So, you’re playing through Rockstar’s behemoth again and you hit the first Franklin and Lamar joint-venture. It's officially titled Chop. In the grand scheme of Grand Theft Auto V, this is widely considered GTA 5 Mission 5, depending on the order you tackle the early-game world. It’s a strange one. Honestly, it’s the moment the game pivots from "Standard Crime Simulator" to "Wait, am I really controlling a dog right now?"
Most people remember it for the van chase or the awkward encounter in the rail yard, but there’s a lot more going on under the hood here regarding how Rockstar teaches you to play their world.
The Reality of Chop and Why it Matters
The mission starts at Franklin’s house in Strawberry. Lamar arrives with a dog—Chop—and a plan that is, frankly, half-baked at best. They want to kidnap D, a member of the Ballas gang. It’s classic Lamar Davis: high ambition, zero foresight. You hop into a white van and head toward Vinewood Boulevard.
What’s interesting about GTA 5 Mission 5 isn't just the action; it's the character dynamic. This is our first real look at the friction between Franklin’s desire to "go straight" (or at least go professional) and Lamar’s chaotic loyalty to the hood. Lamar is a fan favorite for a reason, but in this mission, his incompetence is the primary antagonist.
That Infamous Rail Yard Chase
Once you spot D on his motorcycle, the chase is on. It’s scripted to be a bit chaotic. You aren't going to catch him immediately because the game wants to funnel you into the rail yard. This is where the mechanics shift. When D ditches the bike and disappears among the freight cars, the game introduces the "Switch" mechanic in a micro-context.
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You’re not switching between Michael and Trevor yet. You’re switching to Chop.
Controlling the Rotweiller is... an experience. You’re low to the ground. The world is saturated. You’re sniffing out a target. It’s a bit janky by 2026 standards, but back when this dropped, it was a clever way to break the monotony of just shooting things. Then comes the moment everyone talks about: Chop gets "distracted" by another dog.
It’s crude. It’s quintessential Rockstar humor. You have to physically pull him off the other dog to get back on the trail of D.
Technical Hurdles and Gold Medal Requirements
If you’re a completionist, GTA 5 Mission 5 can actually be a bit of a pain. To get that Gold Medal, you have to meet specific criteria that aren't exactly intuitive if you’re just playing for the story.
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- Not a Scratch: You have to deliver Lamar’s van with minimal damage. This sounds easy until you realize the AI traffic in Los Santos has a mind of its own during scripted chases.
- Homedog: You need to enter Chop’s perspective for at least 10 seconds. Most people flick to it and flick back, missing the gold requirement entirely.
- Advanced Reflexes: Use Franklin’s special ability for 7 seconds. Since this is a driving-heavy mission, it’s the perfect time to burn that yellow bar while weaving through the Vinewood traffic.
The mission ends with a botched kidnapping. Franklin realizes that holding a high-profile gang member for ransom using a cell phone that can be tracked is a terrible idea. He forces Lamar to let D go. It’s a small moment, but it’s the first time we see Franklin’s internal moral compass (and common sense) override his loyalty to Lamar.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Mission
A lot of players think Chop is just a filler mission to introduce the dog. It’s actually a stealth tutorial for the iFruit app mechanics. Or at least, it was. Back in the day, you had to use a real-life mobile app to train Chop, feed him, and change his collar. Rockstar eventually sunsetted the app, which actually makes the "Chop" mission feel a bit like a time capsule.
Nowadays, Chop’s happiness is handled differently, but the mission remains the gateway to having him as a companion.
There's also a common misconception that you have to find D using Chop. Technically, if you know where D is hiding—inside a specific train car near the back of the yard—you can run straight there. But the game heavily nudges you to use the dog's POV. If you're speedrunning, you skip as much of the canine-cinematics as possible.
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The Environmental Storytelling in Strawberry
Pay attention to the dialogue when you’re driving back to Lamar’s place. The banter between Franklin and Lamar in GTA 5 Mission 5 lays the groundwork for the entire "hood" arc of the game. Lamar talks about the "families" and the glory days, while Franklin is looking at the reality of their situation: they’re broke, they’re being tracked, and their big "score" just walked away.
It's a masterclass in world-building through casual conversation. Rockstar North writers, led by Dan Houser at the time, used these early missions to make sure you understood the stakes before Michael De Santa drags Franklin into the world of high-stakes heist film tropes.
Lessons Learned from GTA 5 Mission 5
This mission teaches you that in Los Santos, things rarely go to plan. It teaches you that the "Switch" mechanic is the core of the game’s DNA. It also teaches you that Lamar is a liability, albeit a hilarious one.
If you're stuck on the chase, stop trying to ram D. The game won't let you end the mission early by flattening him with the van. Just stay close, follow the prompts, and get ready for the foot chase. The rail yard section is all about line-of-sight. If you lose the dog, look for the "V" markers on the mini-map.
Your Next Steps for a Perfect Run
To truly master this stage of the game and set yourself up for the later heists, you should focus on building Franklin's driving stat during this mission.
- Drive against traffic on the way to Vinewood. It’s risky but builds the stat faster.
- Use the Special Ability even when you don't need it. Seriously. Just pop it on straightaways to get that "Advanced Reflexes" gold requirement out of the way.
- Check your phone messages. After the mission, you’ll get texts from Lamar and potentially some world-building emails. Reading these triggers certain map icons to appear sooner.
- Head to Ammu-Nation. Now that you've finished the fifth mission, the game starts opening up more weapon options. You’re going to need more than a pistol for what’s coming next with Michael.
Once you’ve dropped Lamar off and completed the mission, take a second to explore the neighborhood around Franklin’s house. There are several "Strangers and Freaks" encounters that trigger right after this, including the first Tonya mission. Doing those early makes the mid-game much smoother.