Well this depends on which dog and who they are with. As far as running off, I trust Reggie a lot more then Smokey. I won't let Smokey even go in the front yard off leash for the most part, he has a habit of taking a dash down the street. Yes he is 16 years old, but that dog can RUN! He's also dug under the fence a few times (luckily he's digging into another fenced yard). With Reggie, I often let him come in the front yard with out a leash, to get the mail, etc. He has a tendency to wander, but he's never gone farther then down the street. In fact, one time my brother and dad left at about 5:30 a.m. and accidentally didn't shut the door all the way. By the time the rest of us got up, the dogs had got out and had been gone for several hours. We found Reggie wandering our street, but no Smokey. We searched and called for him all day, and he shows up late that night walking down the street wet and covered in mud.

Now as far as trusting them with other dogs/people... Reggie has never even bared his teeth, and he is wonderful with any people he knows. Sometimes he's a little wary of new people, but he warms up very fast. But with dogs, he's developed an aggression problem. Especially males. Last time I took him to the park it was horrible because everybody had their dogs off leash. They kept running up to him and I had to pick him up. Even if the other dog wasn't aggressive, if they could tell Reggie was, it would make them be...and well...Reggie is not exactly a big dog. Reggie is good with dogs he knows though. Smokey is friendly towards any person, and friendly with dogs. But I don't trust Smokey to be alone with other people, especially kids. He's an old grumpy dog, and he has snapped at people.

Reggie will normally let you look in his mouth, etc. but Smokey usually runs away or growls. He (Smokey) hates being groomed or anything that requires him to hold still. As far as saving my life or something...Reggie might could scare off a burgler, he's got quite the bark, but Smokey probably wouldn't even hear them. Reggie is very protective of me. Of course you never know how things would play out unless they happened.