| Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find. Information about Toller personality and behavior. |
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My book, Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide (published by Henry Holt & Co.), includes a full-page profile of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, including these excerpts:
"This good-natured, high-energy breed is a joy in the right hands, but too much dog when mismatched with someone looking for a couch potato.
Easygoing, but also high-spirited and playful, quick moving and agile, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is busy indoors and needs plenty of exercise, especially fetching and swimming. Mental exercise (advanced obedience, agility, tracking, field work) is just as important.
His reaction to strangers varies from reserved to curious, but often includes some initial caution. He needs early and ongoing socialization to avoid suspiciousness or timidity.
The Toller is usually fine with other animals -- he may chase the family cat for fun but seldom means any harm.
Although bright and clever, most Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are easily distracted and easily bored, while some are strong-willed and dominant, testing the rules to see what they can get away with. You must demonstrate consistent leadership and keep training sessions short, upbeat, and challenging.
Like all retrievers, you must control his tendency to chew on objects and to mouth your hands -- provide a box filled with toys so he can carry something around in his mouth.
When excited, he tends to whine and "whistle."
History
Tolling means "luring" or "enticing." The Toller's job is to run up and down the Canadian shoreline chasing sticks and waving his tail to lure curious ducks into gun range.
Size
17-21 inches and 35-50 lbs |
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Nova Scotia Duck
Tolling Retrievers
What's good about 'em
What's bad about 'em
- There are energetic Tollers, and placid Tollers.
- Hard-headed Tollers, and sweet-natured Tollers.
- Serious Tollers, and good-natured goofballs.
- Introverted Tollers, and Tollers who love everyone.
| If you acquire a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm." |
Now let's look at some common characteristics for this breed...
- Is medium-sized and very athletic
- Has a lovely feathered coat in shades of orange/red
- Is high-spirited and thrives on vigorous athletic activities
- Is good-natured and dependable
- Excels in competitive activities such as obedience and agility
A Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever may be right for you.
| If you don't want to deal with... |
- Vigorous exercise requirements
- Rowdiness and exuberant jumping, especially when young
- Destructiveness when bored or not exercised enough or left alone too much
- Fearfulness or suspiciousness when not socialized enough
- Strong-willed mind of his own, requiring a confident owner who can take charge
- Mouthiness -- carrying and chewing of objects, mouthing your hands
- Regular brushing and combing
- Shedding
- Barking or whining when excited
A Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever may not be right for you.
| If I were considering a Duck Toller... |
My major concerns would be:
- Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy and do interesting things. Otherwise they will become rambunctious and bored -- which they usually express by becoming destructive. Bored Tollers can make a shambles of your house and yard.
| If you simply want a pet for your family, and don't have the time or inclination to take your dog running or hiking or biking or swimming, or to get involved in agility (obstacle course), or advanced obedience, or tracking, or a similar canine activity, I do not recommend this breed. |
- Bounciness. Young Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers (up to about three years old) romp and jump with great vigor, and things can go flying, including people.
| If you have small children, or if you or anyone who lives with you is elderly or infirm, I do not recommend Toller puppies. The temptation to play roughly is simply too great with many young Tollers. |
- Mind of their own. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are not Golden Retrievers. Though there is a physical resemblance, Tollers have an independent mind of their own and are not pushovers to raise and train. They are versatile working dogs, capable of learning a great deal, but they can be manipulative and willful. Some are dominant (they want to be the boss) and will make you prove that you can make them do things. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.
| To teach your Toller to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. My Duck Toller Training Page discusses the program you need. |
- Providing enough socialization. Compared again to Goldens, most Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers do not greet strangers with the same blind enthusiasm as most Goldens. Many Tollers are standoffish and need extensive exposure to people and to unusual sights and sounds. Otherwise their natural caution can become shyness or suspiciousness, which are difficult to live with.
- Separation anxiety. More than many other breeds, Tollers need a great deal of companionship and do not like being left alone for more than a few hours. They tend to express their unhappiness through destructive chewing and barking. If you work all day, this is not the breed for you.
- Grooming. To keep their feathered coat free of mats, Tollers require regular brushing and combing, and occasional trimming.
- Shedding. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers shed a lot. Their hairs come off on your hands when you pet them, stick tenaciously to your clothing, upholstery, and carpeting, and hide under the furniture. Be prepared for vacuuming.
| If you're considering an adult Toller... |
There are plenty of adult Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you.
When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS.
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Copyright © 2000-2006 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without the permission of the author. |
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