Let's see if anyone finds this thread, since it'll be buried in a sub-category of the Training & Behavior forums!
Ruby immediately took to her crate when we first adopted her. She's never refused to go in it or shown indication that she wants to get out.
This summer when we had our annual block party/BBQ in the cul-de-sac right outside our dining windows, we crated her so she wouldn't bark/howl at the windows. At one point, we looked up, and there she was watching us. She'd pushed open the door on her crate, which is one of those airline travel crates, with the metal criss/cross door that you need to squeeze the top and bottom of the latch to open it. Oddly enough, she pushed out the OTHER side (not the side with the latch). The next day she resumed her normal crate routine when we went to work, no issues since.
Today, we had plumbers doing work at the house. She met them when they came in, but once they got working outside, I crated her and went to work (she went in fine). DH came home at lunch, and she greeted him at the door! She went back in her crate calmly when he left. Lo and behold, I came home from work later in the afternoon, and she greeted me at the door! We assume she heard them outside and wanted to investigate.
We've no idea how she gets that door off (it's HARD to get it back in!). No injuries to her paws (maybe she's head-butting the door to push it out??). Wish we had a video! We're concerned she's stressed enough to want out so badly that she goes that far. I told DH maybe she's trying to tell us, "I'm a big girl now; I can stay loose in the house!"
We've always crated dogs for THEIR safety, not concern for anything in our house. We've not had destructive dogs, luckily, but they didn't have the opportunity while we were at work. We'd feel better about leaving her for blocks of time if she were more comfy on the couch or in her dog bed, etc. So, should we trust her and give her some freedom, despite the potential risks to her safety if she got into something that could hurt her?
I know we can just do some trial runs for short periods and see how it goes, but I just wondered if anyone has any thoughts on the subject before we change our routine.