My German Shepherd wants to hang out at the end of my lane

Question
I have a female German Shepherd that is 9 months old. She is an outside dog and I live on 16 acres of land/woods/fields. My house is 1000 feet from the county road with a bean field between the road and my house. At the end of my lane is a flower mound. I have restricted her from going down the lane towards the road with some success. Suddenly, for the last week, she has been going to the end of the lane and hanging out in the flower mound. She has carried her toy shoe down there and I have sneaked up on her finding her playing with a stick, having a good old time. I have scolded her when I have caught her down there and I keep a newspaper in my car that I tap on her hind when I come home and she is there with a "bad dog go home" and she gladly goes to the house. She is a good dog and is always at my side when I am out. She always "comes" when I call which is very helpful in the situation. I hate to lock her up when I am gone, I really need her to "watch the house" But I am afraid she will get hit by a car if I don't. What is she doing this all of a sudden and what can I do to break it?


Answer
Hi Brent,  First off you should never hit your dog with anything that can be seen as a weapon in their eyes if you ever want them to protect you in the future.  They can not tell a rolled up newspaper from a 2 x 4 at 6 feet away, so if someone came at you with a weapon raised, the dog would respond as if they were going to be punished because you have used that kind of behavior with them in the past.  Trust me, you are ruining your dog for protection by hitting her with anything.  As far as her heading down the lane, is she spayed?  How long has she been doing this, and also where did you acquire her from?

Let me know the answers,

Dawn