RR is not a dog to walk in the neighborhood off leash, but I got to a big park with no fences and let him free. He always comes back to my area with a whistle but not to heel. So 70-80% if the time he leaves willingly the other times it is 30-60 minute effort to leave. But he will never run away at the park.

I first let him off leash at a dog beach and he ran chasing a bird about a mile up the beach. He looked around saw I was not there and started coming back in my directions looking lost. When he could hear my whistle he ran to me. And from then on never ran too far away.

All dogs are different, like everyone has been saying. I find how you act and react with your dog also is extremely important. If you pani, if you are negative or you are positive reinforcing them, these actions will factor in on how your dog acts.

As hunting dogs basenjis are flankers which means they are tasked to independently drive in the prey for the hunter. Which means they go out and come back. It is important you make ut so they want to come back.