Destructive dog advice?

We have a 11mth old working cocker quarter poodle. It destroys anything it can pick up. This is becoming increasingly expensive. I didn't want a dog, I'm a cat person. I reprimand the dog every time it does it's thing. My wife who has had dogs all her life just coos at him that he's a naughty boy and doesn't offer anything in the way of aversion therapy for the bad behaviour. This is mostly a way of getting at me because that's what our relationship has degenerated into.

What are my options for mitigating the carnage? I try and get things out of the dogs reach but being a young spaniel he is very agile and quite honestly I shouldn't have to move stuff, the dog should have been trained by now. I also worry that at 11 months old the behaviour pattern is kinda set now and breaking it will be difficult.

What i am best trying without resorting to a divorce?

Reward rather than reprimand? Have a bag of treats ready for those good boy moments. To a dog a reprimand can be a reward as they have got your attention, so they do it again.

It's not easy as wives always say they are being cute. Butter wouldn't melt in their mouths, but every zip fastening on my jacket has been chewed to bits.



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Unfortunately the little swine only does this when he is left alone which while only one day of the week between 8 and half 3 is more than enough. I will try ignoring him next time see how that works. I'm also thinking about taxing the wife each time it's my stuff that dies, it might make her more interested in sorting out the behaviour. Cheers.

Have you had the dog from a puppy?? or did you get it later from another owner?
This sort of behaviour is a pain, however, as it is a working dog, perhaps more serious exercise would help, i have 2 x parsons russells, and, if for any reason they don't get a walk on a particular day, the can be really highly charged, and tear around like loonies, and while they don't chew stuff, they do 'POLISH' the cushions in their beds if you get my drift...!
We never had a problem with either dog chewing as pups, as firstly, they always had a toy of some sort, and , whenever they were left for any length of time, we brought back a dog chew or something, so they tended to behave generally, sorry, i don't have any qualities in Wife training...good luck.!!

Yeah I think you need to give plenty of exercise
That's a long time to leave a puppy to its own devices,
Have you tried a Kong stuffed with treats?
Can you get someone to come in for a bit? He's just bored and still very young

Unfortunately I ain't able to bring him to the farm because our sheep are not used to dogs and I'm not about to start so he has to stay home. Rest of the week he does have lots of walking but even then he has that much energy....

What are the options for chemical repellents like cider vinegar?

Will have to see how we go.