Aggressive, fearful and territorial? foster rescue

I wouldn't say she'd been abused...to me she sounds like what a typical Terrier allowed to run rampant without structure, rules or expectations...would eventually act like. Terriers are tough little dogs...they don't really cave under pressure as much as try to take as many others with them when they go LOL.

One of the MANY things people do wrong with "small cute fluffy" type dogs is refuse to see them as dogs, with teeth and a will of their own. They are not furry kids, or babies...they are dogs...dogs bred to go down into a dark hole on their own and kill whatever they found there. They are TOUGH.

This dog sounds like one that has been indulged and probably had a fearful owner that was so scared the first time the feisty wee puppeh growled...they backed off. Thus eventually teaching the dog that "hey! this is a GREAT way to control my environment! scaring people into doing what makes me comfortable!". Many small dogs rule their houses their entire lives this way...people don't sit in places because they belong to the dog, etc. It's not acceptable in my home...but somehow some folks DO live that way.

If you'd like to NOT live that way I would suggest looking here or googling...NILIF training, Nothing In Life Is Free. The dog should do SOMETHING for anything it gets, food attentions, walks, etc. You guys are new to one another so right now try to avoid OVERDO'ING the coddling, instead try a no nonsense approach. Keep a leash on her when you are home to bring home the point that your commands are to be followed. Buy some super yummy treats and keep those on your person...offer them for PROPER behaviors.

If she's wigging out whenever you pass the crate? I'd sit there, all day if necessary and pass her tidbits thru the door ONLY when she was quiet or calm etc.

We have lots of trainers here and experienced owners that can help. But it's sometimes problematic when you start from a place of "pity" for a dog because you assume abuse occured. You cannot know that, so just assume the dog wants to be happy, and in a loving home...and do what you can to make that happen. Without excusing bad behaviors...

Gina has it pretty well covered.  You have to teach a dog what you want and don't want and the key word is "teach".  Many times people assume a dog already knows or has been taught by someone else, basic good manners.  NILIF is a good program and I would add in some clicker training. 

The dog's behavior is very much what terriers do and not necessarily any indication the dog has been abused.  Give her her some time and some positive training without indulging her bad behavior.  Google Karen Pryor clicker lessons and also look for videos by kikopup on youtube. 

Thanks for fostering. :)  Terriers are so often given up because of temperment issues.  In most cases that could have been prevented and it is not an insurmountable problem in many, many cases.  If you don't feel comfortable trying to train this dog or if you are too fearful, call a professional trainer for a consultation.  Not sure if that's doable but you might check with the rescue group you're fostering about that. Terriers don't do well with physical force type training but they do excel at learning, as they are naturally intelligent and curious.  Most terriers are also very loving to their humans once a proper relationship has been established. 

Yep, Gina pretty much covered all the bases.

One of my very best boys is from a litter born in my home from a foster momma.  I made an error placing him, and when he came back 2 months later he flat out refused to let anyone touch his feet, which was a major problem since his nails were growing into the pads.  For the urgent nail cutting I had to have the vet sedate him but not knock him out.  From there, we worked very diligently on touching the paws.....first with my hand NEAR, praise and treat, and very slowly touching and so on.  And, when I had this pup, from the day of his birth I had handled his feet, so who knows what happened and why.

As far as the growling and snapping at the people?  Wow.  That just flat isn't allowed here even with fosters so other than encouraging NILF, I'm going to leave that one for the trainers.  I will say that it should be YOU who decides whether or not the crate door is open or closed and NOT the dog.  The best way to start is to make the crate the place where wonderful things happen....meals, special "crate only" toys and treats.......WITH THE DOOR SHUT.

Everyone else is right, terriers can be terrors if allowed to be.

The paws issue will probably have to wait a bit. I have a dog that adores hugs and physical contact, but hate having his feet touched. It's hot and I provide them a play pool to keep cooler when outside, so this is kind of difficult for me to deal with. I think dogs generally just don't like this, and have to learn to accept it. For the other stuff, what does she like? Find treats she really loves, and give her one just for coming near you. Sit and calmly hold out a treat. If she'll come to you and take it, tell her she's a good girl calmly so as not to excite her. Then offer another treat. Try doing this from a standing position as well. I've done this and my dogs follow me around like I hold the secret to life. Once she's happy to stand or sit next to you, I'd try putting the treat in your palm. As she takes it, give her a few gentle strokes under the chin. If this goes over well, try it again by handing the treat with one hand and rubbing gently on her chest or side with the other. The trick is to get her to where she wants to be stroked. By giving treats for incremental behaviors like this, you can associate proximity to you with happiness, and then the same with touching. Just do it in stages, and if she does nip, don't freak out. Just calmly put the treats away and ignore her for awhile. Then try again.

This has worked absolute wonders for me, and hopefully it will help you out.

Kincaid

Find treats she really loves, and give her one just for coming near you. Sit and calmly hold out a treat. If she'll come to you and take it, tell her she's a good girl calmly so as not to excite her. Then offer another treat. Try doing this from a standing position as well. I've done this and my dogs follow me around like I hold the secret to life. Once she's happy to stand or sit next to you, I'd try putting the treat in your palm. As she takes it, give her a few gentle strokes under the chin. If this goes over well, try it again by handing the treat with one hand and rubbing gently on her chest or side with the other. The trick is to get her to where she wants to be stroked. By giving treats for incremental behaviors like this, you can associate proximity to you with happiness, and then the same with touching. Just do it in stages, and if she does nip, don't freak out. Just calmly put the treats away and ignore her for awhile. Then try again.

Great advice!  If she won't approach and won't take a treat from you, toss it in between you. 

I wonder how things are going and hope the OP will update us.