In response to Jacky just wanted to make it clear my husband and myself were in the room at the time of the incident. Our child did nothing to trigger the behaviour,and yes we are responsible pet owners and parents so know not to leave them alone.Anybody else out there who can shed any light on this? Thanks!!

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I'm afraid your child did do something wrong, in the dogs eyes that is :(  Part of being responsible pet owners and parents is to make sure a family dog is ABSOLUTLEY BOMB PROOF to anything a child may do, or not to put them in the position where their natural insticts may push them to behaviour you might no like.  Allowing a 3 year old near a dog with a very precious (in the dogs eyes) resource is not responsible.  I have answered your previous post advising how to make a dog less sensitive to having human adults around their food.

Hi Guest

You said in your other post that your dog had been with your parents, who also have dogs, for a few days.  It is quite possible that having other dogs around at feeding time may have sparked off your own dog feeling the need to guard her food whereas before she didn't.  If one of the other dogs tried to take her bone, chew etc while at your parents your dog would have warned it off with a growl/grumble.   If the other dog did not retreat your dog would have upped the amount of warning until a snap was warranted/necessary to make the point.  In canine culture possession is 9/10ths of the law and any dog can feel it quite right to hang onto anything it has in its possession.

Digger gave some good advice on going back to basics to teach your dog that human hands approaching the food bowl are only going to add not take away.  If I were in your position I'd give it a go.  In the meantime, teach your child to respect the fact that your dog is eating and leave well alone until you have re-built your dog's confidence and trust.