Help with training my teenage dog

[shopsalot]

I have a golden retriever, just over 1yo, from a working line of goldens. He's really good with basic obedience training, calm, friendly - just lovely. But recall is sporadic - chasing squirrels and other interesting things / smells - and I hardly see him on most walks. I would like him to be within a 10-20m radius from me as we walk, checking in etc. He's good at checking in when we're somewhere new but the normal walks, which are safely away from roads, he's just gone! He's also fairly hopeless at retrieving a ball or anything.

I've got the Total Recall book and will do some regular consistent training but I'm worried that it's too late. Has anyone managed to get their wayward dog to walk with them, checking in, consistent recall? I tried playing games with him on a walk but he's more interested in the squirrels. He quite likes hide & seek - but now it's just him that hides! Also any tips on retrieve games?

I would just like some hope that he can be trained still....

Sorry, I'm exactly same boat with my lab so hopping on your thread for advice too!

It's not too late but training has to be regular and consistent and needs to be reinforced over and over during every walk.

At his age, teenage, he will do exactly as he likes unless you take steps to stop him.

He shouldn't be the one to decide when he 'checks in' with you and he shouldn't be so far away from you that you have no idea where he is.

If his recall isn't reliable he should be on a lead or on a long training lead, not an extending lead, to keep him close and you in control until recall is reliable.

Unfortunately, training a teenage dog is going to be harder than training a puppy, it just means you have to put the effort in.

Keep working at it, make it fun for him, and you, take control of his training and you'll get there.

He won't do what you want unless you train him.

Thanks @pigsDOfly I have a training lead but it often seems more hassle than it's worth. But I may go back to it. He was pretty good with recall until recently - seems like he hit a certain age and just decided to take himself on walks.

@Littlefiendsusan I've got an hour with a gundog trainer tomorrow - I'm hoping for some guidance and some homework! I'm also reading the Total Recall book, which has really good reviews, so I am hoping it will inspire me to start again. I first used it when my dog was good at coming back when called so it didn't seem quite as relevant.
What have you been doing for training? I usually do some training as part of a walk but sometimes it's difficult - picking up poo whilst my dog scoots off....

Mine is 2 now and generally pretty good on recall. I worked hard and used a lot of the tips in Total Recall at a year/18 months, and it was worth it, and you certainly can improve things in a young dog.

I just wanted to say, don’t despair: there is one park near us that, at this time of year, is squirrel-tastic. I can honestly take my dog anywhere else and she will look for me, play with a ball, come back when called immediately 99% of the time. But at this one park right now, she’s an absolute bloody nightmare. She goes utterly deaf, rampages about chasing the squirrels and comes back to me if and when she feels like it. Now I think about it, this time last year at this park was exactly the same! Don’t give up but hopefully the squirrels will hibernate soon and your dog will miraculously behave. I am ready to be filmed for having an out of control dog but me v squirrels isn’t a fair fight!!

Flamed. Not filmed!

Well, that's teenagers for you