Non-Stop Barking and Crying in Play Pen

Hi All!

I hope someone can help me with our little bichon situation. Recently, my husband and I brought home a 8 weeks old bichon frise. The first two nights were awful for the three of us, but now our little girl is starting to sleep and most days only wakes up one or two times. I thought that just as she got used to her crate at night, she would get used to her play pen as well, unfortunately, that did not happen. She only spends one or three hours per day on it. However, she barks/cries/whines uncontrollably the whole time she is there. We are at a loss as to what to do. For now I am home and can spend quite of bit of time monitoring her, but in a few months I will be back at the office and I want to make sure she is prepared to spend some time alone during the day without becoming despondent or depressed. Yesterday, she stopped barking at 2.5 hours mark. I don’t want her to go on like that for so long, but also I don’t want to teach her that barking whining gets her way.

She has a little crate in her play pen with a comfy bed, she also has water, toys (even a stuffed animal, about her size), and a potty patch (Which she has been really good about using even when she has a temper fit). I give her a treat when I leave but nothing seems to work. The play pen is near the dinning table in which I seat with my computer and do work, even when she can see me she barks/cries/whines. I need to do work during the day and I also need her to learn to be on her own and be ok. I think, that having her with me, by my side 100% of the time, would be a disservice to her because of its long term consequences. Please note, I take her out every hour, and I feed her on a schedule, she has stimulation, and we both dote on her…so what do we do? How do we help her get use to her play pen?

Thank you so much for any help/advice.