A few things jump out at me.

First, peeing and pooping in the house. Manage it by confining the dogs somehow when you are unable to watch them. Crate train or barricade an area such as your kitchen or mud room using baby gates. Strictly schedule their outings same as you would with a brand new puppy, by going back to puppy housetraining 101. If your house smells like pee it's because there are at least residual amounts remaining. Make sure to use an enzymatic commercial cleaner such as Nature's Miracle and or a homemade vinegar/water solution to thoroughly clean all areas.

Second, for recall. Most times when dogs regress in their compliance with previously known commands, it's due to the handler failing to continue with reinforcement. Go back to practicing and reinforcing him EVERY TIME he is recalled. For general distraction, same thing. Use a higher rate of reinforcement for being - and REMAINING - attentive.

Third, for getting into food. Management once again. If you are truly keeping items out of the dog's reach (ie: top of refrigerator) it won't be such a problem. And remember that eating, for a dog, is a matter of instinct for survival. In their mind their actions are certainly not 'wrong'.

Finally, if you find that you just don't seem to have the necessary skills to overcome these issues "ASAP" as you say, then personally consult with a professional trainer for advice / instruction / assistance.

 

Last thing I would tell owners picking up their dogs is "Training is a lifetime program" If they did not continue at home with training I would have spent their wasted money.

BUT I found through the years most would work the dog 1 or 2 months and then training would just fade away.

 

BUT I found through the years most would work the dog 1 or 2 months and then training would just fade away.

So true. Unfortunately.

That's why I often favour and encourage participation in dogsports, trick training etc, or at least some form of extra-curricular activity .. whenever possible and for the long-term .. to aid in warding off any behavioural decay.

 

I think it's also very important to set your dogs up for success. The less opportunity they have to get it wrong, the more often they'll get it right. If you know that you have counter surfers, keep the food out of their reach. If they get in the trash, invest in a can with a tight lid so they can't get into it. This would apply to potty training as well. When they can't be fully supervised, confine them to a crate or a designated area in the house.

Some of the behavior you are describing with your lab, however, sounds like he's bored or isn't getting enough exercise. I would increase the number of walks from 3 times a week and make sure he gets at least 30 minutes of hard play time every day (fetch or a flirt pole are both great options if he's prey driven at all). A tired puppy generally equals a calm, happy puppy once they come inside.