This one is an interesting one because this guy has been paying rent for a whole year, so there is a track record of good behaviour to go on. 

If bad behaviour was a protected class, man would people have a field day.

I can teach someone construction and remodeling but I can't teach interpersonal skills.

Not a Real Estate book, but How to Win Friends and Influence People is priceless in teaching interpersonal skills that are critical to making good deals happen.  

Unless he breaks a law, I'd suggest you stay out of your tenant's interpersonal relationships.

My take on the curt behaviour; they know their dog is going to get them booted and they have their heads in the sand.

It also runs the risk of increased liability, a tenant getting a "god complex", inter-personal conflicts, etc.There's nothing wrong with hiring a tenant for minor landscaping or snow removal but make sure you talk to your insurance company first to verify you're covered if something happens.

It is a form of extorsion that many tenants are using now to extract money from landlords for their bad behaviour.

If they think they are paying for heat directly, they might change their behaviour-they may not. 

So to stop being so long winded my post is really more about where is the opportunity for me to leverage my high level of interpersonal skills, relationship building, ability to communicate effectively and work ethic in to an advantage for me and whomever I can help along my journey.