[Mod Note: I'm not sure if this should be here or in the Outdoor area so please feel free to move it]

Readers Note: Sorry this is so long but I want whomever reads this to have the whole picture.

I have two huskies, both girls - sisters from the same litter. They are 16 months old. We've had Kita since she was 8 weeks old and we got Nala about a month later.

They were destructive but not super destructive before they turned one. Since then they have mostly just dug if they did anything really "wrong". The digging is a pain in the ass and is destroying my yard.

Also as a bit of background: when we first got these two and probably until 4-6 months ago, Kita was the sassy one who didn't listen. She was also testing the waters. Nala was the obedient one - doesn't like to be in trouble or disappoint.

NOW, the roles are completely reversed. Kita is the obedient one and Nala is the sassy one who doesn't listen at all. Neither one has had an obedience class, FYI but up until now, I didn't think either of them really needed it. Quite honestly, with my husband and I's work schedules - I don't know that we could even do it.

Lately Nala has been even more destructive, completely disobedient and just a pain in the butt.
She's digging every chance she gets - when it used to be once in a while. She's chewing on different parts of the house - the wooden stairs (outdoor), the siding.

She has chewed through the cable for our satellite dish 4 times now in the past 3 days. She's been caught in the act, scolded. Let me say this, the satellite dish has been there for 2 years - before the dogs. When they were little - they kinda chewed on parts of it - were scolded and they haven't bothered it since.

So the fact that Nala is refusing to leave it alone the past 3 days is very strange. Also strange is her increasing disobedience.

They have all kinds of toys when they are outside. Either me or my husband go out and play with them when they are out there - not the whole time mind you. They have bones. They have a 1/2 acre to run around. They get walked/ran often but not every day. But on the days we don't walk them, we play ball in the yard for quite a while or we chase them in the yard.

I'm actually concerned that something is going on with Nala to be causing her to misbehave like this. It's out of character for her - at least for most of the time we've had her. Any thoughts? I'm really at my wit's end with her. Other than when she's outside - which she LOVES, she's a really sweet girl who loves cuddles and all the attention she can get.

I've been starting to wonder if maybe my husband and I just shouldn't have these two because of our work schedules. We love these girls to death and don't want to get rid of either one of them but I'm not closed off to the idea if absolutely necessary.

HELP ME please so we can keep her.

In case it helps - here is a typical day for them during the week:

They are let out around 5 am. Husband plays with them outside for 20-30 minutes with the ball or chasing them around.

They stay outside, usually, until I leave for work at 7:30-7:45 a.m. Then they are crated for 8 1/2 - 9 hours, rarely 10.

They are let out around 3:30-4p.m. when I return home. When I get home, I go outside and play with them for 15-20 minutes.

They are out (of the crate) until bed time around 10 p.m. In the evening, they get walked about every other day. But they always get played with outside regardless, or in the house.

At bedtime, we'd love to have them sleep with us or in our room but they actually prefer their crates. So they are then crated from 10 or 10:30 to about 5 a.m.

On the weekends they are out of the crate as much as possible: long walks to the park, playing outside, taking to the forest preserve to walk/run the trails.

sounds like they need more exercise maybe? they tend to dig and chew and generally get into trouble when bored. walking them every day could help or biking with them- maybe even taking them to the dog park to let them run around and get some energy out. if i walk kiba less than 40 minutes during the day she tends to still have waaay too much energy and will put that energy towards digging massive holes, chasing our cat, chasing neighbor cats and various other activities that are irritating. just my two cents. could be a lot of things though

I have to agree with Emily.

To me it just sounds like she is bored, and still during her teenage years or maybe she just hit her teenage years a little late. This is when they tend to be more rambunctious and obnoxious due to the extra energy and lack obedience.

I also feel like it might be a lack of exercise. You can also try a lot of mental stimulation. That definitely helps tiring them out. There are lots of Kong treat dispensers that can help keep them busy.

