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What is a day like for a duck dog. I am a true novice and have gained a lot of knowledge from some very helpful folks out there, but I would like to know how to structure the dogs day. How much time is the pup let out. Obviously to eat and use the bathroom and the time spent doing some training what else.

As a pup my dog only stayed out when I could watch him. As he progressed in training and learned to behave I was a little more lenient. Now he is by my side all the time when I am home. You will run into some people that only believe in dogs as a tool and will tell you different but my dogs get spoiled as long as they act correctly. Just an opinion and this has worked well for me.

I'm new to the lab puppy fraternity as well. So far, I've had Cooper about a month. He's a 13 week old black lab and our routine is such: He sleeps in a crate so I wake up, let him out to do his business and we'll get in a quick (10 minute) play time and practice his retreiving. I'll throw a paint roller, dead duck, or a frozen duck wing. I usually toss about 15-20 times. I let him mill around the house while I get ready. When I'm leaving, into the crate he goes. My office is 5 minutes from home so at lunch I'll swing by and let him out to pee and run around for a few minutes. I put him up and go back to work. After work, I get home and feed him. I let him out to do his buisiness and we do another brief retreiving play time. If I'm at home, he can stay in the den or kitchen area and play with is chew toys or maybe well do a little toss and fetch game inside. He gets lots of petting and "atta boy's" and encouragement.

I do get up to let him out once at night. He goes and comes right back in. I say "kennel" and he's back in the crate. As he gets a little older, I will just let him out when I get up in the morning.

He goes off to a trainer in July so I'm trying to get him prepared by reading and talking to folks with years of dog handling experience. So far it's been as rewarding as I had hoped!

Dr. B

Forget the "keep him in a Kennel all the time unless he's training" crap. He needs to run around and be nosey and investigate and get in trouble, or else he/she will never learn what is right or wrong. Get a book on collar conditioning and DO IT CORRECTLY!! ONLY if you don't have a bad temper at times. Use the Kennel for when your gone or when your asleep or traveling.