Pure noseyness really - I don't think there's a single one size fits all answer.
I was walking DDog this morning. She was off lead but we were approaching the road so I recalled her and put her lead on. A man overtook me as I did so and asked if she was just young. I told him we think she's about 7 or 8 months, and he said "She's very young to be off the lead and under control". I didn't know if that was a compliment or a veiled criticism.
I've had her for about 7 weeks and we've worked intensively on lead walking and recall to the exclusion of almost all other training. She earns all her food ration through the day, getting about half her daily intake through the course of a walk. I know I can recall her from other dogs and people on a long line. She also has separation anxiety and follows me like a shadow. I'm getting defensive just writing this! But I feel confident letting her off in low risk areas.
What do you think?