I'm not saying I do mess with his food I just expect to be able to which I've always been able to!!!! Well a big thanks to you lot!!!! In The twenty odd years I've owned lurchers I've always fed in the crate! It seems in This case this is the problem! I've fed him out of the cage and I've been able to remove the bowl,even put my hand in the bowl and stroke his face without so much as growl! I'm made up it's such a relief! I'm not going to assume the problem has entirely gone away put it's a vast improvement! Cheers all!