Small Dog Destroying items

Crate her.
Failing that, block access to all rooms except the one with the doggie door.
You've given her too much freedom too fast. Even adult dogs should be acclimated to a new home by not having full roaming priveleges right away. Once she'll really ready to be left out alone in the house, set her up for success by putting all that stuff away.

I'm guessing that's she is acting out in some way against us.

The good news is that dogs don't think like this--it's yet another reason to love them!

She's doing it because she can (the stuff was available), and because she doesn't come knowing the difference between her stuff and your stuff. You have to teach her. I would buy Jean Donaldson's book: The Culture Clash. It has great step-by-step instructions for dealing with all this stuff, and includes a lot of good information about how dogs think.

Here's basically what Jean would say:

1. Dogs chew, and it's good that they do. They chew to relieve boredom and anxiety, for fun, etc. Chewing to them is like humans reading magazines. Anything left around the dog is going to be perceived as a chew toy.
2. So the first thing you need to do is make sure you puppyproof your house, just as you'd babyproof a house.
3. If you can't watch your dog (in the shower, when you're at work, etc.), put her in a crate.
4. And give her plenty of things that are obviously hers and so much more enticing than your ipod: bones, bully sticks, cowhooves, etc. Yummy things. Well, things she would find yummy.
5. When you find her chewing on something that is yours, take it away without a fuss and give her one of her things.

Over time you will teach your dog to discriminate: I get the stinky animal-part things, and the plastic things are not for chewing. It takes awhile, be patient.

Good luck!

Well, shoot.  Not a thing I can add, other than DITTO the two previous posters.

Glenda I came along too late too...Good advice given above though.

I thought I should add to this.
 
We've done out best to block off access to the house. Today we left her for a short time period, and we came back to some destroyed books that we had kept somewhat out of reach on a coffee table.
 
It almost seems as if she's searching for things to tear up when we are away.
 
The kicker for us is: she hides when we come home. She is clearly aware that she has done something wrong. Everything I've read says that dogs don't know right from wrong, but she definately knows when she's done something she hasn't supposed to.
 
We are not one of those couples that work all the time and spend a lot of time away from home. We're rarely ever gone for more than 4 hours at a time. Could it be that she wants us home more?  We don't want to leave her in the crate for more than 6-8 hours when she has a big yard to run around in, but I guess we'll have to.
 
Any more advice?

we came back to some destroyed books that we had kept somewhat out of reach on a coffee table.

 
Lesson learned:  Put stuff away properly, not "somewhat out of reach"!!!  Or confine her better.  Or better still:  Both. 
 

The kicker for us is: she hides when we come home. She is clearly aware that she has done something wrong.

 
No.  She has just learned that you are likely to be angry with her and she is scared.  That is not the same thing at all.  Perhaps you've come home and been cross with her about stuff she has destroyed, or perhaps her previous owner had a similar problem and got mad at her before abandoning her.  Being anxious about your return in the anticipation of a telling off is only going to compund the problem.  Ignore her before you leave the house so she is not left in an emotional state and ignore her when you get home too so she is not sitting around waiting anxiously for your arrival.  Your comings and goings should be as boring as possible.  Wait until she has calmed down before you call her over to be petted.
 

  We're rarely ever gone for more than 4 hours at a time. Could it be that she wants us home more?  We don't want to leave her in the crate for more than 6-8 hours when she has a big yard to run around in

 
If you are not out for more than 4 hours, why not crate her for that time?  That is what the crate is for after all.  Possessions safe, dog safe, dog left with nice chew or kong, everyone is a winner.  If you are gone for more than that, why not secure a puppy proof area which is easily cleaned and leave her in there with access to her crate, some toys and safe chews?  If you are gone for several hours why not hire a dog walker or get a neighbour or friend to pop round and check on her? Let her out, play with her, maybe give her a quick walk?
 
Does she get a really good run before being left?  What kind of toys and chews is she left with?

