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I think it's sad you don't enjoy walking your dog. I own dogs primarily to have company on walks.
 
I think your dog is simply not motivated to comply. Your only motivators for the dog to walk by your side are "get to continue forward" and "praise". Would you continue to go to work if your only reward was a tense and irritable boss muttering "good" at you from time to time?
 
Dogs tend to find the "forced march" to be incredibly boring. They explore the world via their noses, and if you don't let them sniff where and when they want to sniff, the whole expedition is pointless from the dog's perspective. Why would your dog be motivated to "continue forward"?  thus your "Stops" and "About turns" do nothing to encourage the dog to remain by your side-- these methods only work if the dog really wants to keep going.
 
I do agree if actually trying to exercise a dog you do have to engage in a "forced march", but then you need a good motivator for the dog to do so.  For example, we sometimes use a fun destination as the motivator-- if the dogs trot steadily during the exercise portion of the walk they get to arrive at a rabbit-filled area where they are turned loose to sniff about in excitement.
 
If you're not willing to use treats to motivate the dog to stay in position, really the only other way you can get a dog to do the "forced march" is by corrections, real corrections that are aversive, like hard collar pops whenever the dog moves out of position. Thus the dog is motivated to stay in place. Dogs don't enjoy this method, nor do most owners.

ORIGINAL: mudpuppy

I think your dog is simply not motivated to comply. Your only motivators for the dog to walk by your side are "get to continue forward" and "praise". Would you continue to go to work if your only reward was a tense and irritable boss muttering "good" at you from time to time?

Dogs tend to find the "forced march" to be incredibly boring. They explore the world via their noses, and if you don't let them sniff where and when they want to sniff, the whole expedition is pointless from the dog's perspective. Why would your dog be motivated to "continue forward"?  thus your "Stops" and "About turns" do nothing to encourage the dog to remain by your side-- these methods only work if the dog really wants to keep going.

I do agree if actually trying to exercise a dog you do have to engage in a "forced march", but then you need a good motivator for the dog to do so.  For example, we sometimes use a fun destination as the motivator-- if the dogs trot steadily during the exercise portion of the walk they get to arrive at a rabbit-filled area where they are turned loose to sniff about in excitement.

If you're not willing to use treats to motivate the dog to stay in position, really the only other way you can get a dog to do the "forced march" is by corrections, real corrections that are aversive, like hard collar pops whenever the dog moves out of position. Thus the dog is motivated to stay in place. Dogs don't enjoy this method, nor do most owners.

I do appreciate you explaining more. The walks ARE for exercise, both me and the dogs, so that's a big reason for the continuing forward. Also, I DO let them sniff and explore. I mentioned that in my first post. I wait until we get to an open area and then I let them know that it's okay to go sniff.

I'm curious about your technique for keeping your dogs by your side when walking. You dispense treats when they're beside you? So your dogs stay close to you because they want the food. I'm guessing you don't believe that dogs shouldn't walk ahead "just because" you're the pack leader and in charge of the walk.

I'm curious about your technique for keeping your dogs by your side when walking. You dispense treats when they're beside you? So your dogs stay close to you because they want the food. I'm guessing you don't believe that dogs shouldn't walk ahead "just because" you're the pack leader and in charge of the walk.

I'm not mudpuppy so I'm only answering for myself, but honestly I do not mind dogs that walk ahead.  I DO mind dogs that pull, either ahead, back, or off to the side.  I don't like zig-zagging, and I don't like abrupt stopping so I almost trip over the dog or unintentionally jerk it off it's feet.  The trick is, how do you allow a dog to walk ahead, but maintain some level of focus on the handler and not pull?  The way we teach the dogs, they don't really go ahead because they can't receive a treat if they are ahead.  I am not threatened or pit off by a dog that can walk a few steps ahead on a loose leash, but it's kinda hard to train for that when you are first starting out.  I don't train dogs to walk at heel with a loose leash because I don't want them ahead of me, I train them that way b/c it's the most efficient for reinforcing and encouraging eye contact with the dog.

