Recall training a Retriever and Terrier together

Training two dogs recall at the same time is genuinely one of the trickier setups — especially when you've got a Retriever and a terrier mix, because their motivations and distraction thresholds are usually quite different. Reliable recall is the single most important skill either dog can have, and the most effective combination is almost always a high-value treat paired with a long line so you can practise safely without setting them up to fail. To point you in the right direction: how bad is the recall currently on each dog, and are you training them together in the same sessions or separately? And are you after training aids, treats, or both?

That's a really common split — Retrievers are generally biddable but tip over when arousal goes up, and terriers have that deep independent streak that makes recall genuinely hard work even in low-distraction settings. You're probably right that training them together is making it harder. The terrier's poor response will bleed into the sessions and you'll end up managing rather than training. Separate sessions first, then proof them together once both dogs have solid individual recall. On treats — what are you currently using, and do you know if either dog has any food sensitivities?

Kibble for recall training is basically asking them to ignore a squirrel for a biscuit — it's not going to work. You need something that genuinely competes with the environment, which means real meat, strong smell, small pieces. My recommendation is Forthglade 100% Natural Soft Bites — they do a range of single-protein flavours including lamb and chicken, they're soft enough to eat fast so training flow doesn't break, and the smell is strong enough to cut through even a terrier's tunnel vision. Crucially, one pack works for both dogs since there's no filler and they're suitable for all breeds and ages. For the long line, the Halti Long Training Lead in 10 metres gives you enough distance to practise a proper recall without letting either dog self-reward by running off. Clip it to a harness, not a collar, on both dogs. Start the terrier's sessions in the dullest environment you can find and only layer in distractions once you're getting eight out of ten responses. Does that give you enough to get started, or do you want advice on how to structure the two-dog sessions once they're both more reliable individually?

The key is to treat them as two separate dogs who happen to share a space, not as a team. Recall one dog at a time — the other is either on a long line held by a second person, or anchored to something stable. Call the dog by name before the recall cue so the other dog doesn't break. When one comes in, reward fast and clearly, then release them back out before recalling the second. Never reward both simultaneously for the same recall — it blurs the individual response and can create competition or frustration. Once each dog is hitting recall reliably in the joint setup, you can start calling both together occasionally, but that's a finishing step, not a starting point. The Retriever will likely get there faster, but don't use that to rush the terrier — they're working at a different pace and need the win rate kept high.

Good plan. Keep sessions short — five minutes maximum for the terrier especially, because quality of repetitions matters far more than duration. If you hit a wall with the terrier outdoors, go back indoors and rebuild from scratch in that environment before trying outside again. Recall is a muscle — it needs a lot of low-stakes reps before it holds under pressure. You'll get there with both of them.