Meeting a powerful young Shepherd for the first time

What you’re watching

This was my very first encounter with this dog, a strong working-line German Shepherd bitch being assessed for a working role. I had never met her before this video was filmed.

Notice the manner of the assessment. It is calm and friendly throughout. No squaring up, no forcing the issue, no testing her to see what she does under pressure. I let her take me in, keep my movements easy, and give her every reason to decide I am safe and worth engaging with.

Then listen for the moment she is recalled. The tone changes, clear, bright and definite, and she responds to it. Friendly does not mean vague. A dog needs to hear the difference between conversation and instruction.

Why this matters for your dog

The first minutes with an unfamiliar dog set the tone for everything that follows. Most problems I see between dogs and strangers, and plenty between dogs and their own families, come from people rushing that first impression or reading the dog wrongly.

This is exactly how a first session with your dog begins. I take the time to be accepted before I ask for anything. Powerful breed, nervous rescue or bouncy adolescent, the approach is the same, and it is why dogs tend to work with me within minutes rather than weeks.