Interesting,
I have had 4 border collies from puppies and none of them ever strayed far off leash from their first walks in safe open places. If they ever strayed further than I was comfortable with, I would run away in the opposite direction and they always followed. (this started with my first collie) Because he never wandered, it didnt occur to me the others would and they never did either.
It progressed into a game as they became older..me hiding behind trees, in shrubs LOL anything I could fit into or behind...they honestly love the game and are so thrilled when they find you..(had to hold the first ones tail to stop it from wagging and alerting the others where I was) My older female was almost always the first to find me and would watch the others search with me..she seemed to have radar as to my location.
At the same time they never let me far out of their sight knowing I will make a mad dash for freedom. I think it is taking advantage of their herding nature..but makes me laugh and them happy.
If you are the most fun to your collie, he/she will choose to be with you over anything. Often when I returned to my car I would have accumalated more dogs on my walk and have to wait for their owners to show. Basically we werent walking, we were playing constantly balls, arobies , hide and seek and other dogs would mob us. I must admit it did annoy me because my dogs never ran off and bothered other dogs, having 3 together was a pack and they didnt want to play with strange dogs only their select dog buddies from obedience & agility training.
When they saw a strange dog approach they would come instantly to heel 2 on my left one on my right and non collie people would praise them on being such well behaved dogs...Damn I miss them
Anyway I have a new pup (14 weeks old) after being dogless for 2 years and he likes the hide and seek game too...I use it if he doesnt come instantly first call when he is tracking good smells..I take off..not to far I can always see him and true to the form of the first 3 he forgets anything else and wants to be with me.
