Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
| Recognized By: |
ACR
,
AKC
,
APRI
,
CKC
,
CKC
,
FCI
,
NKC
,
NZKC
,
UKC
|
| |
|
| AKA: |
Toller, Little River Duck Dog, Yarmouth Toller |
| |
|
| Mispellings: |
|
| |
|
Living with a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Temperament: The Toller is a very alert, outgoing, intelligent dog who is always ready for action. They are affectionate and loving with their family and good with children. Some may display be somewhat reserved in new situations. They should have a strong retrieving desire, high endurance and a love of water.
Family Dog: The Toller is an excellent family dog who typically gets along great with children and other pets.
Shedding: The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a seasonal average shedder.
Grooming: The coat of the Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever should be brushed often with a firm bristle brush. Special care need to be paid to their dense undercoat. They should be cleaned with a dry shampoo regularly and bathed only when necessary. Their feet, ears, and hocks may be trimmed but the rest of the coat should remain natural.
Training: The Toller is an intelligent dog who is easy to train.
Barking: The Toller usually only barks to signal danger.
Weather: The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever does well in cold climates.
Exercise: The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a high energy dog who needs plenty of daily exercise. They should be taken on a long, brisk walk daily.
Living Conditions: The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever can live in an apartment provided they are given ample daily exercise.
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Appearance
Appearance: The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a powerful, compact, medium sized dog. They are alert, keen, determined dogs with an appearance that suggest strength and agility. They are the smallest of the retriever family. He is alert, determined, and quick, with a keen desire to work and please. They may have a sad or worried expression when they are not working but when they are present with work they have a look of excitement and concentration.
Size: A male Toller is between 18 to 21 inches tall while the female is between 17 to 20 inches tall. Their average weight is between 37 to 51 pounds.
Companionship: The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever makes an excellent companion dog.
Head: The head of the Toller is slightly wedge shaped and clean-cut with a slightly rounded skull that appears flat when the ears are erect. It should be in proportion to the size of the body. The cheeks are flat. The distance from the skull from the occiput to the stop is slightly longer than the overall length of the muzzle.
Nose: The nose of the Toller is broad with wide open nostrils. It should be black in color or blend with the color of the coat.
Eyes: The eyes of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever are slightly oblique, almond shaped and set well apart. Their color should be the color of the coat or darker with self-colored or black rims.
Ears: The Toller's ears are triangular in shape with rounded tips and set high on the head framing the face and held slightly erect. If brought forward the ear should approximately reach the inside corner of the eye. They should be carried in a drop fashion.
Muzzle: The muzzle of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever tapers in from the stop to the nose. The jaws should be strong enough to carry a large bird yet soft. The lower jaw should not be overly prominent with a strong, clean. The lips should be tight fitting forming a gentle curve in profile free from heaviness in the flews.
Teeth/Bite: The teeth of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever should meet in a scissors bite.
Neck: The neck of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is of medium length, strongly muscled and well set on free from any indication of throatiness.
Body: The body of the Toller has a deep chest, well-sprung ribs which are neither flat nor barrel-shaped. The brisket extends to the elbows. The back is short, strong, and level. The loins should be strong and muscular with moderate tuck-up.
Forequarters: The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever's shoulder should be strong, muscular and well angulated. The length of the blade should be approximately equal to the length of the upper arm. The elbows should be close to the body. When viewed from the front the front legs should appear parallel. The pasterns are strong with a slight slope.
Hindquarters: The Toller's hindquarters are broad and muscular with an overall square appearance. The upper and lower thighs should be approximately equal in length, with well-bent stifles and well let down hocks which should turn neither in nor out. The croup is slightly sloped. The angulation of the forequarters and hindquarters should be in balance.
Gait: The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever has a powerful yet springy gait with good forward reach and powerful rear drive. The legs should travel in a straight line with the feet turning neither in nor out. As the dog's speed increases the feed converge toward the center line underneath the body with the back remaining level.
Feet: The Toller's front feet are medium sized and oval in shape. They are webbed and tight with well-arched toes and thick pads. The front dewclaws may be removed. The rear dewclaws should be removed.
Tail: The tail of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever has a wide base with ample feathering. It should follow along the natural slope of the croup. It can be carried below the level of the back. When the dog is alert it is held upward in a curve which should never the body.
Color: The coat of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever can be any shade of red, ranging from a golden red to a dark coppery red. The featherings on the underside of the tail, pantaloons and body are lighter in color. Tollers usually have at least one white marking either on the tip of the tail, the feet ending below the pasterns or the chest.
Coat: The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever has a medium length, water-repellent double coat consisting of a soft outer coat and soft dense undercoat. The coat should be straight throughout except for the back where it may be slightly wavy. The winter coats may become loosely curled around the throat. The hair on the muzzle should be short and fine.
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Facts
Category: Gun Dog
Life Expectancy: The average life expectancy of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is about 12 to 14 years.
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Health
Health: The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a relatively healthy breed. They do have some thyroid and autoimmune issues as well as an increasing tendency toward progressive retinal atrophy.
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever History
History: The Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever was developed during the early 19th century. They are believed to have originated in Canada and are descendents from Tolling Red Decoy Dogs which accompanied their masters from Great Britain to Nova Scotia where they were crossed with retrievers and working spaniels. They were developed to toll, lure and retrieve water birds. Their playful action while retrieving an object thrown by their master arouses the curiosity of the ducks offshore luring them with gunshot range. The Toller then retrieves the bird. The breed was originally called Little River Duck Dog or Yarmouth Toller. The Canadian Kennel Club began registering them in the late 1950s and changed the name to the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. They were first recognized by the AKC in 2003. The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club believes that all Tollers should have these innate abilities, and encourages them to pass an approved field test.
