9 month old dog suddenly bolting

[notaclevernameatall]

Hi everyone, was hoping someone might have good advice

We have let our cockapoo off the lead since she was a puppy with no issue. She generally comes back, and at the end of the walk i offer a treat and she’s sits for her lead.

Today out of nowhere she bolted for the park gate (not the one to our house, half way round the walk) and ran across a busy road. I caught her, after she almost gave us both a heart attack.

She’s now passed out on the bed behind me fast asleep.

It was all very odd, I’m not sure what triggered it. She could have caused an accident though so I’m nervous about letting her off the lead in the park again.

Does anyone have any advice on how I might have handled it differently?

Thank you

Very common for dogs to start testing the boundaries and going completely backwards in their training and recall around that age, teenage dogs - maybe having her on a long line and going back to basics with the recall may help, as at least if she bolts you can grab the line.

She's a teenager, I would only let her off the lead in enclosed spaces until she is more reliable.