Bubba is pretty similar, we use the crate strictly for sleep and down time. For when he has free time, we have designated a mobile pen that can move around it's about 2X3 foot and I put his favorite toys in there. This pen is either in the office (days) or living room (evenings).
Still there are times I must leave the room, the command quiet has come in handy. Start off for just a minute, he'll know you will come back. Also, I don't allow anxious pacing just because I'm not paying attention or because I am about to walk out of the room, so I immediately give him the sit command, tell him what a good big boy he is, if he attempts to pace again, sit command, but if he gets a toy I tell him that's a goooood choice.
I try to set Bubba up for success, I only give commands he knows and can execute. For the quiet command, just shush abruptly, and follow with quiet, when he minds praise him, pet and love on him. Talk to him as you leave the room, first sign of a wimper, correct, praise, keep him engaged after the positive reinforcement.
If Bubba does not want to play and I have already excercised him, back to the crate for down time. The crate is not a time out but his resting place. The pen is only for play, not for rest. I find that keeping everything separate for Bubba is much less confusing for him. Also, after one solid week of separate areas routinely used, he just knew; crate=sleep and pen=play. There is also a seperate area gated off in the kitchen that we only use for feeding, he sits super fast and still in that one
he knows this is where I get warm carrots and num num. My dh put him there yesterday just to contain him while he walked outside to let the big dog off, came back in, picked Bubba up and proceeded to bring him into the office, Bubba wimpered the whole way because he was in the num num pen and was wronged by dad
we laughed but Bubba was right, we were the ones that failed him that time.
For Bubba, strict routine works best, without it, he'll have an accident now and again, he'll chew bedding because he wasn't exercised enough or not enough play time. With routine he is most successful, I am truly very blessed to have the opportunity to be home with him and train him. He is my little buddy and I want to make him as happy as he makes me.
Good luck with Joel, be patient and quick to forgive and forget, because they certainly do
Keep us posted and sorry for rambling
