Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever — the Toller — is the smallest of the retrievers, a fox-red Canadian gundog with an unusual way of working.

History

It was developed in Nova Scotia to "toll" ducks: playing and darting along the shoreline to rouse the curiosity of waterfowl and draw them within range, then retrieving the shot birds from the water. That playful luring is the trait it is named for.

Temperament

The breed is known for being intelligent, energetic and intense, closely bonded to its people and sometimes reserved with strangers. It is a keen worker that wants both exercise and a task.

Care and training

It needs a great deal of exercise, especially retrieving and swimming, and it takes eagerly to reward-based training. The medium water-repellent coat needs regular brushing.

Health

Coming from a small gene pool, the breed carries known tendencies toward hip dysplasia, inherited eye conditions and autoimmune disorders such as Addison's disease, for which testing helps. These are patterns for the breed rather than a verdict on one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.