our puppy is the kindest dog i have ever met....he loves to kiss and lick anyone..he loves meeting new people and esp. LOVES kids...however..if we give him a flavored dog bone he growls when you pet him or place your hand next to the bone when he chews it...if its a normal bone he has no problem...we pet him as much as possible when he eats but the problem persist....i was wondering if there is other things i could try?

i wouldnt give him one of these bones at least for the time being, anything which encourages him to get into that possesive state of mind is not a good idea, he will not miss the bones
i wonder are you making a special effort to pet him when eating and take his food away?
because in some circumstances this can actually encourage the dog to become possesive if he feels that he has his treats taken away frequently he may feel frustrated and the need to protect them.
however this is only in some instances and the opposite can often be true,
good luck
i am currently dealing with a growly biting puppy myself
xxx