nothing major has been damaged but she has honestly never been left alone in a room for longer than 5 mins alone so far, where I am, she comes so I can keep an eye on her lol. We have loads of toys and if i tell her to play with her toys she will usually leave the forbidden item and go get a toy. 'm wondering when she will be a good girl?? How long until I dare try her out of the crate when I nip out for half hour? She is in there when I'm at work for 4 hours until my lunch break when I pop home to let her out, then for another 3. It's not every day as I'm a student so home on study leave a lot. She doesn't mind it in the crate and isn't crying or barking when I return but I feel bad she's cooped up now she's getting older. I put her a Kong or a treat in by to occupy her.  8.5 months.

Why don't you try her for a half hour on a weekend and see what happens... If all's good you could then try a little longer and so on until you have confidence that you're going to come back to an intact home

I had to do the same with my Flo and even though she was an older rescue you are never quiet sure. Now a days I can leave her in the morning and return at lunchtime to find her where I left her on the sofa. We had some odd things happen along the way like paw prints on the living room table and half a frozen loaf of bread mysterious off the kitchen surface and on the floor. Not sure how that happened or where the other half went

yuck half a loaf of frozen bread lol!
They are so naughty, I think I will have to bite the bullet and try her soon and see how she does!

I actually felt very guilty to begin with, my neighbour would hear her cry when she was left alone but she soon got used to it. These days she barely raises an eyebrow when we go out but she will sometimes curl up and sulk still.

Luckily I don't work far from home so can get home everyday and those days that I can't my neighbour who was terrified of this scary Staffy will come in and let her out and spend time with her. Flo is always so pleased to see her and they are best buddies now

How old is flo? I do pay a dog walker the days I can't get home but they are are few and far between, and I've asked the neighbours and they've not heard her crying I just don't want her to feel. Cooped up now she's bigger and more energetic.