[alaskayorkie]

I'm in the minority here. I let Eddie off leash, strictly supervised, at the park and in the front yard when I'm giving him my full attention.

I realize I'm taking a chance with his safety, but to me it's a quality of life issue, for both of us. We had 2 close calls before I learned what to watch for. If there's another dog in the park, we go a different direction. If I can see another dog, I leash Eddie. Same with cars. We live on a fairly quiet street, but as soon as a car is visible in any direction, I pick him up.

My advice is obedience training, or at least to teach your dog to come. I've said this before, but make "coming" the funnest thing your dog does in life. Make it a game, and always reward with big hugs and treats.

That said, I totally agree that it's safest to leash your pup all the time and let them run free only in fenced areas.