The growling is another behaviorial attribute usually associated with dominance. He's staking his territory. It happens. It can also happen when a dog is in pain, or not feeling well.
This is a hard answer because it's difficult to see exactly what is going on, but I can tell you that I would be trying to put a stop to it immediately. My answer is based on a behavioral problem. A physical problem that has Floyd in pain can't be ruled out either.
All of my male dogs at one time or the other tested me in pretty much the same manner, the difference is that they were all 12 months + older than Floyd. Every one of them was immediately flipped over onto their backs, and very quickly found the inside of their kennels. I wasn't cruel about it, but I wasn't nice either. I then let them out and held their food bowl in my hands. If they wanted to eat, they were going to do it on my terms. If they growled while eating, the s_ _t hit the fan again. When they were eating, I intentionally took the food bowl away, and gave it back repeatedly. If they growled, or snapped it was dealt with on the spot. I put my hand into the bowl while they were eating and took dog food away and added it. I gave them bones while holding onto one end and then taking it away and .giving it back.
I never permanently took the food away, or took it out of their sight. It was always there and they always got it in the end. They could see it, and smell it, but they weren't going to have it on their own terms.
My caution would be to make sure there is nothing physically wrong with Floyd first that is causing this. The times I have gotten after my dogs for something, only to later find that they were in physical discomfort, left me feeling like a real schmuck.
This is a hard answer because it's difficult to see exactly what is going on, but I can tell you that I would be trying to put a stop to it immediately. My answer is based on a behavioral problem. A physical problem that has Floyd in pain can't be ruled out either.
All of my male dogs at one time or the other tested me in pretty much the same manner, the difference is that they were all 12 months + older than Floyd. Every one of them was immediately flipped over onto their backs, and very quickly found the inside of their kennels. I wasn't cruel about it, but I wasn't nice either. I then let them out and held their food bowl in my hands. If they wanted to eat, they were going to do it on my terms. If they growled while eating, the s_ _t hit the fan again. When they were eating, I intentionally took the food bowl away, and gave it back repeatedly. If they growled, or snapped it was dealt with on the spot. I put my hand into the bowl while they were eating and took dog food away and added it. I gave them bones while holding onto one end and then taking it away and .giving it back.
I never permanently took the food away, or took it out of their sight. It was always there and they always got it in the end. They could see it, and smell it, but they weren't going to have it on their own terms.
My caution would be to make sure there is nothing physically wrong with Floyd first that is causing this. The times I have gotten after my dogs for something, only to later find that they were in physical discomfort, left me feeling like a real schmuck.