Something I've been wondering- how to get dogs to stay, off lead?

[SWHouston]

I wouldn't DARE to let either of my Yorkies off the leash...ANYWHERE save for in the confines of the yard or house.

My Male Sneakers has a wanderlust which is as strong as any animal I've ever owned, and My Female Becca, would follow him into the Flames of Hades if he decided to enter.

[lizbud]

Neither Smokey nor Maggie can be trusted off leash outside in an unfenced
area. I do practice "stays" inside a lot. Have them do stay in one room while
I go into another. It's good practice to obey the "stay" command, especially
in the car, It allows me to get out first without them both jumping out before
I'm ready.

[Lady's Human]

Even at her now rather advanced age I can't trust Lady off leash. We haven't been able to do anything of the sort from the time she adopted us. She'd get a scent and be gone until she got hungry or tired.

Karen's mention of Gracie made me laugh. That dog was 3/4 of my cross country training. She'd get out and be gone, and she'd just stop long enough to tease me.

[Karen]

Even at her now rather advanced age I can't trust Lady off leash. We haven't been able to do anything of the sort from the time she adopted us. She'd get a scent and be gone until she got hungry or tired.

Karen's mention of Gracie made me laugh. That dog was 3/4 of my cross country training. She'd get out and be gone, and she'd just stop long enough to tease me.

And she was so darned sleek if you didn't snag her collar, as hard as you tried to grab hold of any other part, she's just slide right through our grip!

How fast was Gracie? She was once spotted running next to a wild rabbit, which was so scared, it was running straight, didn't have the time to even do the traditional bunny zig-zag! The poor rabbit had no idea Gracie thought bunnies were her friends, and had no concept of eating it!

[Lady's Human]

Gracie's feelings were hurt when she CAUGHT da bunny (ran right over one) and it didn't want to play anymore. (as opposed to Freckles, who caught a squirrel, flipped it up about 10' in the air, and looked at it like her toy was broken)

[IRescue452]

Obedience training for Wallace and Autumn. Naylee has little training because she was old and traumatized when we took her in and she just doesn't speak human. She really never learned how to live with people. I got her to stay within sight at the dog park by disappearing when she's get too far ahead an let her freak out until she finds us. It may have seemed mean at first but now she stays much closer to her family pack and keeps an eye on us to be sure she doesn't go too far.

[luvofallhorses]

Even with obdience classes I could never get my Rottweiler mix Jenny (RIP) to stay off-leash.. she always had to be on leash. Some dogs just won't stay around off-leash and honestly with the 3 dogs I have now, I wouldn't trust them off-leash.