Ok, so I have a male Lab, not yet neutered (but will be), and is about 6-7 months. He just got through with being very sick in the stomach and wouldn't eat, now he's better but he doesn't let me touch his food. When I got him at about 3 months, I would sometimes put my hand close to his bowl while eating to get him used to something or somebody close to him while eating. He did get used to it and never did anything when I picked up his bowl in case I had to do something with it. Ever since he got sick, (now over it), he doesn't even let me put my foot close to his food bowl. Sometimes, when I even walk towards his bowl, he comes walking fast, cuts me off and stands right over his bowl staring at me in a serious look. Today, he even growled at me a little when I put my foot close to his bowl. Now, I was thinking that he is just being protective of it because he is recooperating from the sickness, because he hadn't ate right in about 3 days, and is just hungry.
But, I also think that he is just forming that habit, and I don't want him to. What's making him do this? How can I stop this and how can I get him to trust me with his food? Again, he never did this to me until now.