My jack russell refuses to go for walks

Question
Hi, yesterday was a wet day and my 1yr old Jack Russell bitch refused to go for a walk. Today, a dry day, she did exactly the same thing, why is she doing this now when she enjoyed going out for walks before?
She is a rescue dog and we have had had for 4 weeks now.

Answer
Hi Paula,
She's probably feeling more comfortable with you and it could be that she is testing you now. If you give in and let her "win" and don't walk, then she is establishing that she is YOUR boss and not the other way around. Continue to take your walks together and stay in control, be calm, but be firm, and be the leader. She will be able to tell if you are nervous, worried, angry, etc. If you send her the message that she has no choice but to walk, she will respect you and obey you.
The problem might be in her collar and leash, make sure the leash isn't too long so you can't control her. You could try using a Gentle Leader (also known as the Promise collar) and Halti. As one trainer says, they're like power steering for dogs, and when used correctly, make many dogs feel more calm and safe. Recommended by the veterinary experts at Tufts University School of Medicine, the head collar/head harness is based on the principle that wherever the head goes, the body follows. Like horse halters, dog head collars hold the jaw and cheek, with one strap encircling the dog's nose and another running behind the back of the head. You hook a leash to a ring to the snout strap under the chin.
Make sure to check her collar too, maybe it's too tight and painful to walk and she has no way to tell you? You should be able to stick two fingers underneath it.
Hope this helps, good luck!