Fixing recall regression in a Lab after new puppy

A new puppy in the house is almost certainly what's thrown your Labrador's recall off — it's one of the most common triggers for regression in otherwise well-trained dogs. The older dog is essentially being asked to ignore something hugely exciting and come back to you, which takes a lot more motivation than it used to. Reliable recall is the most important skill a dog can have, and rebuilding it in a multi-dog home usually means going back to basics: a long line for safe practice and a treat that genuinely outcompetes every distraction. To point you in the right direction — how bad has the regression got? Is he blanking you entirely outdoors, or is it more that he's slow and easily distracted? And is the puppy usually present when you're trying to work on this?

That pattern makes total sense — he's not forgotten his training, he's just decided the puppy is more rewarding than anything you're currently offering. The fix is straightforward but needs consistency. First thing I'd do is separate their off-lead time while you retrain. Work the Lab on a 10-metre long line so he can't self-reward by ignoring you and running to the pup. That removes the option to fail. The second piece is the treat. What are you using at the moment when you call him?

That's the problem right there. Kibble and Bonio are fine for low-distraction work, but they're nowhere near high-value enough to compete with a four-month-old puppy bouncing around. You need something that makes him think coming back to you is the best thing that's happened all day. My recommendation is Forthglade Natural Treats — specifically the chicken liver ones. They're soft, they smell strong, and Labs go absolutely mad for them. Critically, they're small enough that you can reward fast and frequently without filling him up, and they're natural with no nasty additives. Pair those with the long line and start recall practice with the puppy either indoors or on lead — so the distraction is present but your Lab can actually succeed. Once he's back to coming reliably with the pup nearby on lead, you gradually increase the freedom. Would you like a specific long line recommendation too, or are you sorted on that side?

For a Labrador, go with the Trixie Long Dog Training Lead — the 10-metre version. It's lightweight enough that your dog barely notices it's there, which is exactly what you want because he behaves more naturally. It's got a comfortable handle and a solid clip. Avoid the retractable leads for this — they give the wrong feedback and can tangle dangerously with a second dog around. The Trixie line with the Forthglade chicken liver treats is genuinely the combination I'd put money on for your situation. Give it two weeks of consistent short sessions with the puppy managed nearby, and you should see a real shift. The main thing is keeping the sessions short, keeping the rate of reward high, and not letting him fail by having the puppy loose and unchecked while you're training.

Keep it separate for now — at least for the first couple of weeks. You want your Lab to build up a strong reinforcement history with the new recall routine before you add the puppy back into the picture as a live distraction. Once he's coming back quickly and enthusiastically on the long line with the puppy on lead nearby, you can start doing very short joint sessions. But honestly, the puppy's recall needs its own work too at that age, so training them separately serves both dogs. You'll get there faster by splitting them than trying to manage both at once.