need help with dog anxiety

I had a friend who had this same problem with a boxer. Tried all different types of crates and he destoyed each one injuring himself in the process. Was overheated and foaming at the mouth. They gave up and left him loose in the blocked off kitchen where there was linoleum. Problems stopped - he simply hated being crated. He now can be left along and is free to go into any part of the house and is now 5 years old. My personal feeling is that a crate should be the dog's "safe place" and not simply the place you lock them up at while you go away.

PS - because we have always had rescued puppy mill dogs that lived in kennels/crates for years, we have never used a kennel or crate and have not allowed them to ever be put back in one again.