Many ducks are welcomed in to human friend's and family's homes. You could take a well behaved duck to an outdoor event. Ducks can be taught to perform a few tricks and to have manners. A well behaved duck that arrives in a clean diaper, that is changed when needed, but not on the carpeted areas of a person's home, might be welcome to several people's home. But never expect homeowners to put their own pets in back rooms for your duck's arrival. Always ask ahead of time if your houseduck is welcome to come along with you when you visit (even those that own houseducks themselves). And always, always, always, just as you would with a human baby, carry more diapers then you think you will need as well as extra clean Diaper Holders.

Just remember, and don't get angry about it, not everyone everywhere will welcome your duck to visit their homes and or events. And of course, I should not have to say this, but for the those that do not think about it before doing things, don't take your duck where it will not be safe. Think it through before taking your duck with you when you leave home.

IF YOU TAKE YOUR DUCK OUT AND ABOUT YOU MUST WATCH OUT FOR THE STUPID PEOPLE. STUPID PEOPLE WILL RUN UP TO YOUR DUCK AND GRAB AT IT. STUPID PEOPLE HAVE CHILDREN AND THEY BELIEVE THAT THEIR LITTLE DARLINGS HAVE A RIGHT TO RUN UP TO YOUR DUCK AND GRAB AT IT AND HOLD IT AND....WELL, YOU GET THE PICTURE. STUPID PEOPLE ALSO OWN DOGS AND THINK THAT THE WORLD IS RAINBOWS AND LOLLIPOPS AND THAT THEIR DOGS JUST WANT TO SEE AND LICK YOUR DUCK, AND THAT YOU SHOULD LET THEIR DOG CLOSE TO YOUR DUCK.

MOST STUPID PEOPLE DON'T MEAN TO BE STUPID. MANY JUST DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER. PEOPLE ARE NOT RAISED WITH ANIMALS AND OR PETS AND THEY JUST DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT ANIMALS DON'T ALWAYS GET ALONG WITH ONE ANOTHER. THEY BELIEVE IN RAINBOWS AND LOLLIPOPS AND EVERYONE GETS/SHOULD GET ALONG.

BE THE SMART ONE. STOP STUPID PEOPLE BEFORE THEY REACH YOUR DUCK. TELL THEM THAT YOUR DUCK DOES NOT LIKE STRANGERS. TELL THEM THAT THEIR DOG JUST MIGHT BITE YOUR DUCK'S HEAD OFF.

I encountered this at a Pet Store, see photo, this dog walked up to my dog and stroller with my two goslings in it fast and silent. So be aware, very aware, as I think I always am......luckily this dog left as quick as it came, with the dirty look I gave them and stepping between it and my own animals. Funny. I am sure they thought I was the rude one.

The safest place for your duck to be in a vehicle is inside a pet crate that is big enough for the duck to be comfortable and small enough that the duck will not slide around in. This way if you slam on the brakes or would be in an accident your duck would not "go flying"....and not the good and fun type flying that pet duck's dream of.

To teach this to your duck is really quite easy. Start from the beginning by putting the duckling inside a pet crate when you travel. Set the carrier so that the duckling or duck can see you or others in the vehicle. If it squalls, do not get it out and set it on your lap. This is how it learns. If you teach it that it must stay there, it will settle down and do just that. If you teach your duckling that if it squalls you will get it out, baby it, hold it and make a fuss over it, your duck will SQUAAAAAAAAAAALLLLL every time it is put into a pet crate.

Remember, if your duck travels without a Diaper Holder on, you will not want it inside a barred pet crate. Without a diaper, your duck should ride inside a plastic sided pet crate so that poop is not "flying" in your vehicle.

Some pet ducks will learn to ride in a Pet Carrier. There are all types, sizes and designs of Pet Carriers on the market. Some look like purses, some like backpacks, some are backpacks. The type you chose is up to you, but the training will be the same. Your Pet Carrier needs to be big enough and study enough for the full grown pet duck to ride in safely and comfortably.

