The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever was officially recognized by the AKC in 2003 and was the 150 recognized breed.ĩ. Owners, with persistence, can train their Toller not to scream. To the uninitiated, this can sound like something terrible it is high-pitched, frantic, and loud. Tollers have a penetrating high-pitched bark that sounds like a scream, which they produce to indicate excitement and eagerness.

They like new experiences and are easy to take traveling. They are able to go from couch potato to bounding retriever in mere seconds. The Toller is happy to be wherever his people are - whether that is in the conformation ring, hunting, watching a movie, etc. The Toller is well adapted for water, and they love it! Males are 18-21 inches and females 17-20 at the withers, with medium bone and weight proportion to the height and bone of the dog, which makes them the smallest of the retriever breeds.ĥ. The Toller is medium sized, compact, powerful, and balanced. They Are the Smallest of the Retriever Breeds One of Only Two Dog Breeds Used for Decoy Purposes – While their methods are a bit different, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever and the Nderlandse Kooikerhondje are the only two breeds of dogs used for decoy purposes.Ĥ. The breed was originally known as the Little River Duck Dog or the Yarmouth Toller.ģ. The breed was developed in the community of Little River Harbour in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, Canada, around the beginning of the 19th century, to toll waterfowl and as an all-purpose hunting dog. They Were Originally Known as the Little River Duck Dog They are lured within gunshot range, and the dog is sent out to retrieve the dead or wounded birds.Ģ. The playful action of the Toller retrieving a stick or ball along the shoreline arouses the curiosity of the ducks offshore. The Toller was developed to toll, lure, and retrieve waterfowl. “Tolling” is a Middle English Word Meaning to Entice or Pull Check out nine fun facts you might not have known about this sporting breed.ġ. Not prone to any major health concerns however they may suffer from minor issues such as progressive retinal atrophy and canine hip dysplasia.Intelligent, outgoing, affectionate: that's the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. With the correct training this dog will do well in flyball and agility trials, they also seem to show a talent for tracking and obedience. Sociability (Other Pets): Gets along well with other animals but should be socialised from an early age.

Trainability: Easy to train as it is highly intelligent and a fast learner that likes to work for its handler.It is the smallest of the retrievers, and is often mistaken for a small Golden Retriever. Temperament: Very lively, active with great endurance. The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a medium-sized gundog bred primarily for hunting.Family: Ideally suited to an active country dwelling family, with lots of space to run.Anything involving swimming and retrieving is ideal for this dog. Exercise Needs: Requires plenty of exercise and needs to be kept active.Coat Type: Medium in length, somewhat wavy.Grooming Needs: Requires regular brushing and combing.Powerful fox-like appearance with a broad head and strong, deep chest. The smallest of the retrievers comes from the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, most likely developed by crossing the Chesapeake Bay Retriever with the Golden Retriever.

Nova scotia duck tolling retriever