German Shepherd 10 months old.

Question
I have never had a german shepherd do this. Whenever I do something in the yard that Gretta sees me doing she will come behind and try and destroy it. For exmaple. We have those metal solar lights out in front of the house. She has never bothered them before. I had to replace one of them and that is the one she will not leave alone she saw me replace that one.  Last night I was spraying weeds around the border of the house she saw me doing it. I had a feeling she would do something to that area sure enough tonight when we get home from work she had destroyed that border, the plastic on the ground, dug a whole and has rocks all over the place.  Gretta is spayed female 10 months. We live on 55 acres where is can go about she does not leave the place. I work 3 10 hour shifts my husband works 8 hour shifts so she isn't left alot alone. I have a nice run for her but she has pretty well destroyed the area by digging holes so I have been leaving her out. She spends alot of time with the horses. This a history on her.
Have any ideas why she follows after me to destroy things Thanks

Answer
It really sounds like what the behaviorists call resource guarding.  The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts. Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/ For more on being top dog, see http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm

If the general leadership doesn't control the problem, you may need to work on some books.  

Here is a list put together by the professionals at a dog guide school for those caring for their dogs.

The Cultural Clash by Jean Donaldson, 1996

Excel-crated Learning by Pamela Reid, 1996

Don't Shoot the Dog, by Karen Pryor, 1996

Surviving Your Dog's Adolescence, by Carol Lea Benjamin, 1993

Second Hand dog, by Carol Lea Benjamin, 1988

Dog Problems, by Carol Lea Benjamin, 1989

Super Puppy, by Peter J. Vollmer, 1988

HELP, Mt dog Has an Attitude, by Gwen Bohnenkamp, 1994

Owners' Guide Better Behavior in Dogs and Cats, by William Campbell, 1989

What All Good dogs Should Know, By Wendy Vollmer, 1991

How to Raise a Dog When Nobody is Home, Jerry Kilmer, 1991