A very old stray {The Old Fella Story}

Merlin is a 11 year old Keeshond, he spent the first six years of his life as a puppy mill stud and has been with me for five years. He carries a lot of PTSD issues and very shy off lead. On lead he is sooo trusting and willing to be handled. The other evening I took him for the last walk of the night. He did the usual poo thing and ran toward the house. I told him he had to take a whiz first and lo and behold he did his squat thing and all was good. Yesterday AM we went for the morning walk and as I said his PTSD kicked in and he looked at me and started the way he wanted to go. I told him no and pointed in a direction he was not comfortable with but was compliant to my command. Several times I had to reinforce the direction I wanted him to go.
I think sometimes he is managing me instead of vice-versa. I really wish I could get him comfortable off lead, just so shy.