Help please

OK, no you don't have to apologize for being upset with her.  Nor, should she be allowed to do whatever she wants.  However, there is a right way and a wrong way to handle both anger and dog training (which, by the way, I think you should read up on)
 
Your recent posts and your first posts are very different.  In the first you said it was "all you could do to not beat her" and then in the others you say she is "your baby and that you "love her very much". 
 
Maybe it's me but I also consider Willow my "baby" and I  love her very much and couldn't fathom at any time an item that she could destroy that would make me even close to hitting her. 
 
You stated either I'm immature or someone else is immature, well, not being able to control your anger is immature.  You shouldn't even be thinking of hitting the dog.  Period. No excuses. 

Hi Keef, aside from what others have suggested on how to...  Another thing you can do for her is provide her some ice cubes to chew on and buy some Orajel Baby and rub it on her gums. It is obvious her gums are driving her nuts with itching.
 
Good luck.

I agree the way that he said it sounded bad "beating" -- but parents spank their children and it's not beating them ... I smack my dog's bottom sometimes if she bites me too hard.  It's not being abusive.  And, he didn't even hit her.  I think it was more so being upset while posting that made it sound so horrible.
 
Keith, I suggest cooling down a bit before posting next time your little one does something to anger you so that you can avoid getting anyone upset.

My blue heeler was the king of chewing, eating, ripping,, etc. when he was a pup. Every time I came home to a ruined shoe, half eaten stereo face,etc., I would just shake my head and tell myself "bad mommy, bad". Thankfully he doesn't destroy anything now.

Beautiful puppy!

I lost a couch (it was the dog couch, but still), a hammock, several pairs of shoes, a camera cord, and quite a few articles of clothing to my last puppy. I'm a much better housekeeper, now, and I know to watch them very closely. I'm sure that I'll lose something to the next puppy, but I'm guessing it won't be nearly as much. Having a puppy is as much of a learning process for the people as it is for the pup

We have to remember also that a lot of things that come out people's mouths are never meant to be taken literally.  Those of us who have survived adolescence with 2 legged kids I'm sure have said on more than one occasion "I'm going to kill that kid if he does that again." We don't really mean it and we don't really do it ... at least most of us don't. []

Joyce & Max

I think a lot of the problem is that you're fairly new and we don't know you well enough to know that you won't act on what you WANT to do.  If I say that this morning Thor ticked me off so badly that he almost got my foot up his butt so far I would have needed help retrieving it, these folks know that I'm blowing off steam and that's all it is.  And, quite honestly that's how I felt this morning.  But these folks know that I'd NEVER act on  that feeling.  They don't know that about you, yet.

Still marking, Glenda?

I agree that the main problem is that we don't know you, and that text does not carry emotions like verbal communication. I've cooed at my dogs that I should beat them with a stick, for being so rotten. Of course, this elicits wild tail wagging and generally goofy behavior. If I said, in an email or any text only form of communication, "I'm going to beat these rotten dogs with a stick", you might think that I was actually going to hurt my little dogs.

ORIGINAL: willowchow

OK, no you don't have to apologize for being upset with her.  Nor, should she be allowed to do whatever she wants.  However, there is a right way and a wrong way to handle both anger and dog training (which, by the way, I think you should read up on)

Your recent posts and your first posts are very different.  In the first you said it was "all you could do to not beat her" and then in the others you say she is "your baby and that you "love her very much". 

Maybe it's me but I also consider Willow my "baby" and I  love her very much and couldn't fathom at any time an item that she could destroy that would make me even close to hitting her. 

You stated either I'm immature or someone else is immature, well, not being able to control your anger is immature.  You shouldn't even be thinking of hitting the dog.  Period. No excuses. 

I said in my initial post that I loved my dog, it was just how I felt at the time, I feel like I want to hit people all the time, but do I NO I don't. It's called human nature. I'm not sure what your problem is but maybe you read way too deeply into my post, I stated that I wanted to do something that should be the end PERIOD. My excuse is that I'm human, I get mad, I want to hurt people at times, I don't. I'm actually a very peaceful person. What in the world are you talking about me not controlling my anger when I stated I didn't even HIT or touched the dog. YOU need to be more mature and read what I wrote rather than jumping to conclusions and nonsense. It was a figure of speech, "It took everything in me not to beat her" why is that hard for you to comprehend?? That's just how upset I was not only at her but I was upset with my roommate for leaving the door open but sense this isn't a general forum I didn't feel the need to express what was said between me and him and what I told him to do next time. Thank you for taking the time to respond, though.