Training your duckling or duck to ride in a Pet Carrier is not hard at all. If you have carried your duck around in your arms (who has not?) training your duck to the Pet Carrier will be easy.

Put your duck in the carrier and give it a feed treat. Make a fuss over the duck being inside the carrier. Pick up the Carrier with the duck in it and hold next to your chest (even if the pack is a back pack) and carry it. Most likely, the duck will not change behavior at all. Carry your duck inside the Carrier several times per day and carry it in front of you. Do this a couple of days. After that you can hook the Carrier as it was intended with the duck inside of it. IF YOU HAVE LONG HAIR AND ARE USING A BACKPACK FOR YOUR DUCK, you will want to tie your hair back and up so that the duck does not chew on it, or chew it off, as you walk about.

More and more people are putting their pets in a stroller, first made for human children, now for pets, and taking them along with them all over the place. This is a safe place for them to ride and many have netting over the front so that the pet can not get out and strangers can not reach in. The strollers are a nice item for short legged pets, or pets that need to be in your arms but get heavy to ride in.

To train your duck to ride comfortably in a stroller, just start taking it for short rides with the front of the netting closed or if there is no netting on your stroller, set the duckling or duck into a small crate with the crate in the seat of the stroller. Take a very short walk to start. Take a short walk each day and lengthen the walk each day. Soon your duck will look very forward to the ride in the stroller....and your dog might be a bit jealous and want to ride too.

These photos are of my goslings first ride in the stroller I bought for $1 at a Thrift Store. I wanted to start getting the goslings used to riding in the stroller right away and plan to give them a little ride each day for a while, just around the house.

It sounds real cute and for some people going some places, this might work. However. A wagon is pulled behind you, not like a stroller in front of you. It is open and flatter and unless you put your duck into a crate or small cage or basket, inside the wagon, the duck could jump out of the wagon, dogs or people can walk right up and scare or grab your duck. Think this item out real well before using a wagon to pull your duck in. But the training is the same as it would be for a stroller.

If you do chose to use a wagon for your duck to ride in, keep in mind that a wagon is not as smooth as ride a stroller or a pet carrier. On bumpy ground, such as at parks and or fairs, it will not be a fun ride for your duck. So train first on solid ground (pavement) and add a soft cushion to the bed of the wagon. Remember that wagons can also be very loud.

You might even have a spotter or two. Someone to walk on the side or behind the wagon to help keep and eye on things in and around the wagon. But just think how cute your duck will be riding in a little red wagon in your local parade!

Most people reading this do not have to be told that taking your duck where it is unwelcomed or unwanted is almost as bad as taking it somewhere where it will be unsafe. It is just not a good idea for so many reasons. The bottom line is, you can not take your duck everywhere with you. But there are some places you can and will want to take your pet duck. Be a responsible Duck owner and know the difference and keep your duck safe.

The Local Dog Park is not the place for your goose, duck or chicken, to go and walk around. Why? Dogs. Dogs might/will/can/do go after ducks to or for the chase, kill and perhaps eat your duck. Dogs are loose in a Dog Park and no owner of a dog could be fast enough to stop their dog if you walk in with a loose duck or even if your bird was on a leash.

This is a photo of me (Marna Holt Kazmaier) with Petey and Zamboni, I used to sled dog race and participate in other dog sports with theses two. As trained and well behaved as they were, they would have eaten a "farm bird" in an instant!

If your duck is wearing a diaper and a leash, or will be carried or ride in a cart, any pet store the welcomes pets would get a big kick out of your duck in a diaper coming in for a visit. Let your duck walk down the Parrot Toy isle, it might just pick out a toy it would like for your to purchase for it.

Some Farm Stores and or Feed Stores will get a kick out of you showing up with your pet duck. They might just call in all the employees to have a look and fuss over you diapered baby. Any store where pets are welcome and they're there on a leash. Dogs loose will come after your duck. So chose the stores and other places you take your duck wisely.

