Food aggression help. Desperate!

[DementedUnicorn]

Can anyone give us any advice please? We have a six month old Cocker. From we got him he would occasionally growl when being lifted which has progressed to also being very protective over food, toys, bones and space on the bed/sofa. We have another dog (a five year old). The agression is mainly directed at him although he will growl at my wife too.

He has been well socialised and meets dogs everyday in the park, he has never shown any agression towards any strange dog he is usually happy to meet any dog and play with them.

Last night when getting treats he properly attacked our other dog growling, snapping and grabbing him by the neck. We intervened and there were no injuries, just wet fur.

They are already fed separately but if there is even food in the area there are issues (eg growling at the other dog to keep him away from the table during our dinner). We also stopped giving any titbits from our plates.

Any help will be gratefully received! We're trying to get a behaviourist as well but no joy yet!

[DementedUnicorn]

Bump

[tabulahrasa]

Well I wouldn't have him round food at all until you get a behaviourist, it's much easier to just prevent it happening than fix anything negative he learns in the meantime,

[tabulahrasa]

And your other dog I mean, obviously feed him, lol

[hillyhilly]

We had a lot of problems of guarding and aggression with a terrier - the advice from the behaviourist was to remove the cause or potential for aggression wherever possible.
Eg guarding sofa - he doesn't sleep on sofa, guarding food - feed only the amount he'll eat so there's none left to guard (this one has more complex resolution that involved feeding one handful at a time carefully and would need the intervention of the behaviourist I reckon). Don't allow him in the same room when you eat or empty the dishwasher which was a big trouble spot for us, no treats or toys that he'd guard. If it means he ends up with nothing then that's what he ends up with. Ours couldn't have any treats that weren't eaten quickly so only biscuits no chews.
Sadly for us, the aggression continued and indeed escalated and we had to rehome him to someone without children (which has worked out fine for him). Hopefully it won't come to that for you but the behaviourist was invaluable (we're in South Yorkshire if you want a recommendation)