[Deschodt]

We've got that 8y old lab, still behaving like a puppy, and we recently moved her living quarters from the screened porch to the yard per se (FL weather, no big difference), with of course protection from rain, sun etc... Really in terms of accommodations it's pretty similar. But the dog keeps wanting to come back to her former location, so she can see who's in the house, and in the process will blow though the mosquito screen, the lattice work, and if necessary the aluminum cage structure of the mosquito screen... I've F$%$#ing had it with her...

Disclaimer: I am not a dog person, I resisted for years until my wife wore me down, and she did not exactly follow thru with her side of things - not enough walks, too much dog poop... I'm reclaiming the patio because I'm sick of it stinking of dog and the outdoor furniture being used as a rubbing area for dog hair and dirt. Again, not a dog person. I like her well enough because I'm no sociopath and she's nice with the kids, but after replacing the screen 10x in the last 3y and now the $$$ expensive new lattice I spend a w/e bolting down to foil her, I came home to a fresh hole and destroyed lattice, and was ready to kick the living **** out of her... Which a) is not nice, and b) I don't wanna do as a matter of principle (easy dog lovers, just venting my "feelings" at seeing my handywork ruined over and over - I occasionally also feel like kicking deserving people and I don't do it either ;-)

So, what do you suggest ?
- I could easily give her up to a friendly family but my wife is not so hot on that (despite her not taking much care of the dog and not liking that fact being pointed out to her
- I could tie her with some length of chain to a portion of the yard, in the shade, but that doesn't really work long term because she owns the yard and gotta go free at some point and she will then attack the patio screen again.
- Dog resistant mesh doesn't fit our "cage", too thick, and besides if she didn't punch thru it, she'd pop it off the frame instead. She is determined.
- Area zapping would not be great as she needs to come thru that area to get in the house, if she gets scared of it, she might not want to come in at all.
- behavior mod : Probably the best option, but.... how ? we both work and she's on her own *all day*, not sure a session every night would suffice, and how many more screens would die in the process of her learning, thereby endangering the dog's life and my blood pressure at the same time... (sarcasm, OK?)

I'm at a loss, both financially ($$$ lattice) and out of ideas. I have a feeling I'm gonna get an earful from dog people now... (be kind, she was forced on me, and she's quite happy, not mistreated at all ;-) Yet ;-)