The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (often abbreviated as a Toller) was developed in Nova Scotia in the early 19th Century as a dual purpose hunting dog - they are used both to toll and retrieve waterfowl. Tolling means "to lure"...when tolling, the dog will run, jump and play along the shoreline, occasionally disappearing from sight and then quickly reappearing, aided by the hunter who will throw small sticks or a ball for the dog to retrieve. These tolling retrieves may be performed dozens or even hundreds of times. Ducks are very curious, and the dog's playful actions will eventually lure the ducks in to gunshot range. The hunter will then be able to shoot, after which the Toller will then be sent out to retrieve the dead or wounded birds.

Tollers are not only good hunting companions, they can also make an excellent family pet, provided they receive sufficient training and exercise! They are in general a very busy, active dog that needs a "job" so to say. Now, that doesn't mean it has to be anything very fancy.....even fetching a tennis ball in the backyard can be the dog's "job", as long as they get a chance to do their daily work and expend some of the energy, they can be a wonderful pet. They are very much like a Border Collie in that respect....not like the much more laid back Golden Retriever that many newcomers to Tollers expect. A fenced yard is highly recommended, as is regular trips to an offleash park or beach for free running, and if possible swimming. Click here to see pictures of some of our family pets!

Tollers are extremely intelligent and learn very quickly, but also are easily bored and can often have a bit of a stubborn streak...the secret to success in training a Toller is to find ways that make the Toller think that the whole thing was his idea all along! ;)

Like all dogs with a double coat, Tollers do shed. Not as bad as a German Shepherd or Malamute, but more than a Poodle or Terrier. They shed about the same as a Golden Retriever or Border Collie......low to moderate shedding throughout the year, with a big "coat blow" high shedding period once or twice a year.

Some Tollers can be barkers, they are very alert and make great watch dogs. Tollers not only bark, they also have an array of wines, howls, cries and screams! The "Toller Scream" is one of the identifying features of the breed (although some Tollers never seem to scream), and is usually emitted when the dog is very excited or frustrated. The "Hound from hell" alarm bark is another sound that seems to be unique to Tollers, it is a drawn-out combination of a regular bark and a scream and definitely gets peoples attention! It is best to teach a Toller from an early age just how much noise will be tolerated.

Tollers do best as house dogs, living inside with their family. Some can be quite active inside, others are very laid back indoors...early training has a lot to do with activity levels indoors. Most Tollers house-break fairly easily, especially when crate-trained. Many Tollers can be destructive chewers as puppies, and also tend to be very inquisitive and will get into anything and everything. (I have been know to find a puppy on the refrigerator, kitchen counters, on top of my computer monitor, sleeping in the bath tub, climbing a bookcase!)...again crate-training will help keep a puppy out of trouble when it is unsupervised. Some Tollers are outgoing and friendly with strangers, others are reserved, stand-offish and cautious until they get to know someone. And there are some Tollers that are very shy around strangers and never comfortable around new people. Although the latter should not be considered a correct temperament for the breed, it does exist nonetheless in some dogs.

As for temperatures, cold is not a problem at all.....but heat can be. Or more specifically, too much activity in high heat. Tollers don't know when to quit, and will keep playing and running when it is too hot and they are too tired. A number of Tollers have died from heat exhaustion. If you keep high activity times down to the coolest times of the day, and make sure plenty of shade and cool water is available (small plastic wading pools are popular, especially if you float a block of ice in it!), Tollers can do okay even in the hot summer months.

As you may already know, Tollers are not always an easy breed to come by. Realistically, you can expect to spend 6-12 months on average waiting for a pup. Most breeders maintain waiting lists, and all good breeders will carefully screen their puppy buyers before even adding them to their waiting lists.

If you haven't seen the breed in person yet (and even if you have!), I highly recommend ordering the Toller Breed Video, available from the NSDTRC(USA) Also a must for anybody interesting in Tollers is the book titled "The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever" (ISBN 0931866731) by Alison Strang and Gail MacMillan.

I've seen puppy prices in the breed range from $500-2500, but $1000-1500 is average. I currently charge $1400 for a pup. Any shipping costs would be additional to this.

Health-wise, there are a few areas of concern in the breed. PRA or Progressive Retinal Atrophy is the most common, being quite widespread in the breed, with an approximately 50% carrier rate. Thankfully, now the Toller world has a test available, the Optigen test for PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy). Now we are able to identify clears and carriers as well as affecteds, which means that affected or carrier dogs can still be bred to clears and never produce PRA in the offspring! With the breed's very small genepool, this is very good news indeed!

