Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

A relatively new breed, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (NSDTR or Toller) was developed in Canada in the early part of the 20th Century, to fulfil the rather unique dual role of both decoy dog and retriever. It is likely that many breeds went into the creation of the Toller, including spaniels, setters, collies and retrievers, but it was not until 1945 that the breed was recognised by the Canadian Kennel Club, and they didn’t gain international recognition till the 1980s.

Ideal Toller people will have gundog experience, but want a retriever that is a little smaller and less demanding of space. Despite their smaller size, Tollers still need plenty of exercise and don’t mind wet, cold or windy weather, so you need to be happy to march out into whatever mother nature throws at you, every day. Good family dogs for active outdoorsy people.

Several hours of dog exercise a day will suit the Toller, but ensure that this is varied and involves mental stimulation as this is a clever, curious breed. Any activity that involves swimming, or carrying objects in the mouth will fulfil the Tollers breed traits, and this willing biddable dog will do well at many dog sports and activities.

Compact and economical on space, the Toller is an easy dog to house as long as you don’t mind orange fur shed everywhere and the odd bit of mud and damp. A decent sized secure garden is important, and access to a wide variety of engaging walking routes, but otherwise the Toller can reasonably be housed anywhere.

A Duck Tolling Retriever’s diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed him at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of his particular food. Discover more about how to offer your dog a balanced diet with our easy-to-follow guide.

The coat of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is of medium length, waterproof with a soft, dense undercoat. The coat does need to be brushed regularly, a couple of times a week should be sufficient; however, during moulting more attention may be required. They may need the longer hair on their feet and ears tidied up from time to time. Check ears and paw pads for seeds and foreign bodies as part of a regular grooming routine. You can find out more about dog grooming and daily care with our article.

Quick to learn and willing to oblige, the Toller is a fun dog to train with and will enjoy a wide variety of ‘doggy jobs’. This is a dog who will enjoy training and will be easily bored without plenty of mental stimulation, but is not a ‘training junkie’ type. Ensure teaching a ‘settle’ is part of the repertoire and as with all retrievers, focus on training to happily swap items in return for reward.

For the active family the Toller is a fun and engaging companion, but they will need time dedicated to training and activities and are better suited to those who spend a lot of time outdoors or specifically interested in dog sports. Fine with older children, possibly requiring a bit too much walking and training to suit those with very young families.

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with each other and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.