Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Bred by 19th-century sportsmen in the Little River District of Nova Scotia’s Yarmouth County, the ‘Yarmouth Toller’ and ‘Little River Duck Dog’ were once alternate breed names for The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. The specific breeding origins of the Toller are not known, but probably include retriever type dogs, a spaniel- and/or setter-type, and farm collie.

The breed name comes from a Middle English word, ‘tollen,’ meaning ‘to lure’ or ‘summon’, referring to the old hunting style of drawing ducks and other waterfowl toward the hunter in the style of a fox. In the wild, a fox will play along the shoreline to lure in waterfowl. The birds become curious as they watch the appearance and disappearance of the fox at play, and are enticed to the shore where they become easy prey for the fox.

Tollers were developed to utilise this same ingenious hunting method. The dogs imitate the curious activity of foxes, and their reddish colouring, feathery tail and quick movements exert a similarly strange fascination over waterfowl. The birds are enticed into gunshot range, where they make easy targets for hunters hiding in the bushes. The Toller is then sent out to retrieve the downed game and gently return it to its human partner’s hand.

In 1990, Marilyn Kellie, a Canadian living in Australia, heard about Tollers and considered it her patriotic duty to introduce Canada’s dog to her new homeland. Marilyn wrote letters to a number of sources and was offered a pair of Tollers from Ardunacres stock, and began the long process of shipping the pups to Australia. In 1993, the first litter of Tollers was born in Australia.

Tollers are highly energetic dogs that require intense regular exercise and also need a lot of mental stimulation. They are perfect for families that will train them every day and keep them busy with dog sport activities. They will play fetch for hours, but ball throwing alone will not make a happy Toller. If you don’t have time to give this breed at least an hour of exercise a day, with plenty of swimming (for which they are ideally suited, down to their webbed feet) and fetching as well, you are looking for trouble.

These dogs need to be challenged and engaged by their work, or they get bored and stop paying attention. Keeping all that intelligence focused and busy is a big challenge. Because Tollers love to engage and do things with their owners, many participate in canine sports such as agility, flyball, tracking or fieldwork to channel the breed’s excess energy.

Alert, outgoing and incredibly fast learners, Tollers require creative and mentally stimulating training. Most Tollers respond well to reward-based training – food, toys, or anything that moves can be used to engage them. Being goal orientated, they generally want to know what’s in it for them. They like training to be fun, so short, productive sessions are best. However, it is still important to have consequences for undesirable responses.

Toller coats are easy to look after, with weekly brushing required to keep it looking its best. Naturally drip-dry, after a bath or swim just rinse them off and they are ready to go. Tollers do shed their coat seasonally, and during these times, daily brushing is often in order. Because they are dogs who like to swim and roll and wallow, they are not a good fit for the fastidious or allergic.

Some minimal additional grooming is required, which basically entails neatening the areas around the ears and feet. The hair around and under the ears is finer and more likely to knot, while excess hair from between the pads of the feet may cause your Toller to lose traction on indoor surfaces.