I had an old dog, Annie, that I would let off leash all the time, but she was naturally very attached to me and stuck to me like glue.

She was a purebred collie but had been used in dog fighting (probably because she was a large dog) so she had scars under her thick fur and on her muzzle when I adopted her. By the time I got her, she was so glad to have someone who just loved her, she never left my side.

She was my shadow dog. The only time she left my side was when we were walking in the park and she saw someone in pain. She seemed to have a sixth sense about grief - she would offer them comfort. She was also super gentle with children. If she had been a little younger I would have trained her to be a therapy dog.

Anyway, I would not let dogs off leash except in designated off leash areas, but Annie was an exception.

I did test her quite a bit when I first got her, but she passed with flying colors. She didn't chase the rabbits we saw on the trail, she wasn't interested in other dogs enough to disobey me when I told her to heel and she didn't run into the street. She stayed by my side, except, as I said, when we passed a crying child or sad older person, and then she would go up to them with a gently wagging tail and soulful eyes.

She died when she was 14 (I had her for 4 years) and now I'm crying thinking of her! Sorry for going on so much about her... I still miss her.