Food progress indeed!!!!!   YAY!!! I know you feel relieved  about that!  

Here's a link that has some good insight on food issues from Dr Dressler.  We have to remember  how they would eat "in the wild" 

https://www.dog.....-wont-eat/

Okay, not a dog trainer, but this is just stuff I've read, so take it for whatever it's  worth.   You may already know,  if a dog is giving  uou a "warning"  like a growl or a curled lip, they are asking you to back off.  It's actually  not a bad thing and should not be punished.  It's  like a human saying "leave me alone".  So you don't want to show anger, or punish, when he's trying to ask you to back off. Obviously, you never want it to go past the "warning".

At that point,  if it's  just at the growl phase, you can redirect his attention as quickly as possible  in a fun way.  Change YOUR attitude  instantly....sing a silly song....put a smile  on uour face... laugh.... maybe grab the leash and take him on a walk.

One more thing as far as "anticipatory  pain ", which he mayjave whenever you get near his amp site.   My tripawd Frankie is BERY, VERY reactive if he thinks for one second  I may be doing something  that could possibly  cause him the slightest ouch!  Or, if I ask him to move out of my spot in the bed so I can crawl in.  He protests very vocally with howls and shrill barks.  I laugh and ignore him,  he wags his tail.  Gra ted, he's not snarling or nipping.

Tune jnto Goliath's "signals" and interrupt it before it escalates.  Does his body stiffen first?  Does he drop his tail?  Little signs like that can be redirected in a fun way before they escalate.

And please, I am NOT a trainer and  NOT in any way shape or form giving  professional  advice, just stuff based on my own experience not what I've  read.

Because  eating has been such an issue and uour energy  has most likely been very tense and frustrating  and subtle anger when he doesn't  eat, he is relating you to that energy.  And it's  an e ey we all would have under those circumstances,  so we get it!!   Obviously  though, he doesn't  feel that energy from your brother.  He senses your brother's confidence and that gives him confidence  that everything is okay,  For now, most let your brother deal with the bandage and the food.  It will become  a non issue as you both settle into a place of calm and confidence.

Okay, enough  worthless ramblings!  

Celebrate that he IS eating and that really is a good rhing!!  He's  been through a lot in a short amount of time!  A human would be quite grumpy and not have much of an appetite either!

Hang in there!  

Hugs

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!