Some breeders are choosing to do a carrier-to-carrier breeding, which will result in an average of 25% affected pups in the litter. With the small gene pool in our breed this is not an un-ethical thing to do, but if a breeder is doing this type of breeding you should be informed prior to committing to a puppy. Some breeders will test the puppies before sale so you know upfront if it is affected or not. Others don't test, so it is up to you whether or not you feel comfortable taking the risk of an affected dog. If you are looking for a serious hunting, agility or other performance dog, a PRA affected puppy is maybe not right for you. If you are looking for a pet, PRA is not necessarily a problem as in most cases it causes minimal affect on the eyesight until the dog gets quite old...it is a very late-onset condition in the breed and really doesn't generally affect the ability of a dog to be a much-loved companion. BUT, it is only fair that you are notified about the possibility of a puppy being affected before you commit to a purchase.

Just very recently, a new eye problem in the breed was identified – CEA (Collie Eye Anomaly). At this time it appears to be quite rare in the breed (currently thought to be approximately 5% carrier rate). As of April 17/06 a DNA test for this disease will be available through Optigen, so in the coming months you will start to see lots of tollers being tested for this disease. Like PRA, CEA is a simple recessive gene, so as long as at least one parent is clear of the gene, there will be no affected puppies produced in a litter. The good news about CEA is it seems that only a very small number of dogs genetically affected with the diease actually ever show symptoms. For more information, you can visit this website: CEA Intro

Hip Dysplasia , Addisons Disease and Thyroid problems are also not uncommon... Epilepsy, Deafness, Chondrodysplasia, Pulmonary Stenosis and Megaesoghagus have been also known to occur and are believed to be hereditary, although we do not yet know the mode of inheritance on any of these conditions.

Auto-immune disorders are more of a problem in Tollers than many breeds. This is partially because of the self-red coloration of the breed, and partially because of the limited breeding pool. Tollers also seem to be more sensitive to vaccinations than the average dog, and are rather prone to reactions. Tollers should receive only minimal vaccines, and no combination virus vaccines, only a single-virus vaccine per shot. Annual boosters are not recommended with this breed, a booster every 3-5 years is almost always more than sufficient, checking titer levels before any vaccinations would be even better.

Definitely do not consider buying a puppy unless both parents have been hip x-rayed and certified (by OFA or OVC), eyes certified normal (CERF exam) by an opthamologist, as well as Optigen tested for PRA status (Pattern A=clear, Pattern B=carrier, Pattern C=affected). As long as at least one of the parents is Pattern A, you will not have to worry about your puppy being affected with PRA.

Before committing to buying a puppy from any breeder, ask the breeder about the health problems in their lines. What have they produced in the past, and what is in their dogs backgrounds? All dogs in this breed have health issues behind them, there is no totally "clear" lines, so if a breeder is not able to give you a helpful answer I'd advise you to look elsewhere. If the breeder isn't aware of the health history behind their dogs, they will have a very tough time selecting breeding partners that minimize the risk of hereditary diseases. If at any time you are not comfortable with the answer given by a breeder, go elsewhere! For more information on Toller health concerns, visit this website: Toller Health

The Canadian Kennel Club Breed Standard

Origin and Purpose
The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever was developed in Nova Scotia in the early 19th century to toll (or lure) and retrieve waterfowl. The tolling dog runs, jumps, and plays along the shoreline in full view of a flock of ducks,occasionally disappearing from sight and then quickly reappearing, aided by the hidden hunter, who throws small sticks or a ball for the dog. The dog’s playful actions lure the curious ducks within gunshot range. The dog is then sent to retrieve the downed bird.

General Appearance
The Toller is a medium-sized, powerful, compact, balanced, well-muscled dog; medium to heavy in bone, with a high degree of agility, alertness, and determination. Many Tollers have a slightly sad expression until they go to work, when their aspect changes to intense concentration and excitement. At work, the dog has a speeding, rushing action, with the head carried out almost level with the back and heavily-feathered tail in constant motion.

Temperament
The Toller is highly intelligent, easy to train, and has great endurance. A strong and able swimmer, he is a natural and tenacious retriever on land and from water, setting himself for springy action the moment the slightest indication is given that retrieving is required. His strong retrieving desire and playfulness are qualities essential to his tolling ability.

Loving and playful to his family, he can be reserved with strangers without being aggressive or overly shy. Aggression is not to be tolerated.

Size
Ideal height for males over 18 months is 19-20 inches (48-51 cm); females over 18 months 18-19 inches (45-48 cm). One inch (3 cm) over or under ideal height is allowed. Weight should be in proportion to the height and bone of the dog guidelines: 45-51 lb. (20-23 kg) for adult males; bitches 37-43 lb. (17-20 kg).

