hi heated, both I think - they are used as gun dogs to lure ducks down and then retrieve the ducks that are shot, so they are trained to be good in water, and mine loves water too, they use them at Slimbridge (WWT) tohelp lure the wildfowl for tagging.
Myermay, my dog gets 45mins upwards excercise, that might just be a long walk, or a stroll around the park or local field with dd and doing lots of retrieving. They also have active minds and need to be kept interested, mine likes playing with a filled kong - he's doing it now, bouncing it about the house to get the treats out, and playing some fetch in the house and some training practise, I'm hoping to do agility when he's old enough - but more for my interest than because he needs it.
With crates they say keep them somewhere where people are around so they feel part of the pack and not isolated, mines in the lounge, I'd have it in the kitchen if there was room though. The size of the crate depends on the size of the dog, but you'll see loads for sale with dimensions on e-bay etc. I'd really recommend one, I've never had one before but my breeder recommended it and its been so helpful, get one with a metal base as it might chew plastic ones. I'd also say wait a couple of months until spring or early summer, much easier to housetrain when its not so muddy and the days are longer, and easier if the pups playing in the garden with the dcs. Although depending on what you decide to go for you might need to look for breeders soon.