The Toller Today

What is a Toller?

The smallest of the recognized retriever breeds, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, or
"Tollers", are a medium-sized, bright, happy red dog. One thing that makes a Toller stand
out is the spring in his step and the sparkle in his eye. His animated way of working is
what attracts the curiousity of the ducks. There is much information on the history and
development of the breed, and you can get to some of that information from our links page.

Tollers are a high-energy breed, but most seem to be able to moderate their activity level to
what the owner requires. The same dog that is snoozing under the computer or on the
couch will jump up quickly if anyone wants to play or go for a walk. A seemingly calm dog
becomes a maniac if the gun comes out for hunting or training. It is this ability to turn the
energy on and off that make Tollers great family pets. But make no mistake about it, they
do require lots of exercise and training when young.

Tollers are very intelligent and perceptive. Sounds great, right? Well, never underestimate
the value of a less intelligent pet! The same dog that learns quickly and thinks
independently will also tend to get into trouble quickly. Turn your back on a Toller with food
on the counter and you may come back to find him licking his lips! They can and do learn
the rules, but they also are great opportunists and you have to try to keep ahead of them.

The Toller Today

Recently admitted into the AKC arena (American Kennel Club) to compete in performance
events and in the miscellaneous class, on July 1, 2003 the Toller will be the newest AKC
breed. How will this affect the breed? As with anything new, there are people who will want
them just because they are "new" and also people who will start breeding them to fill that
need. This is not a good thing for the breed. First of all, the Toller is not the breed for
everyone. They can get out of hand if not trained early. If the family is not committed to
exercising and training them, there will be unhappy dogs and unhappy owners. Education
about the breed is essential. Breeders should not only screen buyers carefully, they should
also be ready to take back a pup or dog any time in that dog's life. Will these breeders who
are new to the breed understand the importance of careful placement, and will they be
around several years later to help with a problem if it should arise? Also, nearly all breeders
sell pups on Non-Breeding Agreements, to make sure that breeding stock has health
clearances and proper temperament, working abilities, and breed type. With more people
becoming involved in the breed, it is a constant worry that eventually they will fall into the
hands of someone who is just breeding to make money, and such "breeders" will not
require health screening or careful evaluation of the homes they are selling a pup to. Also a
potential worry is that some people will start breeding just for looks, without regard to
temperament and working ability, and health issues.