I may be the exception here. We have two dog parks in our area and I feel more tense there having the dogs off lead. Because there are other dog owners who also have their dogs off lead and you just don't know when another dog will run up to yours. Fortunately, I have never had that happen yet but a friend of mine has.

Again, I may be the exception to this too. I do let my dogs off lead in our yard. They are border trained and know their boundries. People walking up and down the street constantly comment on how well behaved they are and ask How do you get them to stay in the yard? Do you have an electric fence? I don't, they are just trained not to go out of the yard. I still never let them out without me or my husband being out there with them.

One of the things you have to do for an itermediate obedience title from the AKC (CDX - Companion dog excellent) is a long sit and down. The long sit is with you out of site for 3 minutes while your dog sits off lead in a row with other dogs. The only other person in the ring with the dogs is the judge. The long down is for 5 minutes again with only the judge in the ring with the dogs. To train for this you present all kinds of obstacles to the dog. You roll balls under their nose put treats in front of them, have other dogs walk near them, knock on doors, etc. If the dog breaks then you repostition them, no reward, and do it again. If they do it you reward joyously. They learn if I want the treat, I don't move. Even if the other dog comes over to me.

Of course I never take them anywhere without their lead or walk them without it either. While I trust (I use the word strongly for my Dixie and very loosely for the puppy) that the dogs will come when called, I realize other people may not be comfortable having dogs around especially if they don't have a leash on. Sorry to be the odd man out.... please don't be too mad at me and read me the riot act. I am a responsible dog owner.