For his safety, I'll never let Nikko run free outside, no matter how well I think I have him trained (or not). He is learning to walk well on a leash, and we go for long walks every day. And we try to give him fenced-in opportunities to run free as well (I do love to see him get to be free in the outdoors). So far he's enjoyed the neighbor's fenced in yard, and a huge fenced-in kids baseball diamond and outfield (check out high schools near you - they often have fully fenced athletic fields, football or baseball or something). I'm hoping to find more "safe" places for him to run free in, but until then he's always on a leash when we go outside, just to be safe. We would both be completely crushed if he ran off and hurt himself... so we just don't risk it.
Lauren & Nikko