Here's my two cents. If I'm training it's one thing, if I'm going for a walk it's fully another. Training sessions are much shorter than walks. For a walk I clip Yoshi's leash (Milo and Nandi are walked separately because they can't go 3 miles, but the procedure is the same) to my belt and clip the other end to his harness (he's 115lb ridgeback) and we go for a walk. He stops, sniffes, forges, lags, whatever. He is leash trained so he can heel if I need him to (like if there is an uncoming car or an uncoming person -then we step off the path and sit/stay) but otherwise he has 6 foot of lead to do what he wants. I cannot imagine the torment my daily three mile constitutional would be if I insisted that he heel all the time, didn't sniff, etc.

If I'm walking a puller I'd use a halti, but otherwise this is my 2 cents. When walking Milo and Nandi, just multiply my description by 2. 

I enjoy the heck out of my walks.

Paula

I get frustrated with walks to.  Most of the time he is very good.  I keep him on a short leash and keep him moving at a steady pace so both of us get exercise.  But if my mind is elsewhere he can tell and will pull in whatever direction he feels.  I never let it last but if the walk starts that way, it kills it for me and I feel like he is testing me the whole time.  It definitely feels like chore sometimes.  

ORIGINAL: paulaedwina

I cannot imagine the torment my daily three mile constitutional would be if I insisted that he heel all the time, didn't sniff, etc.

Exactly!!! That's what I'm saying. So in a way I'd like to just throw all of the rules out the window. On the other hand, it feels very disrespectful for my dog to be walking way ahead, pulling and paying absolutely no attention to me. I feel like they should be following me, not me following them around. Something is backwards with that picture. So how do I find a happy medium where my dog respects me, but we both enjoy the walk? [8|]

I think you're placing too much emphasis on who walks in front. Just because he walks ahead doesn't mean you aren't the leader. You don't have to be ahead of the dog 24/7 for the dog to respect you. As long as your dog is safe, on the leash and not pulling what is the problem? He's happy sniffing around and you could be happy enjoying the scenery if you just let yourself relax.
 
Why do you feel like you have to be the one in front all of the time?

ORIGINAL: Luvntzus

ORIGINAL: paulaedwina

I cannot imagine the torment my daily three mile constitutional would be if I insisted that he heel all the time, didn't sniff, etc.

Exactly!!! That's what I'm saying. So in a way I'd like to just throw all of the rules out the window. On the other hand, it feels very disrespectful for my dog to be walking way ahead, pulling and paying absolutely no attention to me. I feel like they should be following me, not me following them around. Something is backwards with that picture. So how do I find a happy medium where my dog respects me, but we both enjoy the walk? [8|]

I don't share your belief that somehow my dog is being disrespectful because he isn't paying attention to me on a walk and that's a bad thing. It's a walk. Why the power trip (sounds like when you say you feel they should be following you)? What does respect have to do with it?

We definitely look at things differently. When we go on a walk it's for fun and exercise. As long as Yoshi can heel when I need him to, I don't really care what he does at the end of the leash. I guess it goes to my method with dogs (and likely with kids if I had them) ; outside of the 10 things I want you to do when I ask for it, go wild.

JMO
Paula

ORIGINAL: Luvntzus

ORIGINAL: paulaedwina

I cannot imagine the torment my daily three mile constitutional would be if I insisted that he heel all the time, didn't sniff, etc.

