Suddenly wont come back!

[Hattiee]

My 8 month old GSD has been fine off the lead for at least 3 months now, came back when called (and then was praised), fetches etc.
But all of a sudden he has decided he does not want to come back.

Throughout our recent walks as soon as he is let of the lead he is not coming within about 6ft of me or my partner, neither of us have struck/hit/punished him for coming back at all but now getting him back on the lead is such a struggle and not a pleasant experience for either parties.

Also, occasionally when he is let outside to do his business, if he sees something or someone down the street he will run straight at them - alert and barking, and will not come back until we tempt him back with treats or manage to go and get him.

Any help is appreciated as I am starting to lose my patience!

[Shade]

My dogs earn their priviledges, if they disobey a known command like a recall they lose the priviledge of being offleash. Depending on the severity of the offense (not listening for 5 seconds, 10 seconds, etc) then they either get leashed and play immediately stops or I may just leash them for a time out then play can continue

They've learned through experience that I don't ask 10-20 times, I ask once or perhaps twice but that's it.

While I don't advocate 100% positive or 100% negative training I think there's a clear line that needs to be drawn. Punishment doesn't mean a harsh correction, simply the loss of a priviledge. If being positive doesn't work (calling with treats) then it needs to escalate

I don't mean the following in any condensending or hurtful way, but in letting your dog continue to disobey you then you are teaching him not only CAN he disobey but he also gets treats when he finally does obey in coming back late after the fact. If he runs away in a emergancy situation I'd call once then go quickly but calmly and grab him, no treat or voice and simply lead him back into the house. No reward and no punishment

[ponyfarm]

Keep his leash on. Practice...practice..call him by name to you randomly and praise lavishly with treats or toy..whichever he is most motivated for. Max is very ball motivated, so on off-leash walks he carries a ball and I have one in my pocket. This method has worked very well for us..even called him off a pack of deer.

Your puppy is at "that age!"