CHAT - `I got the pup =] Ex-hubby said, 'She 6 yrs old? THAT'S 42! I said, AND?!?!?!? I/m pushing 50! Anyway, I got the dog, she's an older pup, but her 'family' doesn't want her any longer... not sure why :'( She's a Shih Tzu... looks like a Pekinese to me :/ squished face... maybe they are calling Pekinese Shih Tzu's now or sumthin... Well, she's shaved, but still matted in places on her belly, matted hair at her feet, poor old girl :'( She stunk to HIGH HEAVEN! She was a bit confused about Petco :/ Got her home and bathed her... tried blowdrying her and she bit me :'( Tried brushing her and she bit me :'( I emailed previous owners to say in 24 hrs I may return her is she continues biting and growling when I try to touch her now... she's been traumatized, poor old girl... then she came to me and growled and bit me and I see she is playing... like a pup

You touch her chewies and the teeth are bared... she comes close to you and snaps and it's play... damned hard to understand a grown dog when I have raised my own from pups. Mine used to LOVE baths! Bath and scratching and towel dry and toenails clipped and blow dry and run through the house like a lunatic and jump from floor to sofa to momma's lap for a growl and a face lick and then back on the floor and through the house... Well, we'll see if I can figure out this old pup... I'd hate to return her and find the family that is giving her away sends her to the pound :'( She's asleep at my feet now... and I'm trying to figure out how I'm gonna get the matted hair shaved off...
Six years for a small dog isn't old, they live for freaking ever.
I cannot stress crate training enough, especially with an animal that hasn't felt safe for a long time, if ever. And I mean
real crate training - not just getting a crate and letting her out the first few times she cries. Only feed the dog in the crate; only give her cookies in the crate; lock her in the crate when she needs a time-out, when you need a time out and when you sleep at night. You probably know all of this, having had dogs, but I've done rehab with some pretty messed up pooches. The worst thing about small dogs is what they can get away with because of their size. People tolerate behaviors from a small dog they would never from a large dog, but a dog is a dog is a dog. No matter the size, they will always be testing you; that's why small dogs are known to bite people more often.
Don't set yourself up to be hurt trying to get the mats out. Take her to a groomer, or even the vet if you can afford it. And leave, don't watch. Muzzling a defensive dog is more traumatic for the owner, than the dog. They are pack animals and have to know who is the leader. Many people don't really understand what that means. It isn't as much having an animal that follows your directions, as having an animal trust and feel safe with you. Alpha dogs are alpha, not because they are more aggressive, but because the pack trusts they will make the right decisions.
I rescue Border Collies. They are the smartest dogs on the planet, but also have a tendency to be the most mentally screwed up. I learned the following method long ago from a trainer and it works; young dogs, old dogs, big dogs, little dogs, it doesn't matter. You can start anytime, but the most important part is consistency. Just like a child, they will test and push the limits, but if you give in "just this once" you've trained the dog that by pushing they
win - like a kid who finally gets a cookie just to shut him up - then you have to start over. I apologize for jumping on a soapbox, but I've seen too many animals repeatedly returned to shelters due to behavior problems, until they get to the point they can't be safely adopted.
This is just one website, there are others if you do a Google search on
Nothing in Life is Free. Nothing in Life is Free
ETA:
...then she came to me and growled and bit me and I see she is playing... like a pup

You touch her chewies and the teeth are bared... she comes close to you and snaps and it's play...
That is not play, it is aggression. How would you react if a 70 pound dog behaved that way?