Had a training epiphany after re-reading some of the handouts I received. Our 5 year old grandson spent the night with us so I made sure I was downstairs during feeding time for the dogs. Toby was okay being in the kitchen for breakfast because I was there and took a few bites of his food. After that he did not want anymore.
When my daughter and son-in-law came to pick up Noah, we were sitting at the kitchen table talking and Toby came in to join us. Actually, he never went to 'his' room while they were there. I'm not sure if he thought we were eating and was just looking for some kind of treat or not. Anyway, he was happily going from person to person, including Ken. Ken, as always was rubbing his ears. It's then that I realized that Ken needed to be giving Toby his own verbal cues or rewards for coming up to him and asked him to come up with something so Toby would have a verbal reference/praise sounding something to connect with. Ken did and Toby's tail started to wag. Throughout the morning, Ken has been practicing this and it's making a little difference with Toby, especially when Ken comes into 'his' room. Toby doesn't move to the corner, or to me. He will allow Ken to talk to me and will even go up to him to sniff with his tail up.
Going out the door without a mad dash is still going good. Although yesterday a jet went over the house while he was outside. He stopped, looked up at the sky and his tail went down. I was watching and opened the door for him. He didn't run in like a maniac, but the sound was definitely a concern.
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