Alleviating an anxious dog

My dad recently acquired a one-year-old castrated Patterdale Terrier cross. When left on his own he chews anything he can get his paws on! I'm currently training to be a veterinary nurse, and spend my lunches and time off walking the dog and trying to keep him mentally stimulated with toys and other games that can puzzle him throughout the day. However his chewing hasn't subsided. My dad is very “old fashioned” in his training methods and punishes the dog when he arrives home and finds evidence of chewing, to the point of our dog running around the house urinating and hiding. I explain to my dad that this is not going to help his behaviour and will probably worsen the chewing because of the anxiety the dog will feel on my dad's return home. It's starting to become a big issue which I'm finding hard to monitor as I don't live with my dad and I'm only there for parts of the day. I'm looking for other advice on how to stop him chewing and possible reading material to get my dad out of his old fashioned ways and build a really good relationship with our dog, where both are happy. So far we have tried toys to keep him occupied throughout the day and a deterent spray but to no avail. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Our dog Barry lives with two other dogs (another crossbreed and a Great Dane), we have had him for almost a year and he is on his own during a normal day for between four and six hours.

Thank you.

Miss H Melia, by email

Rocky & Rambo reformed

Regular readers will remember the case of Rocky and Rambo. The two Staffies that had taken to wrecking the house. Think Tank Behaviourist Amy Hatcher went out to see them and gave dogs and owner some homework. Click here to see the original problem.
Just had this update today from Tania:

Dear Amy and Beverley
Well what can I say apart from I now have two near perfect Staff's who are very happy. Rambo is not so clingy to me I can leave the room and he does not follow.
Rocky can be outside Rambo will be inside and he now does not mind walking with out Rocky. I leave them alone - they have the run of the house for up to three hours, come home they have been on sofa - but if that's all I can not grumble.
They feed perfectly - food down they eat then I take the bowls up. They still get excited when people come in, I do ask them to ignore them for at least 30 mins which seems to help.
I am over the moon - it's like I have two new dogs. I can now see they were spoilt by me. I still play with them and give them treats - but I can see they love and respect me more.
Thank you both for making my life happy, I don't dread going home anymore, makes me want more Staffies ! (But mine are enough!)
with big thanks
Tania Day