Excesive chewing

Question
I have two female miniature schnauzers.  My husband went back to work this summer, after being home all day with the dogs since birth.  They tear apart at all our possesions when we are gone now.  I figured this would go away in time as they got accustomed to being home alone, but that was a few months ago now, and they still misbehave.  But it is more one dog than the other.  She chew apart drywall, underware & bras, boxer shorts, the bed sheets, dryer sheets and various other items including garbage and shoes.  I am frustrated & confused as to how to help my girls cope with days alone at home.  I do not want to cage them, I want them to have run of the house and feel comforted when we are gone.

Please help!

Answer
Hi Christina;
I agree with you about caging them.
I just don't like the crates and won't use them.
Could you restrict then to one or more rooms where they don't have anything to chew?
Sounds like you have to do a different sort of baby proofing your himwe. LOL
I had to laugh when I read some of the things they have chewed. Been there, lost that. LOL
One pregnant Black Lab I rescued even took my clothes out of my closet and ate them while I was at my shop. My husband's clothes were in there too, and she didn't bother them, but she just chewed up mine. she also ste a good portion of the wood of my brand new bedroom suite, only on my side of the bed, and my dresser. Didn't toucvh my husband's side of the bed or his dresser.
After her puppies were born, and weaned, I gound her a great home on a ranch with people that were Lab lovers, and we found good,loving homes for her 9 children.
My little Lhasa will chew holes in ( and eat the material) of my bedsheets or anything soft, like blankets.
They all sleep in our beds and have beds of their own.
I made nice little beds and pad covers of fake fur to be something soft for them to cuddle on in their beds.
Max ate his pad cover right away. Big gaping holes all in the bad and the fake fur cover on the bed frame, they he proceded to do the same thing to the other dos' beds.
I have tried everything, and I have been training dogs for over 40 years, for quite a long time, I was a professional trainer.
Can't stop Max from this habit though. He is now nine, and still chews.
For one thing, he LOVES fabric softener, and I rinse everything qwith fabric softener.
When I make my bed, he will get on it and rub his nose around smelling it, and with his eyes closed, like he is really enjoying that heavenly smell, then when I am not looking, there will appear a large hole.
I have tried switching brands of fabric softeners.
I found one he didn't like, but I didn't like it either.LOL
Get some Kong toys for their mouth size, and put some cheese or peanut butter in them to tempt them to chew more on those toys.
They can't break off pieces they can choke on, and they get the chewing they need.
This chewing could very werll be spite at you for leaving them home alone.
Dogs can get very peevish about that, and they ARE capable of being spiteful.
Check to see if you have a Man's Best Friend in your area.
Maybe they have a training program that would help you with that problem.
Charlotte