thanks for the advice
i got him an x-pen, hoping to fix the barking when i leave problem... nope, lol. he cannot stand it! he barks for soo long but i've just been dealing with it until he finally stops. i don't want him to think every time he barks, i'm going to come right to him. i play with him plenty... ahh! lol. if i'm sitting in the pen with him, he could care less about me and just sits and chews his toys, etc, but the minute i get out of it he barks and whines for me.