My friend brought her four month old grand daughter over last night.She was asleep in her pram so she left the pram in the hall where we could see it.My jack russell went over to the pram and started growling and got ready to pounce.I put her out in the garden.When they had gone I realised that the pram had been in the way of her food bowl.Do you think that is why she was acting in this way?

It’s probably a territorial behavior, since something has been blocking his food bowl. It’s a normal reaction for a dog to be angry. We know somehow dog’s feeling is much like humans do.

you really have to be careful having children around dogs, especially ones they aren't used to seeing. I would say it was because of the food, but it may go deeper than that - may I suggest a dog handler or a dog trainer if you intend to keep the child around more often?

It's just a shame that on their first meeting the dog was in a situation where he felt his food was threatened.

I guess what you do is going to be dependent on how regularly he will meet the child?

Looking at it the other way, my neighbour once cut our adjoining hedge down (while I was out.) I let the dogs out and they just nipped into her garden.
My oldest staffie was stood by the babies pram and wouldn't let the owner anywhere near. He'd found it ... he wanted to keep it! I think he thought she was a child napper.