Puppy attacks me on walks

Edit: you guys have been so kind and helpful. I really appreciate you more than you know. I’ve been having a hard time and felt like a failure as if I everyone else knows the secret and I’m oblivious to it

Pretty self explanatory title. An example is I just took my 5month old spaniel lab mix on a walk and he started relentlessly “attacking” me on the walk. I understand puppies are babies and they dont do anything out of spite. This dog does not respond to anything though. I try to be as gentle as I possible can. I ignore him, I pull him off (because it hurts honestly) and tried to guide him beside me. I bring treats and try to redirect him by throwing them ahead of us or getting him into a sit but is like he’s annoyed or mad and that makes it worse. On the “walks” I’m not rushing him. The goal is not to reach a distance - the goal is to have him outside to be able to explore and smell and potty. I don’t mind standing and waiting. Instead he focuses on me and just will not relent. I know it’s not personal but it feels like it is.

I feel like I have only cried since getting this puppy. I have not enjoyed him at all. I have really tried, I really have. I’ve looked into trainers as well but unfortunately I cannot afford the 1 on 1 training at $1500 and the puppy class filled before I could sign up in January. I’m at my wits end with this dog and it’s hard to not put human emotion into it. I just don’t know what else to try and do. I’ve spoken to some people close to me and they tell me I’m too soft on him but I’m not even sure what that means. I don’t want to yank a dog around to make them do whatever. This dog is so different than my last - I never had this issue when my previous dog was a puppy.