Adopted Lab tested Beagle

I am in need of advice. 6 months ago we adopted a 5-6 year old Beagle that spent his entire life in a crate inside a research lab. Cody has made amaaaazing strides! He's a happy crazy loving dog, here at home. He does really well at the dog park...socializing with other dogs and even with the (regular) people there. A few he greets with a wagging tail and will jump up on then, or sit next to them for a few pats and ear rubs.
   
The problem.....my husband, Tony, works out of town constantly. So it has been more difficult for him and Cody to bond. But it seems to be getting worse instead of better. Tony has been home for 3 days now. Cody will not come into the kitchen to eat, drink or go outside. Cody will (sometimes) eat if I bring it to him. But yet, I took him to the dog park today...and he was fine.
   
My husband is extremely patient and accepting with Cody. Sometimes Cody will let Tony pet him, but others he backs off. One day Cody will jump on the bed with us, the next time not.
   
I'm sorry this is so lengthy!

The problem with your post was not in its length, it was that it concluded without you ever asking a specific question.
   
However, based on the information you gave, I am guessing that you want to know if the bonding process between your husband and pet can be accelerated so my response is predicated on this assumption.
   
Quite honestly it seems as though you and Tony are doing everything right so if this were me I would stay the course.
   
You could try little things like having Tony show Cody a truly magnificent treat, such as sausage.
   
Just have Tony show Cody the sausage and maybe say, "Cody, I have a sausage" in a normal tone of voice and let Cody think about it but Tony is not to make a move. If Cody wants the sausage, he must go to Tony to get it.
   
If he doesn't, no biggie. Keep trying. If he does, great. He is praised and maybe Tony can even get a quick pet in.
   
The idea is for Cody to associate wonderful things with Tony's presence and getting a sausage is wonderful.
   
As they become more chummy you want to back off on ths sausages or replace them with a healthy treat like carrots. Otherwise Cody will become fatter than a pig and you don't want to stuff him to death.
   
You could also try giving Cody a 'group walk' if Cody enjoys his walks and you have been doing most of the walking.
   
Start off with you holding the leash and the three of you go off together. You should talk to both Cody and Tony in a normal voice and Tony can reply in a normal voice when appropriate.
   
You are just a couple walking their dog together. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just two people and their dog.
   
As the walk progresses, hand the leash over to Tony. Do not say anything to either Tony or Cody. Simply give the leash to Tony and the three of you continue your normal, run-of-the-mill walk as if nothing new happened.
   
If you do not make a big deal out of Tony taking the leash, then Cody might not, either, especially if he is not immediately aware of it.
   
When he does realize the switch, he may think, "Well, nothing changed. I'm still enjoying my walk. What do I care who has the leash?" and continue.
   
This will be a step toward him bonding with Tony because while it does not seem like you are doing much when you are walking a dog, it is bonding time and he might realize that since nothing big happened when Tony took the leash then maybe Tony is worthy of his attention.
   
Do you always serve Cody his meals? When Tony is home, let this become his job.
   
Be sure Cody sees Tony preparing his dish and putting it down for him.
   
Being the person in control of the food nearly always moves a human up on a dog's 'like' scale so even if Cody doesn't rush up to eat his food until after Tony has backed away, you can be sure that Cody took note of who placed it there for him to eat, so this is an easy way for Tony to earn 'brownie points' with Cody.
   
It seems to me that things are actually going rather well for you when one considers the life Cody had before you took him in so I think it is really only a matter of time.
   
Good luck to you, hope this progresses well and the three of you enjoy many happy years together.
   

Thank you very much for your advice. My apology for not posing a direct question. Emotions were running high as I typed.