We have a gorgeous 8 week old Chi named Kratos. We brought him home on July 4th, and last week he nearly died from some unknown virus/bacterial infection. Thank goodness we have an awesome vet and they were able to save him. Our problem is that he CANNOT tolerate being left alone. If we walk out of the room and he cannot see us he goes crazy!!!! We purchased a puppy "playpen" for him to sleep in, and stay in when we aren't home so he would have room to play and sleep etc, but he will have nothing to do with it. If we try to ignore him, he hollers so long that he actually makes himself vomit. I will have to be returning to work in the next couple of weeks, and my son starts back to school in a couple of weeks. That means that the puppy will be alone about 9 hours a day. Please help me with any advice that you may have as to how we may train him to accept his playpen as a refuge, and not punishment. I was told not to leave him whining and yelping, that we may come back to a dead puppy!!!!