Anytime I'm even remotely tempted to run to the store and leave the dogs uncrated I flash back to running up to the corner for milk and coming home to find hubby's newish lazboy wallhugger recliner EATEN.  Completely destroyed in 15-20 minutes time.  Years later, yep, they go into their crates when I have to leave for any reason.  I absolutely will NOT leave my dogs outside unattended.  I have a sturdy chain link fence 5 feet tall and I live out in the boonies.  But, there are wild animals around, coyotes, bobcat, etc, that could harm the dogs, and then of course the two legged beasts on their snow mobiles or dirt bikes.
 
Crates keep the dogs safe, my stuff safe and give me immeasurable peace of mind.

I have to agree with Chuffy on this one.The problem is not your dog, it's the way you are reacting to your dog's behaviors. If your dog hides when you come home, you have either yelled at it for chewing something of yours or someone before you has. You need to be calm but assertive around your dog, not freaking out because your dog has chewed your shoes or jumped up on the dining room table. I don't mean to sound harsh here but honestly, all of this can be prevented and it appears that you aren't doing your part. Your dog is more than likely experiencing seperation anxiety, therefore, it's doing it's own "freaking out" when you leave. You can train your dog to overcome it's seperation anxiety. Start by sending her to her crate (be sure to treat for this so she learns that being in the crate is a good thing). Put on your shoes, coat, keys, purse, whatever you take with you normally. Your dog is likely to start whining or barking but just ignore her. Don't make a fuss AT ALL! This only worsens the anxiety. Go out the door and lock it. Wait for a few minutes then come back in, ignoring your dog. Go about your business for a few minutes then leave again. This time, stay outside for a few minutes longer. Each time you go out, stay longer and longer. This will show your dog that you are coming back and the dog will get the idea that it isn't being abandoned. The more you fuss over a dog when you leave and return, the more anxious your dog becomes.This dog lost it's previous home and it will lose it's current home if you don't act responsibly. Crate your dog to protect your dog, to protect your belongings. Dogs like being crated regardless of what many people think. I'm not telling you to keep your dog in a crate 24/7, I'm saying to crate your dog before you leave your house (give your dog a treat for going in and a Kong filled with yummy treats or a chewie). Crate your dog at night when you go to bed or at least put it's bed next to yours. I never advise my clients to allow dogs on furniture especially if the dog is dominant but that is their choice.Dog 'proof' your home just as you would for a toddler or small child. Dogs don't know the difference between a chewie and your expensive shoes. Learn to read your dog's body language. Your dog 'talks' to you by giving you signals and this is important especially because you don't really know your dog right now. Don't and I repeat DON'T use angry tones with your dog NO MATTER WHAT the dog does!! Talk to your dog in a normal tone and don't correct your dog if the dog doesn't know what it's being correct for. Once your dog is obedience trained and has proofed commands 100%, only then can you correct the dog. Telling the dog "NO" before you teach it anything is useless. You are only working yourself up into frustration and creating a fearful, anxiety riddled dog.  

I'm going to slightly disagree with you on that one.  I think that SA is a term that gets thrown around with dogs just as ADD or ADHD does with children.  I think that there is a lot LESS of it than we think.....but it's nice to have a label to explain behaviors.  Even if they don't fit.
 
In my personal opinion, this dog is acting out of boredom, and chewing stuff because its there and she can.  Anything that is "sort of out of reach" is just an invitation to a challenge....get ME and chew me because there is a challenge involved in getting to the item.
 
Either way, the crate is the way to go to prevent destroyed stuff.  And, someday, it could be something more dangerous than a book that she chews.....like a power cord.

The other aspect to this is that you are dealing with a terrier type dog.  Their favorite activity?  Yup, digging, shaking, shredding.  So, you may need to confine this dog when you are away.  That certainly isn't awful so long as she gets adequate exercise and mental stimulation while you are there.  Consider taking her to class and maybe taking up some activity like agility.  Dogs with pent up energy need a job.  When you do need to confine her, consider putting her usual meal into a Kong or other food-dispensing toy and let her work to get it out.

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The kicker for us is: she hides when we come home. She is clearly aware that she has done something wrong. Everything I've read says that dogs don't know right from wrong, but she definately knows when she's done something she hasn't supposed to.


 
she is anticipating your anger. dogs have a short term memory so all she knows is that you will be mad at her for something, but she won't know what for.