A complicated name doesn't mean a complicated dog: The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (affectionately known as the "Toller") is a rare breed. Thanks to its clever nature and charming personality, this breed has the potential to win many hearts.
Appearance of the Toller: What distinguishes the smallest Retriever breed?
This medium-sized breed weighs approx. 17 to 23kg and stands up to 51cm tall at the withers. Males are generally larger and heavier. The Toller is the smallest of the six Retriever breeds, which include the well-known Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever.
Often mistaken for a “Goldie”, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is actually more nimble and agile than its larger cousins.
Its fur is ideally suited for water work. The double coat is medium-length and soft, with even softer and very dense undercoat, offering optimal, water-repellent properties.
This means the Toller is well protected even in cold waters. Additionally, experts highlight its “feathering” – the long hair on its throat, behind its ears, on its tail, and the back of its upper and lower legs.
The Fox Among Dogs
The colour of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever coat ranges from orange-red to a deep red, often complemented by white markings on its paws, blaze, chest or tail tip. A Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever generally appears very alert, and not only shares its fur colour with the fox.
The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is related to the Labrador and the Golden Retriever.
Character of the Toller: Smart and Friendly
The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever loves to play. It is cheerful and very attentive, always eager not to miss its next task. Retrieving on land and in water is its great passion.
The breed is known for its intelligence and eagerness to learn. Tollers are affectionate and friendly towards their owners but can be indifferent or aloof with strangers.
While not aggressive, the Toller can certainly defend its territory by barking. These playful dogs are not prone to roaming or poaching.
Are Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers Suitable for Beginners?
A Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is eager to please. This makes it a joy to train, as the dog enjoys following commands.
Even beginners can teach their Toller obedience without issues. It is essential to have a basic understanding of dog communication and be consistent. The intelligent Toller also enjoys learning tricks.
With clear guidance and no harshness, the Toller is easy to train. Ideally, you should seek support from a dog school right from the puppy stage.
Acquisition: Is the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever a Family Dog?
A Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever thrives within its pack and is certainly suitable as a family dog. However, its family members should be active individuals. Otherwise, the lively red elf will find ways to entertain itself.
The breed also gets along well with other pets in the household.
What to Consider Before Adoption
Ensure there are no potential allergens in the family and that care arrangements during holiday or illness are in place. Pet owners who wish to travel with their dog now have many options. A well-behaved Toller is even welcomed in some hotels.
The breed generally remains energetic and playful into old age. This should also be taken into account before adopting a Toller.
It’s also wise to plan the monthly expenses for high-quality food and vet visits. Additionally, consider any unforeseen vet costs due to unexpected illnesses.
The breed generally remains energetic and playful into old age. This should also be taken into account before adopting a Toller.
Adorable puppies have a proud price, which they make up for with their cute looks.
Fun and Games: Keeping a Toller Busy
The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever loves swimming and retrieving. Intelligence toys are essential for this clever canine. The upside: You can train your favourite’s skills even on rainy days.
The Toller enjoys activities that require endurance and brains. This breed excels in dog sports like Agility or Flyball. Training as a rescue dog is also an option.
Taking Breaks is Important
An adult Toller will happily join you on bike rides, jogs, or woodland walks. However, it’s crucial not to turn your dog into an adrenaline junkie that never rests.
From the beginning, value cosy moments. A well-balanced Toller can thoroughly enjoy a lazy afternoon in its bed.
When engaging with this clever athlete, focus on stimulating its mind and nose. This way, the fox-coloured dog can become a great companion for active individuals without necessarily aiming for daily athletic achievements.
Many Tollers are big fans of water and love swimming and splashing around.
Nutrition: The Right Food for the Toller
A balanced diet is key to a long and happy dog life. The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever doesn’t have special dietary needs.
Choose a high-quality complete food that your dog enjoys. Whether you opt for dry food or wet food is entirely up to you.
Barfing as an Alternative to Traditional Dog Food
Some dog owners swear by “BARFing” – feeding dogs mostly fresh meat based on their ancestral diet.
This includes offal, vegetables and various supplements. Advocates claim that barfing is particularly species-appropriate, as the nutrients are tailored specifically to the dog’s needs.
However, dog owners should thoroughly research this topic. Dogs fed the wrong amount of nutrients can develop dangerous deficiencies. Always consult a vet or dog nutrition expert if uncertain. They can provide advice and support.
Dental Care Snacks and Water
For dental hygiene, specialised dental care snacks that promote chewing are useful. Also, don’t forget to always provide plenty of fresh water for your pet.
Coat Care: An Easy-Going Breed
The simple long hair needs minimal coat care. Regular brushing (at least once a week) usually suffices. Only the longer hair on the paws and ears occasionally needs detangling.
