We have crated our 4-year old dog since she was a puppy during our work day. We have tried many times over the years to "house-break" her as we truly hate having her in a crate all day. She is such a great dog all the time except when we leave her for the day uncrated. She tears up curtains, clothes, etc. and seems to go to her crate even when we are home. I know she would rather have free reign of the house, but after one or two days of giving a go - she reverts back to this behavior. How can we slowly remove the crate from her and our lives so she can roam freely throughout the day ?

I would leave well enough alone. When you have tried leaving her loose, did you leave her crate available with the door open? The crate provides both security and protection to the dog. Being crated also makes it easier to go with eliminating. I see no reason to take the dog's crate away. We don't even leave our 13 year old Lab loose in the house when we aren't around.