Lots of dogs are great off-leash - just have to spend the time & effort to train them. My Chcocolate Lab has been off-leash since 6 mos - she's 5 yrs now and very street smart - we have our own vocabulary and she stops at crosswalks on her own - looks back for me. Of course you have to scare the CRAP out of them when they are young so they unbderstand how crtitical it is to be 100% when off-leash lest they be squished by on-coming traffic. The only caveat is other dogs - my Lab loves other dogs and thinks all of them are as friendly as she is - wrong (stupid owners). Once, she was taken down by 2 German Shepards and the old guy nearly had a heart- attack trying to get them off her - he felt so bad and cursed them to hell right in front of me. No harm, damage, cuts, or blood - just a lesson learned. Bigger dogs are best.