Tips on training a dog to be a house dog.?

Question

I have a Beagle, who is allowed indoors and is already housebroken but I have to put her outside during the day for a few hours while I go out and do things I have to do. I don't like her being confined outdoors, especially when it's raining or really cold out, or when I'm not home. I would like some tips from owners of dogs who are similar to her in that, she loves to pull books out of the bookshelves and destroy them and try to get anything that is on the bench off of it. I have doggy doors so that she will be able to get outside to do her business, but I'd like if she could be indoors while I'm out, but not confined in a crate either (I did crate train her)

Answer 1

Sounds like a little separation anxiety going on here.  Keep your coming and going very low key so she doesn't see your leaving as anything to be excited about.  Give her something to do while you are gone.  A frozen stuffed kong works really well.  You might want to try and confine her out of those rooms where she is causing destruction in for awhile too.  Several well placed baby gates might do well in this situation.  If this gets too bad get you crate out again.