Well, I think taking him with me to work, and almost everywhere else might have been a bad thing.
Yesterday the hubby and I went to the video store and put him in his crate and he tore up part of his bed and was panting/crying/barking when we got home.
I suppose I better start getting him used to staying in there for short times.
I am not sure if I can trust him outside of his crate or not. He did escape from it one time while we were gone and he was just hanging out when we got home, he calmly walked to the back door and greeted us. We ignored him, out of shock and not to encourage his Houdini routine. My husband forgot to latch the bottom part of the crate door, so he must of squeezed out. The issue is, we have brand new living and dining room furniture that isnt' even paid for yet.
:/
We tried gating him out of the living/diningroom when we first got him, but as soon I went through the gate, he waited a few minutes and vaulted it effortlessly.
I was home this morning and slept in a bit while my husband went to work, and he was crying/whining/barking in the crate intermittently. So when I got up I didn't even go in the room with the crate, I ignored him , had breakfast, made coffee, etc. When I went into the crate room (My office) I did some work on the computer while ignoring him still I didn't let him out yet, and he was quiet. Once he laid down and relaxed I let him out, and didn't make a big deal of anything.
I never let him push me or nudge me to be petted, I keep that all on my terms.
I was thinking about getting him some 'smart toys' and stuffing kongs, etc.
Today I have to go into work for just an hour or so, and I have some errands to run.
I am thinking I should probably leave him home alone in the crate?
Sorry for so many questions/thoughts.
Our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was easy going and didn't have any of these issues, but we also had him pretty much since he was ready to leave his mother. Heck I was the first person who ever touched him (the doctor and I did an emergency c-section on his mama because my dog was stuck in the birth canal. I had to revive him, he was blue and barely breathing! The breeder gave Doc and I each a puppy in exchage for the c-section)
The dogs I had before Jack the Cav and Flip were greyhounds, who are not puppies and different issues.
Any advice???
Thanks guys.

hwell: