[lucynfred]

I am doing this same thing -- the kennel thing -- with Luca Dean and he can sit in there for however long without whining as long as we are around. He still whines and cries when we leave the apartment though. He knows he is not supposed to whine while in the kennel though -- he's learning. (Only been a week ... patience).

With my other dog, we would wear him out and then put him up, and now when he goes to his "place" (the bathroom when we leave b/c he CHEWS!) he goes in on his own and just falls asleep until we return. We never kenneled him; the bathroom is sorta his kennel.

Also, don't immediately let him out when you come home -- this helps prevent pups from being hyper when you come home. Once he's calmed down, then greet him.

I've heard changing your routine helps too. If the last thing you do before you leave is dry your hair, then try doing that first and makeup last -- they pick up on this little cues and start to get anxious about you leaving. Keys jingling is a big one ... you may take them out five minutes before you leave and jingle them, or just grab purse arbitrarily during the day ... things that will take the effect out of them.

GOOD LUCK! These