Coat and Colour
The Toller was bred to retrieve from icy waters and must have a water-repellent double coat of medium length and softness with a softer, dense undercoat. The coat may have a slight wave on the back, but is otherwise straight. Some winter coats may form a long, loose curl at the throat. Featherings are soft at the throat behind the ears and at the back of the thighs, and forelegs are moderately feathered. While neatening of the ears and feet is permitted, the Toller should always appear natural. Colour is various shades of red or orange with lighter featherings and underside of tail, and usually at least one of the following white markings — tip of tail, feet (not exceeding beyond the pasterns), chest, and blaze. A dog of otherwise high quality is not to be penalized for lack of white. The pigment of the nose, lips and eye rims should match, and be flesh coloured, blending with coat, or be black.

Head
Skull: the head, which should be in proportion to the body size, is clean-cut and slightly wedge-shaped when viewed from above. The broad skull is only slightly rounded, the occiput not prominent and the cheeks flat. Length from occiput to stop should roughly equal that of stop to tip of nose. The stop is moderate. Muzzle: tapers in a clean line from stop to nose, with the lower jaw strong but not prominent.

The underline of the muzzle runs almost in a straight line from the corner of the lip to the corner of the jawbone, with depth at the stop being greater than at the nose. Hair on the muzzle is short and fine. Whiskers are not removed. Nose tapers from bridge to tip, with nostrils well open. Colour should blend with that of the coat or be black. Mouth: lips fit fairly tightly, forming a gentle curve in profile, with no heaviness in flews. The correct bite is tight scissors, full dentition is required. Overshot by more than 1/8 inch, under shot and wry mouth are highly undesirable. Jaws are strong enough to carry a sizable bird, and softness in mouth is essential. Eyes set well apart, almond shaped, medium-sized. Colour, amber to brown. Expression is friendly, alert and intelligent. Flesh around the eyes should be the same colour as the lips.

Ears triangular, rounded at the tips, medium-sized and carried in a dropped fashion. They are set high and well back on the skull, with the base held very slightly erect so that the edge of the ear is carried to the side of the head. They are well feathered at and behind the fold, with short hair at the tips.

Neck
Slightly arched, strongly muscled and well set-on, of medium length, with no indication of throatiness.

Forequarters
Shoulders should be muscular, with the blade well laid back and well laid on giving good withers sloping into the short back. The blade and upper arm are roughly equal in length with the upper arm well angled back under the body.

Elbows should be close to the body, turning neither in nor out, working cleanly and evenly. The forelegs should appear as parallel columns, straight and strong in bone. The pasterns are strong and slightly sloping. The strongly-webbed feet are tight and round, with well-arched toes, thick pads and strong nails, and are in proportion to the size of the dog. Dewclaws may be removed.

Body
Deep-chested with good spring of rib, brisket reaching to the elbow. The back is short and straight, the topline level, the loins strong and muscular. The ribs are well-sprung, neither barrel shaped nor flat. Tuck-up is moderate.

Hindquarters
Muscular, broad, and square in appearance. Rear and front angulation should be in balance. Thighs are very muscular, upper and lower sections being approximately equal in length. Stifles are well bent and hocks well let down, turning neither in nor out.

Dewclaws must not be present.

Tail
Following the natural very slight slope of the croup, broad at the base, luxuriant and heavily feathered, with the last vertebra reaching at least to the hock. The tail may be carried below the level of the back except when the dog is alert when it curves high over, though not touching the back.

Gait
The Toller combines an impression of power with a springy, jaunty gait, showing good reach in front and a strong driving rear. Feet should turn neither in nor out and the legs travel in a straight line. As speed increases, the dog should single-track, topline remaining level, and covering ground with economy of movement.

Faults
(To be penalized according to degree)

1. Dogs more than 1 inch (3 cm) over or under ideal height.
2. Overshot bite.
3. Tail too short, kinked or curled over touching the back.
4. Lack of substance in adult dog.
5. Dish or down-faced.
6. Abrupt stop.
7. Large, round eyes.
8. Nose, eye rims, and eyes not of prescribed colour.
9. Bright pink nose.
10. Splayed or paper feet, down in pasterns.
11. Open coat.
12. Roached, sway back, slack loins.
13. Tail carried below level of back when dog gaiting.
14. Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and penalized according to the degree of deviation.

Disqualifications

1. White on shoulders, around ears, on back of neck, across back or flanks.
2. Silvery coat, grey in coat, black areas in coat.
3. Lack of webbing.
4. Undershot bite, wry mouth.
5. In adult classes, any shyness.
6. Butterfly nose.
7. Overshot by more than 1/8 inch.
8. Any colour other than red or orange shades.