NOVA SCOTIA DUCK TOLLING RETRIEVER

Temperament: Affectionate, Intelligent, Outgoing
Height: 18-21 inches (male), 17-20 inches (female)
Weight: 35-50 pounds
Life Expectancy: 12-14 years
Group: Sporting Group 

MORE ABOUT THIS BREED

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever dog breed was created to both lure and retrieve waterfowl. This versatile breed excels in the field and show ring, in obedience and agility, and as a companion to an active family.

Highly adaptable and affectionate, these dogs can even fair well in apartments, so long as their humans can keep up with providing enough exercise and lots of daily walks. Without adequate activity, they can end up growing bored and acting out with unwanted behaviors.

This sporting breed has a lot going for it: personality, versatility, and an easy-care coat. They’re the smallest of all the retriever breeds and share many of the same traits, such as a strong working drive, intelligence, and a happy nature. But the breed has some drawbacks as well. They can be strong willed and are not as eager to please as a Labrador or Golden Retriever. If allowed to, they will take control of a household.

They’re best suited to life with a weekend hunter or an active family who enjoys hiking or participating in dog sports, such as agility, flyball, and Frisbee.

PERSONALITY

The Toller personality has been described as somewhere between a Golden Retriever and a Terrier. Individual dogs often have a sense of humor, and most Tollers have an outgoing, upbeat attitude. When they’re not playing or hunting, they’re content to lie down and be quiet. Tollers are adaptable, capable of easily going from one environment to another and tolerant of crate training and travel.

Like any dog, Tollers are not for everyone. They are smart, independent, and active. Their size makes them suitable for life in an apartment or condo, but only if they live with a smart, active owner who can meet their needs for exercise, entertainment, and consistent, patient training not to mention keep them from screaming whenever they see a bird out the window.

FEEDING

Recommended daily amount: 2.5 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.

Note: How much your adult dog eats depends on his size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level.

HEALTH

Tollers are a relatively healthy breed, with a life expectancy of 12–14 years. Health concerns in the breed include Addison’s disease, which often doesn’t surface until the dog is middle-aged, the dog may have already produced offspring by the time a diagnosis is made. Efforts to develop a gene-marker test  have been unsuccessful so far. Tollers also are somewhat more prone than other breeds to develop autoimmune-related issues.

Recommended Health Tests from the National Breed Club:

• Hip Evaluation

• Ophthalmologist Evaluation

• PRA Optigen DNA Test

• Cardiac Exam

• Juvenile Addison’s Disease (JADD) DNA Test

CARE

The Toller does best living in a home with access to a securely fenced yard. He can, however, live happily in a city highrise as long as he gets a couple of daily walks. There are Tollers in the country and Tollers who live in apartments and are paper-trained to potty on the balcony.

Toller puppies are born yipping and running around, or at least it seems that way. During their first year, they’re highly active, but eventually their activity level tapers to a more manageable level.

Like any dog, Tollers can be destructive as puppies if not properly supervised. Crate training is recommended. Adults can be destructive as well if they don’t get the exercise they need.

 He’ll enjoy a couple of 30-minute walks or runs, a 30-minute walk and 30 minutes of playing fetch, a hike of an hour or two, or any other combination of exercise the two of you can do together. And this dog likes to swim.

To keep his feet in good condition, walk your Toller on rough ground once in a while. This helps keep the foot pads tight so they don’t pick up a lot of debris that could damage the foot.

To protect puppies as they grow, monitor their activity and don’t let them overdo things. A good rule of thumb is 5 minutes for every month of age, so limit a 6-month-old puppy to 30 minutes of play or other exercise throughout the day.

Train him with a light touch, however. He doesn’t perform well under pressure. But when he’s motivated by praise, play, and food rewards, the Toller learns quickly and easily.

He shouldn’t be difficult to housetrain, given a consistent schedule, no opportunities to have accidents in the house, and positive reinforcement when he potties outdoors.

GROOMING

The Toller is a wash-and-go dog. His medium-length water-repellent double coat requires only weekly brushing to remove loose hair and prevent mats or tangles. Brush him daily during spring and fall, when he sheds heavily. As with most dogs, there is a certain amount of shedding year-round. Bathe him only as needed, which shouldn’t be more than a few times a year unless he rolls in something stinky.

The rest is basic care. Trim the nails regularly, usually every week or two. Keep the ears clean and dry, and brush the teeth frequently with a vet-approved pet toothpaste for good overall health and fresh breath.

SOME PICTURES ABOUT THIS BREED

Source: dogtime, akc, vetstreet.