Serious chewing problem...

Question
Hi,
My husband and I have 2 dogs...both "mutts" from the Humane Society.  One is right around 2 years old and the other one, Blanche, is just about a year old.  We are having a serious problem with Blanche and her chewing.  We have a crate for her that we put her in during the day or any time we are gone and we put at least one if not two chew toys in there with her.  She does not chew while we are home...but, when we leave- she will work herself out of her crate and chew anything and everything she can get her teeth on.  It is a larger metal crate...and I can only assume (from the gashes out of our wall) that she throws her weight around in the crate until it comes apart enough for her to get out(it is still intact when we get home).  We tried one of the plastic crates and she managed to thow that one around enough that the screws on the side came loose!!  We have even tied the crate walls together to try and keep her in...she has eaten shoes, speakers, movie cases, movies, clothes, rugs, etc.  I don't want to make her an outside dog and other than this she is great- loveable, friendly, great with kids, etc. And she doesn't do it when we are home so I am assuming it is anxiety...but we have even put the crate in a bedroom, with the other dog (she could see him at all times) and left the TV on...she got out and dug/ate a whole in the mattress!!  We are wits end...I truly appreciate any help as we love her and don't want to have to give her away.
Thank you for your time,
Karen

Answer
Hi Karen;
At around one year old they go through another tething.
She could be cutting her permanent teeth.
She gnaws to ease the sore and hurting gums and to help push the new teeth through.
Get her some things that give her the gnawing exercise she needs, and is safe for her to chew on.
Kong and NylaBones toys are hard enough they can't bite off pieces they can choke on, and still give them the gnawing they need.
It could also be some part anxiety.
Kong toys are neat, you can put peanut butter or cheese inside them as a treat and to get them to chew on that.
I HATE those crates.
I wont use them.
At a time when the zoos know better than to cage up wild animals because it causes mental problems, some idion comes up with the idea of keeping our pets in cages.
The "tale" that dogs actually love their crates is a bunch of hogwash.
I work with rescue groups and because we have so many animals we have to use crates, but none of us like it a bit, and when we take them into our homes to foster them to get them ready for adoption, we DON'T use a crate.
Obviously your dog hates that crate.
Can you make an area accessable to them during the day while you ar away, where they don't have to be in those crates, but don't have access to parts of the house where they can do so much damage?
And put toys for them to play with in there with them.
If it is possible to have access to a doggy door where they can go into a fenced back yard to play and do their business, and come into the house for cool and warmth, that, I feel would solve your problems, that and some goos obedience classes.
Charlotte