my dog has completly destroyed the carpet in our hall, anyone know if i can claim for it through house insurance?

Think of it this way. Could you file an insurance claim if your child did it? No.

It depends on each individual insurer, but with mine you definately can't.

Damage by domestic animals is not covered due to the risk of this damage occuring - imagine all the claims for cats scratching furniture, and the amount you would have to pay for premiums as a result of the insurance company having to pay for those claims.
For the same reason, generally mobile phones and laptops aren't covered away from home unless they are specified on the policy (can expensive) simply becuase they are too much of a risk to cover.

usually you can if you have "accidental damage" cover - but you really need to check your policy or phone their claims line

Fouling and damage by pets is traditionally excluded from a house insurance policy.

If your child accidentally damaged something e.g. kicked a wellington boot through a television set or set fire to the house (heaven forbid) by playing with matches then providing there was no criminal/ deliberate attempt their actions are NOT excluded. (Whether the policy covers their actions depends on if you have accidental damage cover on the item damaged - fire of course is an insured peril)

Yes you can unless you were negligent in allowing the dog to do it.

Depends on your policy. My baby ruined my stereo speakers, she chewed and picked the rubber that seals in the speaker. I rang the insurance, not thinking I could claim it but giving it a go anyways, they laughed, said it would be considered non malicious accidental damage, and I got a new set of speakers next week. They said it was the first time they had had aclaim for a baby chewing through speaker seals, normally the claims are for dogs doing it. So, the moral is, give it a go!