Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers

Tollers were bred to toll. Tolling is an old word meaning to entice or lure (tolling bells entice or draw worshippers to them, for example). The Toller actually entices or lures ducks to come in closer to shore, where they are cavorting in the shallows. Foxes naturally perform this behavior, and Tollers do as well. Tollers are encouraged to chase sticks and balls, and to run from cover to cover, which causes the ducks to be curious and they approach to see. The hunter then shoots them and the Toller retrieves them. Tollers are the canine version of a duck decoy. A Toller’s job depends on them being always ready to play. Another part of their job requires them to be attentive to the hunters' cues so they can find and retrieve a downed duck in the water. A retriever that swims on, oblivious to signals to return, will either never find the duck, or worse, swim out to sea. So Tollers must also be very biddable. As the smallest retriever, the Toller is a much handier size than their cousins. And some people like the “Toller scream,” a harrowing, high-pitched banshee scream they sometimes make.

Tollers have a powerful build, yet are much smaller boned compared to other retrievers. Tolling requires them to leap and play tirelessly while maintaining enough reserve to run, swim and retrieve. The backline is level and straight, flowing into the tail that reaches at least to the hock. The head is lightly wedge-shaped, not nearly as broad as other retrievers but still with sufficient strength to carry a duck. The eyes are almond-shaped, and the ears set on high, triangular in shape, but with rounded tips. The eyes tend to be hazel, and the nose light colored. The coat is double, with a thick undercoat for warmth and a medium-length water-repelling outer coat. The color is any shade of red, usually with white markings on either the tail tip, feet, chest and/or blaze. The white markings make the dog’s movement more noticeable to the ducks.

If you wish for a dog that will play and retrieve tirelessly, the Toller is your dream dog. They were bred to play, and they are true to their heritage. If you can think of a game, chances are your Toller will think it’s the best game ever—especially if it’s retrieving. Tollers weren’t only bred to play, though. They had to follow the hunter’s directions from afar in order to find ducks that may have fallen out of sight, or be obscured by high waves. Those that didn’t would be poor hunting companions, as they would either miss many retrieves or worse, keep on swimming out to sea in search of a downed duck they never found. It’s essential for all retrievers, but especially water retrievers, to be biddable. For this reason, Tollers tend to be willing to do as asked. This is not a Golden Retriever in miniature, but a much more energetic breed. Tollers are extremely active dogs, with a high energy level—again, necessary for cavorting along the shorelines for long periods. They are friendly dogs, getting along well with every member of the family, even other dogs and pets. They are friendly enough toward strangers, but don’t jump all over them. They do have a high-pitched bark or whine called the “Toller scream” that can be annoying to some people but entertaining to others.

Tollers are quick to learn. They are generally quite biddable, especially when lots of treats or games are used as rewards. Throwing a ball is as effective a reward as is handing them a treat, so alternate back and forth, using the fetch as a reward for more active exercises, such as the come when called; and the treat for calmer ones, such as the stay in place. Their main problem in training is that they are easily distracted and easily bored, so you have to keep it fast-paced and interesting. They can compete at the very highest levels of obedience and agility, earning advanced titles easily. They especially love any training exercise that combines high activity with obedience. As with all dogs, early socialization is a necessity so they are at their best around strange people, dogs, and situations. They tend to be easy to house train.

Canadian hunters noticed foxes frolicking along the shoreline, enticing ducks to approach so they could catch them. The hunters taught their dogs to do the same by repeatedly throwing sticks in the water for them to retrieve. They also favored red, fox-colored dogs. In the 1800s a strain of dogs was purposefully bred for its tolling ability. They were called the Little River Duck Dog or Yarmouth Toller after the river and county in Nova Scotia where they were developed. The dogs that went into the Tollers development are unknown, and DNA evidence gives no clue. The Toller is the provincial dog of Nova Scotia. It became popular with hunters down the east coast, especially along the Chesapeake Bay. Despite its popularity with hunters, so few registered their dogs that the breed was in danger of extinction in the 1970s. Through tireless efforts it regained its numbers. The AKC recognized the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever in 2003. It is a member of the Sporting group.