Exactly!!! That's what I'm saying. So in a way I'd like to just throw all of the rules out the window. On the other hand, it feels very disrespectful for my dog to be walking way ahead, pulling and paying absolutely no attention to me. I feel like they should be following me, not me following them around. Something is backwards with that picture. So how do I find a happy medium where my dog respects me, but we both enjoy the walk? [8|]

I have a dog who likes to walk in front of me at all times.  After seven years, I've pretty much accepted that it's just the way she is. We have worked out a system that works for us, since she is ahead and not looking at me - a slight tug on the leash tells her to slow down, and pulling it a bit to left or right lets her know which way I'm about to turn.   Of course she will also "Stop" or "Heel" if I tell her to. 
As long as she doesn't pull or stop suddenly, it doesn't bother me anymore that she's in front. I used to dread walks because she was constantly pulling, trying to get to the next interesting smell as fast as possible, after which she would stop and plant her feet to resist my tugs on the leash while she sniffed.  Meanwhile I was trying to get her to pay attention to me, which would have prevented her from doing what she really wanted - sniffing and marking.  The system we use now allows her to sniff to her heart's content and me to get some exercise without engaging in a battle of wills. Sometimes, you just have to compromise for the sake of peace.

Here's my take on the actual mechanics of walking:
 
I log alot of miles with Xerxes, daily.  He's allowed to walk ahead, behind, or on the side-anywhere he wants.  He's allowed to chase after squirrels, rabbits or chipmunks within the confines of the lead.  If he approaches the end of the lead (yes I use a flexi but hear me out then flame me) I tell him "easy."  He will usually stop.  If he doesn't I simply turn around.  He feels the tug and then looks to see that I'm looking the other way and he runs up beside me.  He's rewarded with good boys and chest pats.  Then we continue.
 
When people approach us on these paths, he has to come back and go into a heel.  That's the rule and he knows it.  He stays in the heel until they are past and then he can go back to his walk.  When he's up ahead I can give him a "Tsst" and then hand signals for which direction I want him to go, whether left, right, back to me, around the tree, or wheverever. 
 
It's a definite chore, but one I take great pleasure in performing.  He knows his manners and has to act accordingly, but he also gets to hunt and sniff and dig and trot, gallop or pace.  I don't think he respects me any less, or presents an embarrassment when he's out at the end of the lead...unless of course the local idiot rabbit is out.  But that's for another thread.

One of the things I miss about living in town, and it seems counterintuitive, is that I don't have the opportunity for off leash walks. In town I went to Fort Detrick - 1200 fenced acres - and in the desolate parts they went off lead. They have great recall, I do similar things to Xerxes to make them go right and left, etc. Out in the styx you can't go off lead - there is too much wildlife, it is not a controlled environment, and beyond the woods is likely somebody's yard/farm/paddock.

My suggestion to the OP is to try to relax and you'll enjoy your walks more. Think less of a walk as a power struggle and more of a chance for you all to get outside. Let them sniff, let them forge, let them lag.

Paula

Along the lines of the previous poster, I have taught my dog that "this way" means look at me, I am changing directions. So, if she's up ahead sniffing around ignoring me and I say "this way" she'll look at me and turn on a dime then go back to sniffing and walking.

I prefer that mine walk ahead of me so I can see where they are and I'm not tripping over them, etc. When we get to a turn they either slow down and wait to see where I go, or just follow the sidewalk. As long as they aren't pulling really hard, I don't worry about it. I'm not into the whole pack leader thing anyway, and I don't worry about trying to dominate them. Walks should be fun, and training should be seperate (but still fun), imo. If I were you, I'd try letting them do what they want on the walks, except for really hard pulling, and see what happens.

I do really enjoy training my dog, but loose leash walking has not been enjoyable for me. The results are very slow coming, and as someone who loves going for walks, I am frustrated that it has to be so focused on every move the dog makes, constant staring at them, making sure the timing is right, etc.

I really enjoy walking my dog but do understand your frustration.  We recently got a Great Pyr and she is so slow.  Not in a hurry to go anywhere, but Sampson is a fast walker when on leash.  So I walk them both on leash for 25min, take Maggie (pyr) home and Sampson and I go out for our off leash walk/hike where he darts from tree to tree and chases squirrels and rabbits.   We walk for another 50min or so and that literally puts a smile on my face.  I love seeing him so happy out there being a dog!  That's what I love about our walks.
I can't wait til Maggie can join us.  Maybe we will drive to the trails tomorrow so Maggie can enjoy nature like Sampson does...except she will be on a long lead.