This is a photo of our gosling at a Pet Store. Everyone loved seeing the goslings there and stopped to look at them.

Oh my. So fun to show off our pets at fairs of all sorts. A well mannered duck can be quite the ambassador for their species to so many people in one day. You might even wind up in the newspaper with a photo of your duck at the Fair.

Some ducks are IN the fair. County Fairs all over the Nation have Ducks on display that will be judged for their closeness to the Standard of the Breed and beauty. Your duck may not be welcome at such a fair. The ducks on display might be at health risk if the board let everyone bring in their animals to gauck at them.

Call ahead and find out if pets on a leash or in a stroller are welcome to the Fair you will be attending before heading out to be stopped at the gates. Some Fairs, such as Renaissance Fairs, charge full admission for your pets to visit the Fair with you.

Always remember, even if your pet is welcome at a fair, that you will not be able to do as much there as you might if you left the pet at home. When it is hot, you will not be able to stop on the way to or from the fair for a bite to eat leaving the pet in the hot vehicle. Your pet at a fair may also be the reason you will have to leave early or not attend a particular event.

Again, be sure you want to take your duck with you. You will not be able to move about, go indoors, move about tables, as easily with your duck with you. Human Children will have to be watched with your duck at all times, as well as those that have had tooooo much to drink. If you are planning to play games, drink, leave with friends to come back later. Either take a crate for your duck, or better yet, leave the duck at home. Duck's safety first.

Saturday morning Farmers Markets, Flea Markets, Festival Vendors Lanes. Most of us love them. Many of us go just for something to do. To see and be seen. Why not take your well behaved, diapered duck with you? Do they allow pets? If they do if you are careful and watch out for dogs and children, you and your duck can have a fun event by going. If they are selling vegetables and fruits make sure your duck can not reach them or it might cost you quite a bit. Ducks are also drawn to shiny items, be very aware of the things your duck can reach and break or take. And be very aware of who can reach your duck.

On the other side of the coin why not let your duck pick out a few things too? At Open Veggie Markets, some greens. At Flea Markets and Garage Sales, a couple of safe for a duck toys. If you are going to take your duck with you, let them have some fun too.

Need I say? Do I need to tell you? That taking a houseduck to a Hotel Room is asking for trouble that will cost you financially? You better ask special permission to take your duck into a Hotel Room. Even then be prepared to be put out if your duck is loud and to pay extra for any mess your duck might make, including the bath tub. I have however taken our geese to Hotel Rooms with no problems at all. I did however take their crate with us.

Camping? Maybe. If you are going to take your duck anywhere overnight, be sure to take your duck's crate with you. You will need to line it with a blanket as your shavings or straw will make a mess that others are not going to want to deal with. If you take your duck camping be prepared to watch it at all times as you would a human child. If there are loose dogs around (ever been camping when that were not true?) you will have to keep your duck on your lap. Of course you will have to watch your duck around the fire, the food, the drinks, the tent, the tent guy wires..... And. If you are in a public area, you will need to keep your duck very quite.

Of course if your duck travels with your in your own Motor Home, the he is really just in his second home. Where ever your destination keep in mind that your duck will be with you 24/7 and will need to be cared for. Can it go with you when you tour? Can you leave the air conditioning or heater on if needed when you are away and the duck has to stay behind in the motor home? But as you can see in Jen's photo Soprano traveled in style.

Some people should not take themselves into the Local Bar but they do, then they stumble out, thinking they are cute and funny and attractive....but they are not. Those people should not take a pet with them when they go.

Then there are folks that go and are responsible, they play pool, visit with the folks there, dance, maybe sing a Karoke song and have a great time....but would they be able to keep an eye on their pet? Some people go to the Local Bar for one beer/drink, maybe two, sit at the bar and then go home. Maybe those folks would or could take a pet with them.

