Sudden return of dog aggression on lead...

[shiny]

Hello...

I have a 3 year nearly four year old Staffie cross..we got her from Battersea dogs and cats home...we worked hard to train her as she had many issues and was very neurotic and phobic...

With time and love and firm boundaries I got her to walk on the lead (loose) but over the last few years she has been got at both times by Jack Russles each time she was walking on the lead..the 2nd time in an alley way..I told the owner to wait for us ..but she ignored us and they had a set too...

Nothing happened for a bit ...until she this last few months...where she has regressed to lunging and pulling and being hyper when she sees another dog...her doggie mates who she plays with are ok...she meets them and they have a little sniff and then play..

We have a neighbour who dog sits for people who go away on business...every time my dog sees this man and one of his dogs she goes nuts...instead of crossing over to avoid us he lets his dogs bark and finds the fact Mills goes nuts hilarious...he watches us go out and seems to follow us or makes sure we meet on the way back...I know it sounds paranoid but he does..

He brings his dog close to us and I have to fight to keep her under control...this came to a head in septmeber...my parents were watching her for me while I was away..mills was in the drive way while my mum was pruning the roses... T came out with his latest dog a Husky...it is poorly socialised and saw millie and barked and growled at her...

Millie shot off and they had a set too...T managed to get his dog in and apologised as he knew his dog would react and didnt realise Mills was out....after my return I made sure our paths did not cross...even tho he made a point of crossing over the road when he saw us so I had no choice but to cross to avoid them,....

Today we met...I had millie on the lead...unknown to me I had latched her lead to her tag instead of the coller...he had the elk hound..a quiet old chap and was about to go out the gate..we didnt see each other until the last minute...Mills lunged and I grabbed the lead (an extender) the brake failed the tag snapped and mills got free..chaos...

Instead of slamming the gate until I could get hold of my dog he stood there ...panic i dont know...but they had a little set too..just a lot of growling and snapping ...Millie didnt bite...and wasnt bitten...it was all noise and posturing....I managed to gather my senses and get her..I apologised as the lead had failed ...I felt awful....really really bad...Millie stood there as if to say what? cow bag....

He took his dog and said he would go another way...(something came out of this then!) but I was left totally gutted...its like she has regressed back to she was when we first got her...

Should I go back to basics with her training? I may have to get another clicker...and use rewards..and get T on board...slow introduction...and so forth...shes normally a placid girl and is a little podgy....and has a problem with her back legs due to being hit by a van while straying...so we cant run her much as she gets stiff and in pain...

I tihnk a variety of factors and the fact we and battersea dont know her past and what she went through when she was straying is in play here...I only hope that this is a glitch...but would really welcome some help here....

Sorry for the essay...but needed to get this all out...I love my girl...and it would break my heart if she hurt another dog...

Many thanks Shiny xx and Millie