I totally agree with the above. And the picture I am going to post below is when my girl doesn't get to go on her long walks/runs in the yard/doggy play dates. Trouble happens! Otherwise she is an angel. Remember, a tired husky is a good husky

Also, bully sticks, antlers etc to keep them busy while they are in the house work for a lot of us here. Not sure if you already give them those.

I couldn't agree more with more exercise! I have almost an acre of land the dog's have full access to and that's not even enough. They need to be walked and let out to play and then after work we spend at least 2 hours at the dog park at a time. If mine aren't exercised they are crazy out of control beasts!

Change up their schedule for one week and I guarantee you will see an improvement!

Get up early and take them for a walk, then play in the yard, you're usual routine, then after work another walk or dog park is even better. You're girls will be too tired to destroy anything.

Let me say that I got a massage today and I am less stressed and less upset about all of this. We're definitely going to try more exercise. The problem has been that I'm usually the one that walks them and I've been dealing with some medical issues so my Dr. advised me to not walk them anymore. I couldn't do that completely because I know they love it so I only do it every other day now.

I also picked up a part-time job on top of my full-time gig so I just don't have the time to go for a 2 hour walk every night after work.

I need time for my sanity as well.

We've tried mental stimulation - they aren't really interested in the kongs anymore. They do like chewing on bones though - we loaded up on bones today so that may help.

But when I say playing in the yard, I don't mean just doing nothing - I mean playing fetch until they stop - chasing them around the yard like crazy. It's not just petting them in the yard, lol.

Thank you all - I was hoping you guys would just say that you think it's boredom or exercise and not something more serious.

The reason why I wasn't sure was because this has been the routine since we've had them and they've been fine and now it's like all of the sudden for at least Nala - like a light switch, she's a different dog. That is worrisome.

They're bored.

Can your husband take them for walks? Playing in the yard is great, but Siberians tends to need 2-3 hours of exercise a day. Fetch just isn't going to cut it, unfortunately.

If walks are out of the questions, I highly recommend any of the following to prevent your house/yard being destroyed:

1. Hire a dog-walker, or send them to doggie day care. It sounds pricey, but so is replacing the destruction of your home! It doesn't have to be expensive either...this time of year, there are always college kids who would love to spend the day playing with dogs, or a neighbor who needs a playmate for their own active pup.

2. Try a treadmill. You can usually find cheap electronic ones on Craigslist for $100-300, and for your situation, it sounds like it'd be a great investment. After getting them used to it, you can turn it on and have them run on that for 30 minutes+ while you relax.

Mental stimulation is more than just giving them a kong and working for a treat. Training is a major stimulation for my Huskies and after only 15 minutes they are ready for a nap until training round 2.

If you're not able to walk the dogs, maybe you could hire a dog walker? Maybe there are some teen kids in you're neighborhood looking for a summer job wanting to earn a few extra bucks? If you didn't want to go that route, there are lots of dog walking companies.

You could also try dropping them off at doggie daycare for a few hours. My dogs are always exhausted after daycare!

We live in the city, which usually is a bad idea for a 3 yr old husky. Although I live in a pretty calm neighborhood. So I purchased some Rollerblade and we go for an hour. Many times she will pull, but lately I've been doing the work.

Although it is still excellent workout for her, (and me too, lost 12 lbs so far)

Agree about the exercise.

Maybe your husband can walk them in the morning instead of just playing in the yard. I've found with my girl that a 20 minute, structured, walk tires her out much better than 20 minutes, or even more, romping at the dog park.

Ok real fast here, if you cant walk them can you bike them? You can wear them out in half the time it takes to walk them. Do you have a dog park near by? Doggie friends that can come play with them? Just some other ideas to wear them out

I'm a huge advocate for biking with them. My two could go for hours just walking/playing, but hook them to the bike and take off...30 minutes and their pooped! We also let them set the pace to start...and usually have to pull them up the hills towards the end. There are several attachments that you can use. Hubby and I use the Walky Dog attachment, and I know a friend of ours has something slightly different.

Like Jen said, doggie play dates work wonder too. We've had the four dogs (mine and Jen's) in a backyard for just a couple of hours playing with one another and they tire each other out.