During seasonal shedding, Tollers lose a lot of hair. Brush your dog more frequently during this period to minimise hair loss in the home.
When it comes to cleanliness, you might need to turn a blind eye with Tollers due to their love of water. Even mud puddles can attract these red elves for a little splash.
Health: Good Breeding as the Best Preventive Measure
How Long Does a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Live?
A healthy Toller has a life expectancy of around 15 years and is often active into old age.
The breed is generally robust but can be prone to eye diseases. Elbow and hip dysplasia (ED and HD) are also not uncommon.
When buying a Toller, ensure preventative checks with the parents. Modern genetic tests can now identify eye diseases.
SRMA: Possibly Hereditary
Another common illness is SRMA (Meningitis-arteritis). It is suspected to be hereditary. Symptoms include sudden fever and a stiff posture.
Corticosteroid therapy can quickly alleviate symptoms but must be continued for months. SRMA can also become chronic. Critics of the Tollers’ purebred status argue that these hereditary diseases occur due to the breed’s small gene pool.
Controversy: Pure Breeding vs Crossbreeding
Prospective owners should research the debate around “pure breeding vs crossbreeding within the breed”. Some studies show that Tollers have an inbreeding coefficient of 26%, higher than that of full siblings.
While some Toller breeders still insist on pure breeding, there are also critics. They see the mating of dogs with similar genetic material as dangerous for the breed’s health.
Extensive Knowledge Required for Breeding
Some breeders attempt to mitigate this risk by deliberately crossbreeding with other breeds. Pure breeding proponents should always calculate the coefficient of relationship for any mating and be well-versed in the family tree to ensure only genetically distant Tollers are paired. This keeps the degree of relatedness low.
Regardless of which side a Toller breeder takes, genetic knowledge – which every breeder should have – is crucial for this breed.
History: Where Does the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Come From?
The breed was popular in Canada and the USA in the 19th century, though its exact origins are unclear.
The goal may have been to breed dogs that, like some foxes, lure ducks by playing along the shore. Indigenous people in Nova Scotia used the red dogs for duck hunting. Immigrants observed this and bred Collies, Spaniels, Setters and red Indian dogs in this direction.
The breed only established itself in Europe in the late 19th century, around 1880 in Denmark and 1884 in Sweden. However, they were known under different names like “Little River Duck Dog”.
Late Recognition
The breed was officially recognised quite recently. It wasn’t until 1946 that the Canadian Kennel Club listed the Toller.
International recognition came in the early 1980s from the FCI, the world’s largest kennel club federation.
In Sweden, the lively dog now has many fans. Today, more Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers live there than in Canada.
Use: The Toller as a Specialised Hunter
The name points to the breed’s origin and use. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever can be translated as “Nova Scotian, duck-luring retriever”.
Nova Scotia is a peninsula in eastern Canada, where the Toller is honoured as a national dog. The breed’s early uses were specialised.
The hunting Toller had the task of retrieving sticks from the shore. These were thrown by the hunter from a hide. By moving along the shore, the lively dog attracted waterfowl within the hunter’s range.
The hunter would then call the dog back and shoot the ducks. Finally, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever would live up to its name by retrieving the ducks. This hunting strategy is also known as “Tolling”.
Buying: Where Can I Find a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?
Have you decided? Is the Toller the best choice for you? Then your search for a suitable puppy can start!
Important: Before purchasing, ensure you read up on the inbreeding levels of the breed.
Visit the breeder in their home to meet the parent dogs and ask questions about temperament, health, and your puppy. The breeder will likely have questions for you too.
This is a good sign, as they want to ensure their puppy goes to a good home. Your puppy will come with health certificates, pedigree, vaccination passports, and usually a microchip.
Avoid Unregistered Breeders!
Avoid breeders who are not registered with a club. Toller breeding requires professional knowledge and a commitment to the wellbeing of the dogs.
Unregistered breeders often prioritise profit over the health and socialisation of the puppies and the care of the parent dogs. Don’t buy out of pity; purchasing these puppies only fuels demand, which dictates supply.
Adult Dogs from Rescue Organisations
If you seek an adult Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, check online. Some regions have Retriever-rescue organisations specialising in rehoming retrievers.
Occasionally, they have Tollers available for adoption, though due to the breed’s rarity, this is not common. The same applies to Toller mixes or purebred Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers in animal shelters.
What is a Tollerdoodle?
A Tollerdoodle is a cross between a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever and a Poodle. Like the Labradoodle or Golden Doodle, the Tollerdoodle is a relatively new, unofficial breed.
It is considered a “designer dog” intended to combine the best traits of both parent breeds – in this case, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever and the Poodle. Whether this is genuinely the case remains debatable.
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