How do I nip this in the butt?

[Softhug]

Boudreaux has shown ZERO aggression so far (he is 19 weeks now) and this weekend I got both he and Tsu chew sticks.  I was petting him and he growled at me!  What the heck!?!?  He doesn't growl at us when he eats, as often DH or I lay by him and mess in his food, pet his muzzle, pet his feet while he eats.  When this happened, he didn't make eye contact, no hair standing up or "smiling" but I paused a minute and started petting him again and again he growled.  So we took the treat away.  I will KILL him if he bites me (ok, exaggerating-a little) but how do I re-introduce the treat and teach him that growling is unacceptable?  Isn't that him trying to show dominance?  Do I give it to him and continue to pet and when he growls, take it away? Or will he equate the treat and me petting him with the treat being taken away?  HELP!!   

[WI Em]

My Bordeaux is 7 1/2 weeks older than yours and we went through a phase similar to this. What you're dealing with is posesiveness of the food-treat in question. What my trainer instructed me to do (and my 9 year old son as well!) is simple.

YOU AND YOUR DOG "SHARE" THE TREAT. You hold one end of the treat (don't just give it to your pup!) while your puppy enjoys the other-do not make eye contact. In this way you BOTH have the treat. While your pup is enjoying sharing the treat you should pet his head. You said that your pup hasn't been posessive of his food so far, but that can change so be on the lookout for it.

Another way to help your pup realize that you hold all of the aces and he should trust you is by feeding him tasty things out of your mouth(for example hotdogs sliced up like you would for a toddler). You just put a slice in your lips so that your dog can get it and YOU DO MAKE EYE CONTACT AS YOUR DOG TAKES/RECIEVES THE TREAT!!

Hope this helps.

[doggylover]

The saying goes, 'nip it in the bud' I think you have a subconsious desire to kick your dogs butt over this!  LOL Badger does this occasionally and I feel your pain.  I don't let this slide, just as you said you didn't.  I may be going against the grain here but I think this is somewhat normal.  Not to be tolerated, but not something you should be terribly worried about (I'm assuming you may be terribly worried because when Badger has done this, it has shaken me pretty bad). 
Personally, from my experience with Badger, I think some dogs have agression inside them, and it is through effort, love, and respect for us that they control themselves.  If Badger 'forgets himself' I call him on it, every single time.  His usual response to me condemning him is that he ducks his ears down and back and acts very submissive.  He only does this kind of thing once in a great while, usually over very covetted treats. 
I agree with what the other poster said, with the exception of the treat in the mouth thing, thats just me, I'm already too 'close' to this dog...we're not doing mouth on mouth food swapping.  LOLOL Badger would LOVE that. 
Good luck, I think you handled this exactly right. 
 

[brandon]

Bava did the same thing at about that age also.  It worried us a bit at the time.  We growled back and took whatever it was away.  He got over it pretty quickly and doesn't do it anymore.  I can't go a day without my hand shoved up his mouth to retrieve whatever he has hidden in there that he shouldn't have, and it is no problem now.

I think training had a lot to do with his better attitude also, through obedience training they better learn where their position in the pack is and don't try that kind of stuff.