When Ruby was 5-7 months old she was my little shadow and I always had her off leash at my cottage and didn't think twice about it because she would follow me every where.
Well a few months later when she hit 9-10 months old we were walking at a huge conservation area and theres about a million paths so you barely ever run into anyone when walking there (one of the main things I like about it). Anyways I decided to take Ruby off leash there because she was so good at my cottage during the summer. Bad idea! She saw a chipmunk and was GONE. I mean I could not hear her, see her, NOTHING
I was crying and yelling her name (but of course no one was around to help me). All I could think was that she's very small and theres a lot of bigger animals in the woods and theres no way I could pick just one part of the forrest to look for her.
Finally about 10 min later she comes running back to me with a face full of burrs (looking at me like "mommy take them out, take them out). Of course I got her in trouble but I was sooooooo happy that she came back.
Now both my girls never go off leash when outside unless their in a gated area. It is tempting sometimes to give them the freedom but just not worth it in the end.
I'm glad every's Yorkie came back.