little theives! Help?

[buswell]

I have a friend who has a 9 or 10 month old golden lab and a 2 year old white german shepard, both adopted within the last 4 or 5 months. They steal things and take them away to chew away happily!! They are sneaky though, they do this when my friend is out. She crates them any time she is out now, but they have almost chewed her out of house and home. I can imagine what she will find in their fenced in area when the snow goes away!
Any suggestions on some good ways of getting them out of this chewing habit?

[Cooldogdad]

It is hard to break them from chewing. If they do it with her not around they know they are not supposed to be doing it and them doing it anyway is just rebellion.

They could be adjusting. Or mad. My parents lab will chew their stuff if they have made it mad that day. If they don't let it sleep in their room they wake up to a terrible mess. They know what they are doing.

[Tuckersmom]

I think it might be adjusting too. When I moved in with my husband my Golden rebelled. He ate remotes, his hats, magazines... everything. You name it he ate it. They don't respond to change well. I think when they get comfortable they will stop.

[alyssa9208]

I don't know if this would help at all, but we have this spray that is supposed to taste really bad to dogs. I think you can buy it at Target or Walmart or any pet store. We've used it for our puppy a couple times and it seemed to work. Hope this helps!

[Evansville_Wagnbrag]

I have been watching "It's Me or The Dog" alot lately on Animal Planet. It is hosted by Victoria Stilwell and she is pretty amazing with dogs who have behavioral problems. She uses positive, reward based training for these dogs. Just click on ths link and hopefully you'll find some of her tips helpful.

http://animal.discovery.com/convergence/its-me-or-the-dog/positive-training/positive-training.html

[buswell]

Thank you all for your really helpfull suggestions. I will tell my friend. I think the 'adjusting' suggestion sounds about right for these dogs. She doesnt know alot of their back ground and is learning as she goes.
again thank you