I love my dogs. I really do. But I don't love what they've done to my house. Together, they're a canine wrecking crew, always a few paws ahead of my ability to repair or replace what they destroy.

Mel, my 90-pound mutt (St. Bernard and god-knows-what-else), is clumsy, exuberent and stubborn. She knocks over lamps, shreds upholstery fabric and once ripped a kitchen cupboard door in half (it was tied shut) because she wanted the garbage behind it. Living with her is like living with livestock.

Sassy, my miniature American eskimo, is a chewer. When she was a puppy, she turned my dinette legs into teething rings. When she gets bored, she gnaws the tassels off rugs. And when she gets agitated or excited (like when someone comes to the door), she has incontinence issues. Her accidents have stripped the finish off the floor in spots all over our entry.

They team up for the usual stuff: beating up the wood floors, leaving the occasional carpet stain and shedding fur all over the house. (Black AND white -- what was I thinking?) There's so much of it floating around and collecting on things that we could keep a full-time fur remover fully employed.

Yes, dogs are a woman's best friend. They're way happier to see you than teenage kids are. And after a bad day, there's nothing like a wagging tail and friendly lick to lift your spirits. But even the sweetest, most lovable dog is a homemaker's worst enemy. (For tips on pet-resistant decor, visit www.ajchomefinder.com/home-decor/pet-owners-can-decorate-156886.html)

How about your pets? What have they done to your home?