ORIGINAL: fuzzy_dogs_mom

We have to remember also that a lot of things that come out people's mouths are never meant to be taken literally.  Those of us who have survived adolescence with 2 legged kids I'm sure have said on more than one occasion "I'm going to kill that kid if he does that again." We don't really mean it and we don't really do it ... at least most of us don't. []

Joyce & Max

THANK YOU!!!!! YOU HIT IT ON THE NOSE.

Now does anyone want to take a stab at my second question about the bathing?

ORIGINAL: keef

Also she's never left alone for more than 2 hours if that while I'm in class. When I'm at work my roommate normally watches her but he fell asleep earlier while she was roaming the house. I really don't feel that I was wrong here, I'm 20 years old and this is my first dog since childhood, I came here for some guidance not to be reprimanded for what I was feeling at the time or out of pure instinct when I'm mad at an animal. I'm human in case you all are wondering, I find it EXTREMELY hard to believe everyone who reprimanded me that you have never been displeased or mad at your current or previously owned dogs or yelled at it. I also find it hard to believe that everyone is born with the knowledge, will power, and patience to care for a dog. Keep in mind I'm learning too, and this nonsense I don't need to be told that any of you want to hit me for being mad or expressing what I'm thinking that is really immature. I wanted to beat her with a newspaper (a few people have told me that they do this to their dog) but I didn't, I won't ever hit my dog. She is a fast learner as I am. To reiterate, she only have her ears down when she KNOWS she did something I told her not to do, EXAMPLE I told her to stop chewing on the chair the other day, I was in a good mood, and when I came home found the chair chewed up and she decided to react like that when I came home I didn't scold her I didn't do anything but take her for a walk and gave her a treat. I DON'T (and I never have) scold her when I don't catch her in the act of doing something. She had no prerequisite reason to act the way she does unless I tell her no and she does it any way while I'm gone. I don't know what her previous owners did to her, but she knows she has a loving and caring home here. I really was not expecting hostility from anyone on this board, I think that dogs are a privilege HOWEVER I do no think that excuses them from a human being (YOU AND ME in case you forgot) reacting in a negative manner when they do something unfavorable and I'm appalled at the reaction I received when I stated I DIDN'T hit her nor have I EVER hit her or scolded her for something she did when I didn't catch her in the act.

 
Keef,
 
I understand where you are coming from, it's easy to be mad at the dog when the human messes up.  I've raised a pup totally on my own from 8 weeks old so I've been through everything you're going to go through.  The first thing YOU need to do is look at the house and other surroundings as if you were a puppy.  Everything looks interesting, and the best way to investigate it is to chew it.  So all those shoes, ear pieces, baseball caps, blankets, pillows, soda bottles, magazines, books and everything else that's left out in the open...FAIR GAME!  Anything that smells like you is more likely to be chewed.  Chewing everything is a natural thing.  Dogs need to chew, puppies need to chew more, puppies that are left alone need to chew the most, it's reassuring and somewhat calming to them.
 
I also understand about not wanting to, or not being able to crate train.  If that's the case go to your local store and buy baby gates.  Limiting freedom isn't cruel, it's necessary to ensure your pup's well being.  Remember that your pup has to EARN her freedoms.
 
Please take some time and get your dog ALOT of exercise.  A tired dog is a happy dog.  Lots of play time is a requirement for both bonding and your relationship with your pup.  Get involved in an obedience class, that should teach you how to relate to your dog in a different way.  In a way that she can understand you.  Also you need to learn how to understand her.  Dogs have a complicated language based upon body position, and posture.  There are books to read on this subject and I'm sure that other posters here will have titles for you.  Personally I recommend "The Canine Good Citizen" which is kind of a primer for dog ownership and training, it's not necessarily a bible for it though. 
 
You've got about 10-12 months of ridiculously hard work ahead of you, but it will result in a lifetime of love and companionship. 

