The dog and the husband........

Question
Not sure where to start on this one....I moved in with my fiance about 6 mos. ago.  He has a 5 year old black lab who, although she has a sweet personality, has been allowed to do whatever she wants since she was a puppy.  He trained her in hunting and that was IT. She tore apart the entire house and was never disciplined because that was his "baby".  We have made some changes -we got her spayed, she's not allowed upstairs/in the bedrooms anymore, she eats dog food now instead of just people food and treats we're working on the barking while outside.  

I guess I have 2 questions - what can I do to take her on a walk - the minute I put the leash on her she starts pulling and won't stop.  My hubby is strong enough he just uses a choke collar and holds her back.  I don't like the idea of a choke collar and I am not strong enough to hold on to her.

The other thing is at night she scratches her claws on the couch - usually in the middle of the night.  I think she should have a crate or doggie-bed and not be sleeping on the couch but my hubby thinks "she's been through enough changes already".  She already ruined 1 sofa and I'm not working full time to keep purchasing new furniture!!!

Thanks for your help.


Answer
Yes, go with a crate.  I hope you din't mind my canned answers to your common questions.  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.  All but the largest Labs will do fine in the 36'' ones.  

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.

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, make take some work.
Start out just putting its toys and treats in the crate.  Praise it for going
in.  If you have been able to trust it with any bedding, put that in the crate.
Feed it in the crate.  This is also an easy way to maintain order at feeding
time for more than one dog.

You want to switch to a head collar.  The leading brands are Promice,  Haltie, and Gentle Leader.  They have a strap going around the dogs nose looking something like a muzzle.  They work by pulling the dogs head around.  No other way gives you such great control with so little force.  Even the inexperienced need no more than the instructions that come with them.