I only let Cookie off leash when we go to the dog playground in the morning because they all are off leash and play and swim together for 1 hour.

If I walk around with Cookie on leash, other dog owners with their dog off leash come and ask me (some really rude) why my dog is on leash! I've been quite frustrated every now and then because it's not their business why I want my dog on a leash when we walk (Cookie rarely comes back when I call her now that she is a teenager-doggie and simply looks and ignores me).

Here most people have their dogs off leash the minute some grass and trees are in sight. And many people have their dogs off leash when they walk them in the city.