Behavior - acting out

Question
I have a 20 month golden retriever in new york city.  i have had him since he was 8 weeks old. i work from 9 to 6 and my dogwalker comes for an hour to take moose out. he is very well behaved and sweet natured.  recently, i have been spending more time away from moose.  i think he's acting out. he ate a roll of toilet paper and today, he locked himself in the bathroom and proceeded to tear it apart.  what do you suggest?  i still spend a lot of time with him, but clearly he feels neglected.

Answer
A dog, particularly one who is still more puppy than adult, can get bored when left for long periods of time... and a bored dog will always find something entertaining to do. The only way to really keep him out of trouble is to get him a large crate or exercise pen (although the later is a bit harder, area-wise, in an apartment with a larger dog).

Get him things to do while in the crate... large bones to chew on, a large Kong toy filled with something tasty inside that he has to work to get out, etc. Another option is to have the dog walker come twice a day; a good dog is a tired dog.

I definitely would never leave him loose, however, when no one is home. He has had a lot of fun TWICE now, so you cannot trust him again, as he now has discovered how to make his own fun and will definitely do it again if the chance arises.