Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

People usually start looking up the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever when they’re weighing up a high-drive family dog, a capable gundog, or a breed that can keep up with sport and training without tipping into chaos. The details matter: size, coat, exercise needs, and the small cluster of inherited conditions that good breeders screen for can shape daily life for the next decade or more.

The “Toller” is a compact retriever built for cold water and quick, springy work along a shoreline. It’s clever, busy-minded, and often intensely switched-on when there’s a job to do. Below is a clear, practical run-through of what that looks like in the home, in training, and in long-term care.

At-a-glance breed profile

• Size: Medium
• Height: 48–51 cm (males), 45–48 cm (females) at the withers^{1, 2}
• Weight (guide): 20–23 kg (adult males), 17–19.5 kg (adult females)²
• Coat: Medium-length, water-repellent double coat (dense undercoat)²
• Colour: Shades of red or orange, often with white markings (lack of white is permitted in the standard)¹
• Temperament (typical): Bright, active, people-oriented, with strong retrieving drive; best with regular work and mental load^{3, 4}
• Exercise needs: High—most adults do best with daily vigorous movement plus training or problem-solving time^{2, 4}
• Commonly discussed health concerns: Hip dysplasia, inherited eye disease, thyroid screening in breeding dogs; the breed is also overrepresented for Addison’s disease (hypoadrenocorticism)^{5, 6}
• Lifespan: Often around 10–14 years (individuals vary; lines and health screening matter)

History and origins

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever developed in Nova Scotia, Canada, in the early 1800s. Its speciality is “tolling”: energetic movement along the shoreline that draws the attention of waterfowl, followed by steady retrieving once birds are down.^{3, 4}

The breed was recognised by the Canadian Kennel Club in 1945 and later joined the American Kennel Club as a fully recognised Sporting breed on 1 July 2003.^{4, 7}

Physical characteristics

Tollers are the smallest of the retriever breeds, but they don’t read as delicate. They’re compact, athletic, and built to work in cold, wet conditions, with a water-repellent double coat and enough feathering to shed water without turning into a mop.^{1, 4}

Colour sits in the red-to-orange range. White markings are common (tail tip, feet, chest, blaze), but not mandatory under the standard, and a quality dog isn’t meant to be penalised for lacking white.¹

Temperament: what they’re like to live with

A well-bred, well-raised Toller is typically alert and responsive, quick to learn patterns, and keen to move. Many are affectionate with their people, but they’re not a “set-and-forget” companion. When their days are thin on activity, they tend to invent their own tasks—often noisy, fast, and inconvenient.^{2, 4}

They often do best in homes that enjoy training as a normal part of life: short sessions, clear rules, and plenty of reinforcement for calm behaviour as well as speed and enthusiasm.

A note on the “toller scream”

Some Tollers can be notably vocal when excited, especially around anticipation (throwing toys, arriving at training, watching birds). It’s not universal, but it’s common enough to factor in if you live close to neighbours or want a quieter household.

Training and exercise requirements

This is a smart, high-energy gundog. The most reliable formula is daily physical exertion paired with mental work—retrieving drills, scent games, obedience, agility foundations, or structured play with rules. The goal isn’t to exhaust the dog into silence; it’s to give the brain something steady to hold onto.^{2, 4}

Positive reinforcement training tends to suit the breed well, especially when sessions are short and frequent. Consistency matters: Tollers are quick to notice what works, including what works on you.

Useful day-to-day outlets

• Retrieving games with a clear start/stop cue (so arousal doesn’t just climb)
• Loose-lead walking practice plus bursts of jogging or off-lead running where legal and safe
• Scent work (food scatters, simple hides, tracking games)
• Trick training and obedience, done in short blocks

Health concerns and screening to look for

No breed is “problem free”, but the Toller does have a handful of conditions that responsible breeders actively screen and record. Health testing doesn’t guarantee a healthy pup, but it meaningfully shifts the odds.

Common areas to ask about

• Hips (hip dysplasia): breeding dogs should have hip evaluations, commonly via recognised schemes such as OFA or PennHIP.⁵
• Eyes: regular eye examinations are recommended for breeding stock (for inherited eye disease risk).⁵
• Thyroid: thyroid testing is commonly recommended in breeding programs.⁵
• Addison’s disease (hypoadrenocorticism): can occur in any breed, but Tollers are listed among breeds overrepresented in diagnosis; signs can be vague at first and diagnosis relies on appropriate veterinary testing (often an ACTH stimulation test).⁶

When to book a vet check sooner rather than later

• Repeated vomiting or diarrhoea, especially with lethargy or weakness
• Episodes that come and go, then return under stress (travel, boarding, heat, intense exercise)
• Unexplained weight loss or persistent poor appetite
• Wobbliness, collapse, or unusual slowing down for an otherwise active dog

These signs can have many causes, but they’re the sort that deserve prompt assessment rather than watchful waiting—particularly in breeds with known endocrine risk.⁶

Grooming and coat care

The coat is designed to cope with water and weather, which means it also sheds—often with seasonal surges. Weekly brushing is a sensible baseline, with more frequent sessions during coat blow to prevent matting in the undercoat and to keep hair off the furniture.

Bathing is usually occasional rather than constant. Keeping nails short, ears clean and dry (especially after swimming), and teeth maintained will do more for comfort than chasing a perpetually “show-fresh” coat.

Choosing a breeder and picking the right puppy

With Tollers, temperament and health history are as important as looks. A good breeder should be able to explain why they chose a pairing, what health screening has been done, and what they see in the puppies as individuals.

Practical questions worth asking

• What hip, eye, and thyroid testing has been done on both parents, and can you show the results?⁵
• Are there known Addison’s cases in the pedigree, and how does the breeder track long-term health outcomes?⁶
• How are puppies raised in the first eight weeks (noise exposure, handling, surfaces, early training)?
• Which puppy suits a quieter home, and which one needs a job every day?

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever in sport and field work

This breed is at home where there’s something to do. Many Tollers thrive in obedience, agility, retrieving activities, and field work—often excelling when training stays varied and clear. The original purpose—tolling and retrieving waterfowl—still shows up as intense play-drive, strong interest in birds, and a willingness to hit the water even when it’s unpleasantly cold.^{4, 8}

Final thoughts

A Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a small retriever with a big working engine. In the right home—one that enjoys training, daily activity, and a dog that notices everything—they’re bright, capable, and deeply engaging company. In a low-activity household, their energy tends to spill sideways into nuisance behaviour.

Choose carefully, prioritise health screening, and plan for the long run: the best Tollers are shaped as much by daily routine and thoughtful training as by pedigree.

References

1. The Kennel Club (UK) – Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling) breed standard
2. Canadian Kennel Club – Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling): height/weight, coat and activity notes
3. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club (USA) – Breed standard (overview and purpose)
4. American Kennel Club – Press release: Addition of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (history and AKC recognition date)
5. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club of Canada – Health screening guidance (hips, elbows, eyes, thyroid)
6. Merck Veterinary Manual – Addison disease (hypoadrenocorticism) in dogs (overview, diagnosis, treatment; breed overrepresentation)
7. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club of Canada – About (CKC recognition in 1945)
8. NSDTRC (USA) – Club history (AKC Miscellaneous 2001; Sporting Group acceptance 2003)