dog "went after" infant

my chow was a rescue. very very sick when we found him by the lake rickets mange had no idea what kind of pupy he was.  took him to the hospital for 3 weeks and brought him home.. He was so skinny... obviously had not ever been feed on a regular basis.  he ate like he would never get fed again which was fine until he had been fed consistanly for  a few weeks.. he growled at me when I moved his bowl while he was eating.. his food went up and he went out.  I started putting his food down and making him wait until he had permission to eat.  he has never been aggressive again.  I had to put one dog down for aggression years ago and I tend to like breeds that seem to have a propensity for it ..so I am very very disciplined in his day to day regimine

This is a good read - Childproofing Your Dog by Brain Kilcommons

Just wondering why would you want to get rid of your dog now you said, you got him at 8 months and he's 8 years old now?

I am not a trainer,,, and I don't have an answer,,,although I know many people here do,,,but I had a pitbul type dog all the while my kids were growing up. Didn't have to worry about her and her food bowl because I fed her twice a day and she ate it all up right away...but I did have to worry because she was not really all that trustable.  She would look for trouble,,,look to steal things from the kids and us,,,and go hide and dare you to come and get it.     Long story short---she never bit a person and lived until about 16 yrs old. and died of old age.  BUT  I watched her like a hawk when ever she was with anyone that came into our home...including kids that came to play with my kids. I just didn't let her near them. I never once thought about giving her up and we lived happily ever after.  I think it boils down to if you want it to work,,,it will. I would NEVER consider giving up a dog after having her from a pup for so many years. 
Just my opinion!

So, until you get the guarding thing under control, no more dog in the room while kids have food, and no more kids in the room while dog has food.

 
My chow, Willow, was particularly aggressive with food and also with any type of chew bone.  I just wanted to point out how important Anne's statement that I quoted above is.  I had a few instances where we just weren't thinking it would be an issue and my husband got growled at.  And, it was at times when it was OUR food and not hers.  One time we were eating ice cream sandwiches and myhusband dropped his wrapper on the floor and he didn't run right over to pick it up and she started licking it when we weren't looking.  Well, he got growled at when he tried to take it.  We just weren't thinking that it would be an issue since it wasn't her bone or her food.  So, be very careful.  I've managed to get this issue under control for the most part, we don't have the stiffening, the growling, etc while she's eating anymore.  We couldn't even walk by her at first without her stiffening.  But, still it's something I would NEVER trust completely.  And, I don't think your wrong at all for being concerned.