I have a border who won't stop whining and he'll be 2 in April. My dog only whines when he is in his kennel and the cats are out where he can see them. I think he's just jealous and feeling left out when I put him in his crate. How can do I get him to stop it?

Also, whenever a friend comes to the house and I leave with them, he starts to bark. Doesn't happen when I leave alone, or my mom and I both leave, just with friends. THIS is a big problem because my mom goes to bed early and I tend to leave with friends around that time. How do I stop this? My mom has told me he barks non-stop for up to 1.5 when I leave with someone. I even tried letting him hang out with my friends and I before I leave but that didn't work.

What I've already tried and (obviously) hasn't worked...
-ignoring his whining/barking (4 months & when that didn't work I tried...)
-poking him (which I've continued in the last 6)
-lowering my voice

-staring him down
-basically asserting myself when I give a command
Allanas: I've tried meeting them in the street and he still knows. He's smart.