thanks for everyone's advice. now for the new situation on the crying thing. he is apparently an escape artist and can climb walls.
he did it twice today. I got a call from my daughter, who was sleeping at the time, and she said she woke up to a dog crying outside her door. he totally climbed the xpen AND a baby gate to get into the front room.
So now the xpen is pretty much useless for him. what a stinker!!!! I did not want to crate him during the day because there are times we are gone longer than others and I have heard not to crate them too long.
this guy is going to keep me on my toes!!!