Buying or Adopting a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Should You Even Get a Dog? Are You Sure?
Important – I've been helping people choose and find dogs for nearly 40 years, and honestly, some people who decide to get a dog are making a big mistake... [read more]

The Truth About Purebred Dogs
Pros and cons... (most people don't know about the cons)

The Truth About Crossbred Dogs
Pros and cons... (don't get taken by breeder hype)

The Truth About Mixed Breed Dogs
Pros and cons... (are mixes inferior to purebreds and crosses?)

Is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever the right breed for you?

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Review
I'll tell you what's good about 'em, and what's bad about 'em... most honest review you'll ever find

Dog Breed Traits – Which Traits Are Right For You? In this brand new series, I'll help you decide which dog breed traits would best suit you and your family, your home and yard, and your lifestyle, so you can choose the best dog breed for your family.

Are YOU the right owner for a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?

Can you provide what this breed needs?

• Someone home most of the day
• Fenced yard (6-8 feet high, not an electronic/underground fence)
• Restricted exercise when young – until maturity (at least 18 months old), exercise restricted to multiple short (20 minute) walks, fetch games, and playing with other dogs – no forced running (beside a jogger or bicyclist), no long-distance treks, minimal jumping
• Ample exercise after maturity – enough ongoing exercise that your Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever stays slim and is tired enough to sleep contentedly and not get into mischief
• "Mental exercise" – interesting activities that keep the mind stimulated, such as a challenging dog sport (agility, rally obedience, musical freestyle, tracking, flyball, field trials, dock diving); challenging dog toys; a homemade obstacle course; tricks and games such as Musical Toys and Hide 'n Seek; instructions in my training book, Teach Your Dog 100 English Words
• Brushing – moderate
• Trimming – every few months
• An indoor lifestyle, except for exercise and bathroom breaks
• A meat-heavy diet, either homemade or commercial – meat is expensive, so people with less money should opt for a small dog
• An owner with enough money to treat the health problems Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are prone to (pet health insurance can really help here!)
• An owner who is okay with moderate/heavy shedding
• Commitment to provide thorough socialization – introducing your Toller to lots of people and other animals, diligently correcting any signs of misbehavior
• Commitment to establish the right Leader-Follower relationship with your Toller, teaching him to listen to you and do what you say

Which sex? What age?

Male Dogs vs. Female Dogs
Which one makes a better pet?

Puppies vs. Adult Dogs
Should you get a young puppy, an older puppy, or an adult dog?

Where can you buy or adopt a Toller?

Tollers are about middle-of-the-road in popularity in the United States. Out of 189 breeds in the American Kennel Club, where 1 is most popular and 189 is least popular, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers rank 87th. Some of that popularity undoubtedly stems from people thinking the Toller is a smaller version of a Golden Retriever. It absolutely isn't. Tollers have a very different temperament than Golden Retrievers.

Adopting From Dog Rescue Organizations
You might find a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever available from a Dog Rescue group. Tollers may be turned over to Rescue precisely because they don't act like Golden Retrievers. They might be too energetic and require too much exercise. There might be dominance issues. You would need to provide these dogs with the exercise, training, and socialization that they are lacking.

Adopting From Public Animal Shelters and Humane Societies
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are rarely found here. Toller Rescue groups keep their eyes peeled on shelters and humane societies across the country. On the off chance that a Toller turns up at a shelter, the rescue group typically moves in quickly to take the dog.

Buying From a Dog Breeder
You can buy a Toller from a show breeder, who breeds Tollers to match a detailed standard of appearance for the dog show ring.

Or you can buy a Toller from a performance breeder, who emphasizes hunting ability, or participating in performance sports like dog agility, hunt tests, tracking, flyball, dock diving, etc. Some breeders are a combination of show/performance, though how they prioritize those two goals can vary greatly.

You might also be able to buy a Toller from people who "just breed pets" or "just had one litter." But should you? Be sure to read the article to learn more about these people.

Here's one difference between a responsible breeder and an irresponsible breeder – BOTH PARENTS of a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever puppy should have:

• a certificate from the Orthopedic Foundation of America's CAER (Companion Animal Eye Registry) – dated within the past year – certifying the dog to be free of eye diseases
• a certificate from the Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA) or PennHip certifying the dog to have normal hips

Also, at least ONE PARENT of a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever puppy should have:

• a DNA test proving they are Normal/Clear of a severe hereditary eye disease called PRA.

If a seller can't show you those certificates, the puppies are higher risk for health problems. You might choose to accept that risk. But then you need to be willing (and able) to pay a couple thousand bucks for future surgeries and lifelong meds if your Toller ends up blind, or crippled from hip dysplasia.

Pet Shop Puppies: Buying a Puppy From a Pet Store
I've never seen a Toller in a pet shop, but it's certainly possible. I have plenty to say about buying a puppy from a pet shop!

Which puppy?

Choosing the Right Toller Puppy
How to test the temperament and personality of Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever puppies and pick the best puppy in a litter.

AKC Registered Puppies: Are AKC Papers Important?
Should you buy only an AKC registered Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever puppy? Do AKC papers and pedigrees really matter?