shih tzu bad behavioral

Question
hi!
i have a 10 month old female shih tzu called Lola. (she is fertile). she was born in our house, and we kept her since then. her mother (which also lives with us) has "educated" her a little bit, but we still have problems. when she is the house, she goes look for ANYTHING (such as toys, shoes, towels, etc.)that she can bite and bites it until he destroys it, then she "hides" it in the garden. she also bites all the plants in our garden. and she has been pooping in the room she sleeps. when these things happen, i show her what she has done and shout "bad dog!" then i tie her in a corner for some hours...
but this is not working and she's driving the whole family nUtS!!!
pleeeease tell me, what do i need to do??
thank you VERY MUCH!!!
Juliete

Answer
Such harsh measures will never work especially if applied after she has done something.  

Accidents and damaged possessions are the fault of whoever was watching the puppy. When you are watching it, immediately correct it as soon as it goes for anything except its own toys. In a quiet, but firm voice give it an ''Ah, ah, ah!''. Gently remove what ever and replace it with one of her toys, or if older, hold eye contact until the puppy drops it.  When nobody can watchher, crate her.  


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.

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.