Chewing things while gone

[gwnorth66]

I adopted a female shepherd mix, approx. 1.5 yrs. old, from Detroit Animal Control about two and a half weeks ago. For the first two weeks, she behaved excellently while I was gone to work. Over the last three days, she has chewed up a handful of items in my house while I've been gone.
I'm gone to work from about 7:30 am until about 11:30 am, then come back home for lunch and let the dog out to run and go potty. After a short visit, I go back to work until about 4 pm. As I stated, she did not chew at all for the first two weeks, and she does not chew on anything inappropriate while I'm home -- only when gone.
I've read a handful of articles on how to curb this behavior if you're there to see it and react immediately to it, but I haven't seen anything that discusses how to handle this when you're dealing with it after the fact. If anybody has and tips or hints, I'd really appreciate hearing them. Thanks!

 

[Renee750il]

She's getting comfortable now, so she's got time to be bored while you're gone. She's also getting attached to you so she's missing you.

If you can, keeping her confined in one room that you can dog proof fairly well while you are gone is a good start. Get her some toys as well. German Shepherds are bright, clever, working dogs that need things to do. Puzzle balls are great; Kong toys are great, and if she's really chewing the Orbee bones are super. I'd also strongly suggest that she has a bed of her own and you give her an old blanket that has your scent on it to curl up with while you're gone, or a new one with your smell on it. You can launder a new blanket then use it so that it carries your scent - even better if you do this while you're cuddled up with your new best buddy.