it sounds like it could be a touch of seperation anxiety to me? Both of mine suffered when they were young - my oldest more so, the youngest just wanted to be with my other dog! I used to stuff kongs with treats, or use a treat ball to give her something to do when we weren't here (they still get a kong on a morning when i go to work, more so out of habit than anything else, there's no issues with leaving them now at all (but then they are are 5 and 7!)). When getting the first used to being left alone, i'd just walk out of the room she was in, shut the door, then walk back in (followed by ignoring her until she excitement of seeing me had worn off), building up the length of time i was out of the room. Or i'd go out of the back door, come back in, come in the front, vice versa etc, again, building up the length of time i was out. Eventually she learned i was always going to come back, and soon chilled out :) Your friend could always leave something of hers with the pup, too? I had a pair of slippers which my oldest would carry round and snuggle up with. Wherever they were, she'd be. I lost track of how many times i'd have to go out to the garage with a pair of heels on because she had the slippers!
This is pretty good.