But then there is another side of the coin. Does the Bar serve food? Do they allow people to bring pets with them when they come to the Bar? If so, how many other people bring pets and what sorts of pets? Dogs? Dogs they are not watching? This could certainly put your pet duck at risk, a risk not taking.

Of course it is up to the pet owner to make these decision, but think. Don't put your pet at risk.

So you have this adorable pet that everyone you know and meet thinks is the cutest thing they have seen in quite sometime. Your duck follows you everywhere and so you are thinking about taking your duck and joining in a local parade. Nothing wrong with that, if you and your duck are prepared. How do you prepare?

How is your duck with crowds? And how does your duck enjoy loud, really loud marching bands? Has your duck ever seen horse poop? (many ducks "dig in" it for a treat) Will the pavement it is walking down going to be hot on it's webbed bare feet? Or is there snow on the ground? How many dog groups will be there that day? And speaking of dogs, you need to be very aware of dogs and children watching the parade that might come out to "see" or "get" your duck. If your duck is good to go, have at it. If not, well then you need to prepare before entering your duck in any parades.

First of all, most parades are in the summer and the pavement is hot. You might think about having some special booties made up for your duck to walk in. The best way to find out how your duck will behave IN a parade is to take your duck TO a parade as a spectator.

Once you think your duck is ready to be IN the parade, go and talk to the hosts of the parade you will be entering. Ask them to not put your line up in front of a marching band or behind horse units. Ask how far the parade route is. A mile is too long for your duck to be expected to walk along in a stressful situation such as a parade. Remember, your duck has short legs and parades are on pavement.

I would highly recommend that if you are going to have your duck in a parade, have it in a diaper holder with a thicker then usual diaper within. Today's parade watchers seem to not have a clue about animal poop and freak out when they see it. <sigh, I know> If you are going to have your duck wear a hat or skirt or other clothing/costume, get the duck used to wearing it around home as it follows you wearing it.

Don't leave your duck for one minute alone at the parade site. It could be stolen. If the day turns out to be really hot or really cold, stay home. It will not be fun for your duck, or probably you.

Take a bowl and water for your duck to drink while at the parade. The water might also distract your duck calm it down if it gets wound up. Take a treat for your duck too.

If you do decide to take your duck and participate in a parade you might take your dog with you. The dog might help the duck feel more comfortable. If you have friends with ducks...... well, why not.

I will bet your are thinking, no, never. But that is not true. While you might not take a pet duck to Church each week there are times ducks and other animals are welcome to come to Church. Some Churches have Blessing of the Animals once a year and people are encouraged to bring their pets with them to Church. Then, many Christian Churches have Live Nativities. I would bet that most of these Churches would LOVE for you to volunteer your duck (with you) at the Manger Scene.

That's right, Therapy Ducks. If your duck is tame and wears a diaper, especially if it is friendly, people would love to see them come and visit. If you are wondering how to get started taking your duck to these places, call or email them. Tell them you have a house duck that is friendly that wears a diaper and you would like to share the duck with others and visit once or even frequently. You can also stop by and talk to these places and if you should, take your clean, fresh diapered duck with you to meet the managers so they can see your pet and see how clean it is.

When visiting schools you may want to give a talk about ducks and their care. Talk about what it takes to own a houseduck. Take an extra clean diaper holder with you as well as a clean feeding crock so that they can see what you are telling them in your talk. Be sure to tell the kids in the schools that taking care of a duck is like having a baby that needs much care...not quite as easy as the popular TV shows (now off the air) makes it look.

If your duck can do a trick or a task or come to it's name, show them. Everyone loves this sort of thing. You and especially your duck will be an ambassador in these places more then anywhere else you take it. Here you are educating and letting folks up close and personal with your duck.

KEEP IT SAFE FOR YOUR DUCK AT ALL TIMES. You are not only responsible for the safety and health of your duck, you will feel awful if something happens to your duck you could have prevented. Have fun. Let your duck have fun. But don't take chances with your ducks health or safety.