If you could only teach your GSD one single skill, what would it be and why?

[Malakai The Great]

If you could only teach your German Shepherd one single skill beyond the basics (sit, down, stay, recall), what would it be and why?

For me, I keep going back and forth between a strong place command (because it makes life at home so much smoother) and a rock solid, off leash recall (because nothing beats the freedom of safely letting a shepherd run). Both are game changers, just in different ways.

It got me wondering... what’s the one skill you think makes the biggest impact on day to day life with a GSD? Could be practical, could be fun, could even be something unique you’ve taught your dog.

Really curious to hear everyone’s take on this.

 

[MyDogBitz]

I'm not sure about a single skill but the three things that I think are most important for the average dog owner are:

- Recall.
- Loose leash walking.
- Place-stay.

I actually teach these first before anything else. IMO they're foundational. I want to get the dog off leash as quickly as possible so the recall is paramount. Loose leash walking keeps the dog focused on ME when out in the environment and the place command teaches impulse control and more importantly I can introduce the concept of a release signal.

Simultaneously I'm teaching the dog how to play and I teach the out command, along with building our communication system.

 

[Kaia Murphy]

I'm not sure about a single skill but the three things that I think are most important for the average dog owner are:

- Recall.
- Loose leash walking.
- Place-stay.

I actually teach these first before anything else. IMO they're foundational. I want to get the dog off leash as quickly as possible so the recall is paramount. Loose leash walking keeps the dog focused on ME when out in the environment and the place command teaches impulse control and more importantly I can introduce the concept of a release signal.

Simultaneously I'm teaching the dog how to play and I teach the out command, along with building our communication system.

Is your dog always off leash? Can you walk downtown like that, or are there still times where you use a leash even with an adult dog?

What kind of communication system do you work on?

I agree, recall sounds like it’s of the utmost importance.

 

[MyDogBitz]

Is your dog always off leash? Can you walk downtown like that, or are there still times where you use a leash even with an adult dog?

What kind of communication system do you work on?

I agree, recall sounds like it’s of the utmost importance.

I train to off leash obedience. It's my goal. The finished product is a gradual scale of success. As the dog matures and shows obligation, the level of freedom increases. Currently, I can heel my pup off leash through a moderately busy neighborhood street or a beach town boardwalk but he's not ready for the highschool soccer games yet. LOL.

I build my markers, singles, queues (whatever you want to call them) through play.

Recall and loose leash walking go hand and hand. Without getting too deep into it, both disciplines keeps the dog in a state of mindfulness and concentrated on what I am doing instead of the other way around.

 

[Kaia Murphy]

I train to off leash obedience. It's my goal. The finished product is a gradual scale of success. As the dog matures and shows obligation, the level of freedom increases. Currently, I can heel my pup off leash through a moderately busy neighborhood street or a beach town boardwalk but he's not ready for the highschool soccer games yet. LOL.

I build my markers, singles, queues (whatever you want to call them) through play.

Recall and loose leash walking go hand and hand. Without getting too deep into it, both disciplines keeps the dog in a state of mindfulness and concentrated on what I am doing instead of the other way around.

That’s awesome, I didn’t realize you could build it up like that in steps. The way you explained it makes it sound way less intimidating than I thought. I like how you tied it to play too, makes it seem more fun for both of you. Do you think most shepherds can get to that level of off-leash reliability if the training is consistent?

Are soccer games off leash an ultimate goal for you? Pun intended

 

[MyDogBitz]

That’s awesome, I didn’t realize you could build it up like that in steps. The way you explained it makes it sound way less intimidating than I thought. I like how you tied it to play too, makes it seem more fun for both of you. Do you think most shepherds can get to that level of off-leash reliability if the training is consistent?

Are soccer games off leash an ultimate goal for you? Pun intended

Just about every dog can get to off leash obedience. The soccer game is just a small stepping stone. Honestly, I could have him off leash now BUT it wouldn't be fair because he would be too aroused and I would have to correct him, but he wouldn't understand the correction because he doesn't know what's expected.

Now, after two or three visits, he'll understand what is expected and a correction would be fair.

My goal posts constantly move. Once I'm comfortable with the dog off leash everywhere we'll find something else fun to do.

I'm always working on two or three things at any one time.