The intelligent, devoted, and eager-to-please Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. A tireless Toller will make you play fetch until your right arm gives out, at which point he will instruct you to throw left-handed. A magnificent red coat with white markings, ranging from golden red to a dark coppery color, is the Toller breed’s distinguishing feature. Tollers are medium-sized dogs with strong, nimble bones and a medium-length coat. The almond-shaped eyes convey a look of alertness. Tollers are positive athletes who need activities to release their abundant energy, such as swimming (for which they have perfectly equipped thanks to their webbed feet), hunting, trekking, and camping. Tollers are intelligent, attractive, and loving friends, but only those with the time and energy to keep them occupied should consider getting one of these red tornadoes.
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.
Height
18-21 inches (male)
17-20 inches (female)
Weight
35-50 pounds
Life Expectancy
12-14 years
Breed Traits & Characteristics
Shedding Level
Coat Grooming Frequency
Drooling Level
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
Affectionate With Family
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
Shedding Level
Coat Grooming Frequency
Drooling Level
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
Openness To Strangers
Playfulness Level
Watchdog/Protective Nature
Adaptability Level
Trainability Level
Energy Level
Barking Level
Mental Stimulation Needs
About the Breed
Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.
Health
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
- Hip Evaluation
- PRA Optigen DNA Test
- Juvenile Addison's Disease (JADD) DNA Test
- Cardiac Exam
- Ophthalmologist Evaluation
Grooming
Tollers require weekly brushing to keep their coat looking its best. During shedding season, daily brushing is often in order. Pay special attention to the coat around and under the ears, as in these areas it is finer and more likely to knot. Because Tollers should be presented as naturally as possible, minimal additional grooming is preferred, and this is generally limited to neatening the areas around the ears and feet. Special care should be taken to remove excess hair from between the pads of the feet, as this will help your Toller maintain traction on indoor surfaces. Attention should also be paid to trimming nails, preferably weekly.
Exercise
Training
Nutrition
History
The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, sometimes known as the “Decoy Dog,” is a small, active retriever breed developed by 19th-century hunters in Yarmouth County’s Little River District in Nova Scotia (the “Yarmouth Toller” and “Little River Duck Dog” were formerly alternate names for the breed).
Tollers were developed to use a clever hunting strategy. They mimic the odd behavior of foxes, whose bright colors and swift movements seem to strangely enthrall waterfowl. Ducks offshore are piqued by the sight of a Toller playing fetch along the shore. The dog’s crimson coat and feathered tail scream “I’m a fox!” to the credulous ducks. The duck’s goose is prepared after the birds are lured into the shooting range. The Toller is then dispatched to fetch the downed game and gently deliver it back to his human partner’s hand (the breed name is derived from the Middle English word “tollen,” meaning “to lure” or “summon”—as in John Donne’s famous poem that starts, “Ask not for whom the bell tolls…”). The Dutch gundog known as the Kooikerhondje, also known as the Dutch Decoy Spaniel, is the only other extant breed in the world that specializes in this sly tactic.
Even in modern times, Tollers will still hunt in this manner if instructed to do so. The modern dog, however, is a multifaceted worker that is willing to take on just about any task the day may present. One breed expert claims that “Tollers wholly involve themselves in everything.” “Everything is done 100 percent, whether it’s stealing from the counter, chasing a ball, breaking ice to get a bird, or curling up on the couch.”
