About Tollers — Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club NZ

Collage of tollers — Tollers, the best breed you’ve never heard of.

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, commonly known as Tollers, are medium-sized dogs of the Gundog group originally bred for duck hunting. They are the smallest of the retrievers, but have the longest name of any dog breed!
The breed originated in southwestern Nova Scotia, in the community of Little River Harbour and was originally called the Little River Duck Dog. The Toller name used now refers their ability to “toll” waterfowl along a shoreline, luring them for hunters. The dogs are particularly suited for retrieving in cold water climates because of their water-repellent double coat and webbed feet. They make excellent hunting dogs, sport dogs, and companions!

You can read first hand experiences from New Zealand Toller owners here in this
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Breed Feature Article

Thanks to Dogs New Zealand for the use of this article, which originally appeared in the June 2022 edition of the NZ Dog World magazine

What are Tollers like?

Appearance

Tollers are athletic medium size dogs with fox-like heads typically weighing 14–23 kg. They can be various shades of red with lighter featherings.

Trainability

Tollers are happiest when they have a job and need to be challenged. They excel at sporting competitions and make ideal search and rescue dogs.

Exercise Needs

Tollers need daily exercise and can become destructive when not exercised enough or they're left
alone for too long.

Intelligence and Energy

Tollers are highly intelligent, alert dogs. As fast learners, they require lots of mental stimulation and enrichment to keep them busy.

Friendliness.

Tollers are affectionate with their people but can be reserved in new situations. When very excited, they let out a unique vocalisation known as the “Toller scream.”

Grooming

Tollers have a water-repellent double coat which sheds seasonally and requires regular brushing, but otherwise they are generally low maintenance.

Maple and friends2015.jpg — Think you’re ready for a Toller?

10 reasons to get a Toller, and 10 reasons not to

Toller Breed Standard

The Toller should be athletic, well-muscled, compact, medium boned, balanced and powerful. The chest is deep allowing for good lung capacity. They should capable of picking up and repeatedly retrieving birds in a day of hunting. The legs are sturdy and solid and they have webbed feet.

Their head should be clean cut and slightly wedge-shaped- never be blocky like other retrievers. The ears are triangular and set high and well back from the skull.

Colour is any shade of red, ranging from a golden red through dark coppery red, with lighter featherings on the underside of the tail, pantaloons and body. The Toller should not be buff or brown.

They usually have at least one of the following white markings: tip of tail, feet, chest and blaze, however a lack of white is not a fault. The tail is well feathered and held jauntily when the dog is excited or moving.

The Toller was bred to retrieve from icy waters and must have a water-repellent double coat of medium length and softness, and a soft dense undercoat. The coat may have a slight wave on the back, but is otherwise straight. Some winter coats may form a long loose curl at the throat.

Featherings are soft and moderate in length. The hair on the muzzle is short and fine. Seasonal shedding is to be expected.

You can view the entire official Dogs NZ breed standard here