I adopted a "speagle" last Oct and when we first left him at home (as my partner and I work) he would whine all day and basically call out to anyone and everyone. We started with toys and that didnt last for very long but is worth a try. You can buy a Kong that retains biscuits and as they roll it around, the biscuits drop out. That will keep him busy for a while.
2nd thing we tried was a herbal mixture from the vet which is supposed to calm him (as it may be seperation anxiety). The only thing to watch out for is if his stool becomes loose continuously, then you will have to stop the herbal remedy. 3rd thing was to leave anything that has your scent on it as it may be a security issue with the dog. Other than that, I am pretty much out of ideas myself.