Do labs have a second adolescence?

[punter]

Our younger lab will be 3 in March. We have survived the puppy stage and then the 1-18 month adolescence stage. Mostly he is great and trots on with his older 'brother' lab on walks and recall is fine. BUT sometimes, and it may be food related, he stops, sniffs the air and is off to the cricket club ground, or to see another person or to greet another dog. Today I was told by an acquaintance that it was about time he learnt to be disciplined. She has a black lab that just meekly follows in her footsteps - same age actually. So do they go through another stage of not listening or being over friendly? As you may tell her comment has upset me.

My friends lab still hasn't left his first. I think he's 7.

Bigger breeds can have a final hormone spike at around 24 months, as they take longer to develop. I would think a lab would be done before this though.

Her view is quite archaic, using the term disciplined. Be your dog's funnest option over other people, and the most rewarding. If his recall isn't strong it is a training issue, not a lack of discipline (I prefer the term boundaries).

My lab is 5 now. He is as much of a giant lumbering idiot as the day we got him. I can't say I've noticed any differences in behaviour in terms of his age. Makes for some funny stories though, would be very boring if he was perfectly behaved all the time.

Today I was told by an acquaintance that it was about time he learnt to be disciplined. She has a black lab that just meekly follows in her footsteps

What did she mean by that?

Do you reinforce the training you did? My dog is three and I still reinforce things like wait before she gets out the car. I’ve also been known to play hide and seek!

Thanks all. I think she meant that he appeared undisciplined in the moment ie greeting her enthusiastically and attempting to play chase with her lab.
I may have assumed that recall and behaviour were sorted by now, but I agree it is a continuing process and I need to return to basics sometimes. Just not enough hours in the day!

We play the “touch” game. I ask her to touch my hand with her nose and she gets a treat. The Total Recall book is brilliant.
Your lab sounds lovely by the way!