Lab HELP!

Question
My boyfriend and I have a 3.5 year old Black Lab, Kaya.  She is very energetic and playful and has always "gotten in to things."  As our efforts have failed to curb her bad behaviors, we have modified our home environment so she does not destroy anything, ie, knock over the trash, eat  from the bathroom trash (tissue, razor refills, toilet paper rolls, etc), eat my socks, tear apart magazines, koozies, anything she can find!  Lately, she has been "breaking" into the utility closet and we have come home to find nuts, bolts, nails, and light bulbs around the house and in her cage.  She has toys to play with and we have another dog that keeps her company while we are at work.  We need help to try to prevent this dangerous behavior!

Answer
Many, but not all dogs settle down on their chewing by that age.  

A mousetrap is very effective in making a dog leave something alone.  Most
dogs will stay away from anywhere they were surprised by a snap.  The best
part is that it is not you that is correcting the dog.  It works whether you
are around or not.  The mousetrap is very patient and is always on task as
long as you reset it.

Better than mousetraps when you aren't around is the crate.  Other dogs may
not be as bad as the young Labs I am plagued with.  Still your house and dog
will be much safer with the dog in a crate when you are away.  The dog may be
happier in its den than loose in the house.  It relaxes, it feels safe in its
den.  It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving
its self.  Dogs that have been crated all along do very well.  Many of them
will rest in their crates even when the door is open.  I think the plastic
ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling.  They are harder for
dogs to open too.    Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with
something the dog can't pull in and chew.  Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

Leave it some toys.  Perhaps a Kong filled with peanut butter.  Don't leave
anything in the crate the dog might chew up.  It will do fine without even any
bedding.  You will come home to a safe dog and a house you can enjoy.

It would be much better if somebody could give the dogs a mid day break, a neighbor or a professional dog walker.  A great alternative is doggy day care.