Toby

UPDATE (July 15): Now known as "Toby Andrew Roberts"!!! Because he has officially been adopted by his AWESOME foster mommy and her incredible family!!!!!!!!!

UPDATE (May 22): From Toby's foster mommy ^^

"Toby has come so far!! I will start by saying that this guy is incredible! For as much as he has been through, Toby is the most trusting dog I think I have ever met. In our family he has improved ten fold. He loves my kids, and other kids now. He even gets excited when I pick the kids up from the school bus! He is growing attached to the baby as well, whereas before he would run away from her if she even looked at him. Now he stays and gives her kisses! He still runs away if the baby starts crawling towards him though. That is the cool thing about Toby, if he isn't sure of something, he will try to run away from it if he can.

Toby has had some aggression issues in the past. However, since the last update, I took the advice of several people and decided to muzzle train him. The muzzle calmed him down considerably. Once he had that on, I think he was rather ashamed but I also think he somehow felt safer with it on. At the bus stop with all the school kids, he would just lay at my feet all calm. On the flip side though, haha, all the kids wanted to pet Toby! He loved it! After using the muzzle for a couple of weeks, I felt that he didn't really need it anymore. I keep it around but for the most part, but he now knows that it is okay to ignore all the scary people that walk by him. Now we are working on being brave when people stop and stare at Toby. Apparently he is fun to just stand and stare at. Like most dogs, Toby hates being stared at; I hate it when people do it to him too.

Now for the part where I tell you what kind of family Toby needs. Toby has such a personality; he's really like a human. He has very specific preferences; for example, he does not seem to do well with Korean people; well, some of them. He likes people in their early to late 20's, but not older looking people; for example between 40 - 45. Toby has an uncanny ability to find the dog people too! Toby needs a family that knows how to care for a dog. Especially if they have children in the home. Toby needs to have space when it comes to kids, he will make friends with them on his own terms. My kids were not allowed to approach Toby unless he came to them first and that is the rule still. I would prefer Toby be a only "child" with a stay at home momma, but I know that is a small possibility.

Toby is getting over his anxiety issues at being left home alone for short periods of time. He does well with shorter periods, but he becomes destructive if left alone for longer periods of time. He is currently not crate-trained, but he is trained to our balcony and will bark for a little while, then settle down. He is not destructive when kept confined to the balcony when we are gone. Also, he loves going for car rides! We take him to the softball games with us and he loves it!

I love Toby like he is my own dog and I am sure if you could meet him you would too!

-Niki"

UPDATE (Apr. 8): Toby is such a sweetheart and his lovely foster mom has been working with him. However, Toby's random aggression is still a problem. There are just particular people he does not like. His foster mom loves him so much and does want to see him go back to the shelter but she can't seem to figure out why he acts that way and how to correct it. If anyone has any advice, or knows someone who is experienced with this type of behaviour who would want to foster him and help him get over this, please contact me :)

UPDATE (Feb.14): Toby is a wonderful dog who has had a rough time; I believe with minimal training, he will be the perfect pet. He's gone through a lot and has been living outside for months and then at a shelter so he's probably forgotten a little bit about what it's like to be an indoor pet but I am sure he is yearning for it. He's currently housed with a Jindo and they were doing fine until Toby was getting walks; and so Jindo got jealous and now corners Toby into his doghouse. Poor Toby is not aggressive and all and doesn't know how to stand up for himself. Please help us get him out! He was meant to be someone's loving companion.

UPDATE (Jan.25): Since Starla (fellow Yangju dog) went to her foster home today (yay!), Toby was moved to her kennel to keep her old kennelmate company. They seem to get along pretty well. He's been spoiled this week with 3 walks with me! He is coming out of his shell (he was VERY scared of the shelter environment at first) and getting his Labrador energy back. He would just love to go for a nice long run. The only problem Toby seems to have is he doesn't seem to like some people. He is fine with everyone who comes to the shelter, but the last few times I've walked him, he showed a dislike for certain ajummas or ajushees. He would give a warning growl, then lunge at them and start barking very loudly. I always was a safe distance away from people and held his leash tight so nothing bad happened. But I fear his previous owner who surrendered him; his family (perhaps mother) mistreated Toby. He's selective though, and is fine with other strangers we meet - I feel like he can sense people who are afraid of him because of his size/colour/breed and he doesn't like them. I will continue to observe his behaviour and work on this with him.

UPDATE (Jan. 22): I visited the shelter today and took Toby out for a nice long walk. He was great on leash as always and such a sweetheart. He is just as happy to sit with you and cuddle as he is to go for a walk. But I could tell he would LOOOVE to be able to run off-leash. Toby is honestly such a perfect dog and I am hoping to visit him as much as possible while I'm on vacation to make sure he doesn't lose hope. He was so excited to get out for a walk and really didn't want to go back in his kennel. But when we did have to go back, he ran straight for his doghouse and hid in there. He is not happy that the other dogs always bark at him and growl at him through the fence. Toby doesn't really care about other dogs when on walk, nor is he afraid of cars. He is interested in people though and for the most part very friendly. But he did not like a certain ajumma today for some reason and barked at her. He knows English commands but he is more treat-oriented; he can "sit" without a reward but only for a second. But with a treat, he can sit for a long time, and give paw too. This lovely boy should be in a shelter. Please consider fostering or adopting him. Take a look at his new pictures and videos ^^

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(Jan.13): Hello! My name is Toby. Yes, I know I am freakin adorable. But aside from my looks, I am also extremely sweet and affectionate. I walk great on leash, and am playful but not boisterous. I love people and am sort of nonchalant towards other dogs. I don't bark, and I love me a good snuggle. Everyone sort of falls in love with me; it can't be helped ^^

I am between 3-4 years old, and healthy (but a little skinny). I was adopted from a shelter in the states and lived as an indoor pet until my owner brought me to Korea about 4 months ago. I've been kept outside on a chain ever since and then they decided they just did not want me anymore; I don't know what I did wrong :(

So I was brought to the shelter and it is really not meant for me. I am very stressed because the other dogs bark all the time and they are mean. It's cold and lonely and all I want to do is hide in my house. But despite all this, I haven't lost faith in my 2-legged friends. I know there is someone out there who will love me for forever and give me the home I deserve ^^

Come and check me out for yourself; I guarantee you won't be able to leave me behind :D (my one fault is I'm a little conceited I guess ha ha).