my little dog is great with ava but has issues being left in the house alone , she always looks for something to destroy, today it was the turn of the christmas presents , thankfully it was just the box that was ruined. She always takes things upstairs as well and makes a pile , today she'd taken up a snow boot , some wet wipes and a few of ava's toys.

why do you think she's doing it? any suggestions on how to make her stop?

SHE IS PUNISHING YOU FOR LEAVING HER HUN ,,, I THINK X

Dogs will spite you if you leave them at home alone..their way of punishing you. I suggest a kennel or dog crate for when you leave. xxx

I thought it might be a jealousy thing, jen I don't think i could put her in a cage, she was a rescue puppy and is still very timid even though she's 12 now. I'll just have to put everything out of her reach.

I have no idea my dog has never done anything like that maybe its an attention thing?

Girl dogs can be a bit odd and like to have nest full of 'stuff' - is it an off and on thing and that she doesnt do it all the time?

not all the time, if i'm out for more than an hour or so she does the collection piles, i'm not sure if she's doing it for comfort.

It's not only for your sanity..but for your dogs safety and a time out. It won't hurt him at all. Imagine your dog getting into something and choking to death on it. Or eating something that is poisonous. We had to kennel ours for a spell because they were both getting into mischief when we stepped out..they both have ammended their sneaky ways..cept for sneaking onto my downstairs sofa..but I can pretty much leave them to roam free when I am not home. xxx

It does sound like a security thing she does, as in she makes a 'nest' of things that belong to people in the house to make her feel secure...I think anyway

So if you got her a crate and it has her own blanket and toys in then she will feel safe when you go out

Mine aren't crated now but they have an area fenced off with their beds and bowls in and they feel safe there...they also behave better at night, without the fence across they will wee in my kitchen...but they don't when they are closed in the one end!