ORIGINAL: Xerxes

ORIGINAL: keef

Also she's never left alone for more than 2 hours if that while I'm in class. When I'm at work my roommate normally watches her but he fell asleep earlier while she was roaming the house. I really don't feel that I was wrong here, I'm 20 years old and this is my first dog since childhood, I came here for some guidance not to be reprimanded for what I was feeling at the time or out of pure instinct when I'm mad at an animal. I'm human in case you all are wondering, I find it EXTREMELY hard to believe everyone who reprimanded me that you have never been displeased or mad at your current or previously owned dogs or yelled at it. I also find it hard to believe that everyone is born with the knowledge, will power, and patience to care for a dog. Keep in mind I'm learning too, and this nonsense I don't need to be told that any of you want to hit me for being mad or expressing what I'm thinking that is really immature. I wanted to beat her with a newspaper (a few people have told me that they do this to their dog) but I didn't, I won't ever hit my dog. She is a fast learner as I am. To reiterate, she only have her ears down when she KNOWS she did something I told her not to do, EXAMPLE I told her to stop chewing on the chair the other day, I was in a good mood, and when I came home found the chair chewed up and she decided to react like that when I came home I didn't scold her I didn't do anything but take her for a walk and gave her a treat. I DON'T (and I never have) scold her when I don't catch her in the act of doing something. She had no prerequisite reason to act the way she does unless I tell her no and she does it any way while I'm gone. I don't know what her previous owners did to her, but she knows she has a loving and caring home here. I really was not expecting hostility from anyone on this board, I think that dogs are a privilege HOWEVER I do no think that excuses them from a human being (YOU AND ME in case you forgot) reacting in a negative manner when they do something unfavorable and I'm appalled at the reaction I received when I stated I DIDN'T hit her nor have I EVER hit her or scolded her for something she did when I didn't catch her in the act.

Keef,

I understand where you are coming from, it's easy to be mad at the dog when the human messes up.  I've raised a pup totally on my own from 8 weeks old so I've been through everything you're going to go through.  The first thing YOU need to do is look at the house and other surroundings as if you were a puppy.  Everything looks interesting, and the best way to investigate it is to chew it.  So all those shoes, ear pieces, baseball caps, blankets, pillows, soda bottles, magazines, books and everything else that's left out in the open...FAIR GAME!  Anything that smells like you is more likely to be chewed.  Chewing everything is a natural thing.  Dogs need to chew, puppies need to chew more, puppies that are left alone need to chew the most, it's reassuring and somewhat calming to them.

I also understand about not wanting to, or not being able to crate train.  If that's the case go to your local store and buy baby gates.  Limiting freedom isn't cruel, it's necessary to ensure your pup's well being.  Remember that your pup has to EARN her freedoms.

Please take some time and get your dog ALOT of exercise.  A tired dog is a happy dog.  Lots of play time is a requirement for both bonding and your relationship with your pup.  Get involved in an obedience class, that should teach you how to relate to your dog in a different way.  In a way that she can understand you.  Also you need to learn how to understand her.  Dogs have a complicated language based upon body position, and posture.  There are books to read on this subject and I'm sure that other posters here will have titles for you.  Personally I recommend "The Canine Good Citizen" which is kind of a primer for dog ownership and training, it's not necessarily a bible for it though. 

You've got about 10-12 months of ridiculously hard work ahead of you, but it will result in a lifetime of love and companionship. 

Thank you for the advice that really helped. I want to take her to the park more often, it was just kinda rough these few weeks when I got her, because I had a lot of major projects due as well as finals. Hopefully, I'll end up getting a house or townhouse with a backyard so she will be free to roam if not and I get another apartment I will probably have a play room for her (dunno if that's a good idea or not). I'm going to look into the baby gates, are those strong enough to hold her? She's about 18-19 pounds. I always take her on walks at least 3-5 times a day around my complex. Since schools over I have a lot more time to dedicate to her. I will also look into that book. []

One more thing I don't understand. It's not really a big deal for me and I'm not sure if other dogs do this, but I just had this feeling that since she was a stray it has something to do with that.. she has this tendency to hide under things. Ever since we got her she loves to hide under my computer desk or my dining room table. She'll follow me when I get up or she'll come when I call her but if I give her a treat for being good she'll go eat it under something, be it a chair, table, etc.. I was just curious would this be an underlying problem or it's just her personality? Only time she'll eat a treat I give her in front of me is if I say sit or stay.

That is a den responce. To hide under something like the table or puter desk is to her is darkish and quiet so she feels safe there. That is what crates provide for them is a den to get away from it all when they want to. Mine crate themselves when they need or want a break from the pack or human pack to take a peacful nap.

You might rethink the crate thing.

Ok, well I will go check out some Friday. I don't necessarily have a problem with crate training, I was just afraid that she'd get to big too soon to be in a crate... she's already gotten bigger and is growing everyday. Sorry if I sound ignorant I just don't want to buy a crate and she outgrows it in a month or two. Is that something I even need to worry about?