Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
The smallest FCI retriever: a quick, playful red dog with lots of drive and a famously loud 'Toller scream'.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 48–51 cm · Females 45–48 cm
- Weight
- Males 20–23 kg · Females 17–20 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 years
- Exercise
- 90–120 min a day
- Grooming
- A few times a week
- Coat
- Double coat, medium
- Colours
- Red, Orange
- Bred for
- Retrieving, Water work, Companionship
- Country of origin
- Canada
- FCI
- Group 8, no. 312 · Retrievers, flushing & water dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with cats | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Open to strangers | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Energy | 5/5 – Very high |
| Playfulness | 5/5 – Very high |
| Needs mental stimulation | 5/5 – Very high |
| Easy to train | 4/5 – High |
| Prey drive | 4/5 – High |
| Watchful and protective | 2/5 – Low |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 4/5 – High |
| Grooming effort | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 2/5 – Low |
| Suits apartment living | 2/5 – Low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 5/5 – Very high |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- love training and dog sports
- want a medium-sized, high-energy dog
- spend time near water
Think twice if you …
- need a quiet dog
- want a dog that is calm with little exercise
- are home only in the evenings
Care
Temperament
Alert, playful and intelligent, with high drive. It is affectionate with family and often reserved with strangers.
Exercise
Needs one and a half hours or more of activity daily. Retrieving, swimming, agility, dock diving and scent work suit it.
Grooming
Brush the water-repellent double coat a few times a week, more during shedding. Trim around the feet.
Training
Quick to learn and easily bored, so keep sessions short and varied. Teaching calm behaviour is as important as tricks.
Health
Hip dysplasia, inherited eye disease, autoimmune conditions and some inherited disorders are known in the breed. Ask the breeder for hip and elbow scores, eye results and DNA results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Eye examination
DNA tests
- PRA (prcd)
- CEA
- DM
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever was developed in Nova Scotia, Canada, in the 19th century. It works by 'tolling': playing along the shoreline to arouse the curiosity of ducks, drawing them within range, then retrieving the birds from the water.
It is a lively, clever dog with a lot of energy and a strong play and retrieve drive. Many Tollers are affectionate with family but reserved with strangers. When excited, they can produce a high-pitched scream. It suits active owners who enjoy training and outdoor activity, and it is not content as a couch dog.
Did you know?
The Toller lures ducks by playing at the water's edge, a technique copied from foxes.