It does sound like something else is going on. The only thing I can suggest is having a real talk with him - don't blame or criticize, explain your concerns and try to get to the bottom of what is really driving his behavior. It could be anything. Maybe it's because he feels that he feels left out, either by the dogs or by you, which can be fixed if he gets more attention from the appropriate party.
Or maybe he is upset about some other issue and is being passive aggressive.
I think it's pretty common that one "parent" is the fun one. Perhaps he can be the fun one in a more constructive way, by teaching them tricks, taking them to the park, or just chasing them around the house.