The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a medium-sized dog breed from Canada. The breed is recognised by the FCI and is listed in Group 8, Section 1.
Originally bred for duck hunting, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever has become a popular family dog, not least because of its playful nature.
The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is originally from Canada. It is a retriever whose task during hunting was to first lure ducks into close range and then to retrieve them after the shot.
The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever has been recognised as an independent dog breed by the Canadian Association CKC since 1945. However, it was not recognised by the FCI until 1981.
For a long time, the dogs, which are also known as Tollers, were only found in Canada and the USA. In the early 1980s, the first individuals finally found their way to Europe, more precisely to Scandinavia. The first German Toller puppies were born in 1996.
The breed is now more widespread in Sweden than in Canada, its country of origin. In addition, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever has become very popular as a family dog, although it is of course not as widespread as other retrievers such as the Labrador.
The life expectancy of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is 10 to 14 years. Male Tollers reach a height at the withers of between 48 and 51 centimetres and weigh between 20 and 23 kilos. Females are 45 to 48 centimetres tall and weigh 17 to 20 kilos.
The medium-sized dogs have a balanced physique and are muscular. Their medium-sized eyes are almond-shaped and amber or brown in colour. The Toller’s triangular ears are also medium-sized and set relatively far back on the head.
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers have a red to orange coat with white patchess on the chest, paws, and tip of the tail. They have a soft coat of medium length and a dense undercoat. The fur is water-repellent, giving it excellent protection when retrieving from cold water.
The Toller is considered to be extremely eager to learn and to work. Like other retrievers, they have a strong will to please their owners. The intelligent animals also have a very pronounced play instinct, which they usually retain even in old age. One trait that they occasionally display and that sets them apart from other retrievers is their herding instinct.
The training of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is generally not too complicated. However, it is important that they get enough attention and are fully involved in family life. The occasional stubbornness that the Toller sometimes displays can usually be dealt with consistency and empathy.
A well-trained Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever that is sufficiently occupied in everyday life proves to be an uncomplicated and reliable playmate for children.
The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is extremely active. In order to keep them happy, it is therefore essential to challenge them sufficiently in everyday life. This is especially true if they are not used for hunting but are kept purely as a family dog.
Due to their original purpose, activities such as retrieval and dummy training are suitable occupations for the Toller. Apart from that, the intelligent four-legged friends can also enjoy various other activities.
The Toller is generally considered a hardy and healthy breed. However, the available gene pool is relatively small. Accordingly, inbreeding is a widespread problem that is known to lead to various health problems. In the past, attempts have been made to counteract this by deliberately crossing in other dog breeds.
Apart from that, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is more prone to autoimmune diseases such as Addison's disease and SRMA. Anyone who chooses this breed should therefore seek a reputable breeder who truly cares about the well-being of their four-legged friends.
A balanced diet, adapted to the animal’s needs, is of crucial importance for the well-being and health of the Toller. When it comes to the amount of food, various factors such as the dog’s weight, age and physical activity need to be taken into account.
We recommend feeding the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever with our grain-free Münsterländer Landschmaus. The high-quality dry food is free from artificial flavours and preservatives. Instead, it is characterised by carefully selected, natural ingredients and an appropriate content of important animal proteins. For nutritionally sensitive or allergic dogs, the food is also available as a hypoallergenic version with insect protein.
Bellfor's well thought-out nutritional concept supports the healthy development of your Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever from young to old age.
