9 month old poodle growling and trying to bite

Question
Dear Labman:

 I have a 9 month old teacup toy poodle named Mike. Mike is a very sweet puppy and we love him ery much. The only problem is, back when I first got him (from a pet store) when he was almost 3 months old his hair was so matted that I had to groom him and it hurt him. I was going to bring to a groomer but all the groomers I talked to said that before shaving him they would have to de-matt him anyway because the knots were so close to the skin on him that they would get caught in the clippers and getn stuck in there. They also said that he would have to get de-matted and then shaved because if I left the matts in his hair that it would cause him to eventually become bald because of the pulling and that the matts pulling on his skin would cause it to crack and become infected. So, I love my dog and really at the time didn't want to bring him to a groomer to de-matt him and then shave him because it's a painful thing to get all those knots out and I wanted yo do it a little at a time do it would be less tramatizing for him. I figured that since I have more of a emotional investment in him I would be gentler on him. So,I
did it. I did some one day, some more the next and finished it up that day. It was awful, it took hours each one of those days and I know it was painful for him. I tryed to be gentle with him doing it slowly and spraying dog conditioner in his hair and cutting as many of the matts out I could so I didn't have to pull them out but so many of them went down to the skin and you had to comb them a little to even cut them out since you can only cut so near the skin without cutting him. I cut all hius hair evenly after that, short and keep him clean and brushed ever since. I bath him frequently in good dog shamoo (mosturizing) and very gently brush him and it seems to be going the trick in keeping his hair healthy and de-knotted. The only thing is he really hates being brushed after that whole episode and if I try to brush certain parts of his body, like him stomach or the inside of his legs he growls and trys to bit me. The rest of the body he lets me do. Sometimes he'll growl and snap when I do the rest of the body but not usually. Now, I'm not critizing him I know and understand that this is a normal reaction dince after all he's gone thru and that he got quite a scare after a very horrible experience, but I'm worried about his behavior I need to brush him and now his stomach is matted again because he won't let me brush it, that's not good.He's also been going thru a phase lately where he barks at everyone and everything when I bring him outside and he sees strangers. Could all of this be linked somehow. Can it be partly because of his age (9months) and also he's not neutered and we don't plan on it because we want to breed him, he's a beautiful and well tempered dog otherwise

 Thank you for your time
Crissy Caradonna

Answer
Having a good pack structure reduces such problems.  The dogs see all the
people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in
the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members
outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by
reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class
or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with
a treat.  Too many small dogs are allowed to get away with offensive behavior.  They need the same obedience training as larger dogs.  The problem is compounded in both large and small dogs by breeding dogs with known behavior problems.  The dog should tolerate some degree of uncomfortable grooming.  

In addition to the obedience training, he needs strong discipline when he growls or snaps.  Give a warning stern "Bad Dog!".  In
stubborn cases, I repeat the "Bad dog!" right in its face with the dog on its
back. Hold it down until it lifts one back leg to show submission.  Use one
forearm under his jaw to keep his teeth away from your face.  Another very
effective technique if the dog is small enough, is to pick it up with your
hands behind its front shoulders and hold it out with its back to you.   Make
sure it is far enough out it can't fling its head into your face.   Hold it
until it quits struggling and relaxes.  If you can't do either of those, try
the squirt bottle.  Fill it with water and a little vinegar or lemon juice.
Give it a squirt in the face as soon as it misbehaves.  Dogs hate that.  I do
too and only use it in desperation.  Denying it your attention works great
too.  Turn your back, walk off, whatever.   Dogs are very social, and losing
your company is the worst thing that can happen.  The solution to a stubborn
dog is an owner that is even more stubborn.  Don't forget the praise and
petting when he finally yields.

If this problem behavior can't be trained out of him, please strongly reconsider breeding him.  We have too many snappy little dogs.  Breeding snappy little dogs is a sure way to perpetuate the problem.  I would also give him a few years to see how his health is.  The teacup Poodles tend to have health problems.  Most pet store puppies are products of puppy mills and are bred with no other consideration than money.  It is very evident reading your question that you truly love him.  That separates you from many others that are breeding dogs.  Please go to www.akc.org and read some of their recommendations on breeding.  Give him some discipline and time.  He may prove worth breeding.