To keep him safe, be sure your dog will come when called. There are many dangers you can help him avoid by training this command.
It’s frustrating for an owner who needs to leave for work if a unless the dog will come when called from the yard. Parents who need the dog to stop chasing the children are grateful when he will come when called (https://pawsiloveyou.com/course/sheriff-sheldons-deputies-of-safety/). Even the dog will be happier, and safer, if he will come when called. Here is an article on what to do if your dog is hit by a car.
To make sure your dog obeys, be sure he really knows what you mean when you call him. He may think dinner is ready or you want to give him a treat. If you pick up the car keys or put on your walking shoes when you call him, he may think “car ride” or “oh boy it’s walk time!”
Too often we think a dog knows what we want when we give a command. But keep in mind that dogs don’t use language (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_language_of_dogs). When we train our dogs, we generally teach a word, which is just a sound to a him. That sound becomes a signal just like the blowing of a whistle or the movement of a hand gesture. Until we do enough repetitions in enough situations and follow thru, he simply doesn’t know what’s expected of him.
The single most important command
To make sure your dog will come when called, pick the word that you will use for that purpose only. And set up many, many situations in different levels of distraction to practice. Use a leash to help you make sure you can make it happen every time. And most importantly, when he is within reach of you, be sure that ONLY WONDERFUL things happen for HIM. A dog will not come to you if it ends playtime in the yard or if he has to go into his crate. Help him enjoy coming to you. Coming when called is perhaps the single most important command you should teach your dog to keep him safe (https://pawsiloveyou.com/course/3minute-walking-politely-on-a-leash-2/).