Follow-up to bed chewing while in crate question

Question
I just read your response to someone's question about their 11-month old puppy who chews her bed/towel while in her crate. You recommend actually letting the dog out of the crate during the day for short periods of time while you're out, gradually increasing the amount of time you're gone.  Unfortunately for us, we both work all day and this isn't an option. And for the stray pup we brought into the house about 6 months ago (we're guessing he's now no older than 18 months old), he seems bound and determined to ignore every toy and bone we put in the crate with him, and instead completely destroys the bedding (things with fluff are fun, apparently). My husband feels bad that I've reduced the dog to sleeping on one thin blanket and just the plastic bottom of the crate, but we've dumped hundreds of dollars into beds for this dog and there's no stopping him. Our older dog roams the house free, but he's 6 and has earned the trust we have in him (and believe me, the older dog spent his fair share of time in the crate as a puppy too).  Short of waiting until the dog is older, is there anything you suggest?  He's been neutered already. I KNOW he has boredom and anxiety issues, especially when my husband leaves the house (he whines when Rob just goes out to the car to get something).  Should we try to medicate him?? Or is a hard plastic bottom of a crate really all that bad for a dog we rescued from near death?  Thanks!!

Answer
If your dog is reliably house trained (and at 11 months, HE SHOULD be) there's NO NEED to crate him at all.  You're effectively setting this dog up for separation anxiety (and he's demonstrating this by destroying his bedding.)  No dog should be crated for more than four hours at a time; it's not humane.  The fair thing to do is confine him to a room where he can do minimal damage if he urinates/defecates, and that would be the kitchen or laundry room area (even a good sized bathroom). You can use a coated wire gate (or even two, one on top of the other) rather than closing a door on him.  Anxiety is preventing this dog from giving any attention to toys or treats in his cage (hint: try climbing into that cage and closing the door, then stay in there for an hour, see how you feel.)  Worst case scenario: he has an accident or two on the linoleum (or tile, etc.), in which case you reinforce his house training skills by going OUT with him EVERY TIME and rewarding/praising his appropriate elimination.  By destroying his bedding, your dog is demonstrating barrier frustration.  At some point, he may attempt to get out of the crate and seriously injure himself.