Breed library

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever photograph.
Duck Toller.jpg - Cal119 at English Wikipedia. Public domain. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duck_Toller.jpg. License: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duck_Toller.jpg#Licensing. License: Public domain.

Breed overview

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a medium-sized gun dog bred primarily for hunting. It is often referred to as a "toller". It is the smallest of the retrievers, and is often mistaken for a small Golden Retriever. Tollers are intelligent, eager to please, alert, and energetic. The toller also has webbed feet. The name "toller" is derived from their ability to lure waterfowl within gunshot range. The dog goes up to the water's edge and attracts the ducks so the hunter can shoot them. Then they go to retrieve the duck from the water. The breed originated in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, Canada. The American Kennel Club ranks the toller as the 69th most popular dog breed.

  • Breed classification: RetrieverBreed reference breed group.
  • Breed classification: Gun dogBreed reference breed group.
  • Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.
  • Country of origin: CanadaBreed reference country of origin.

Breed facts

  • The breed was developed in the Acadian community of Little River Harbour in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia around the beginning of the 19th century.
  • The toller was originally referred to as the Little River Duck Dog before being officially recognized by the Canadian Kennel Club in 1945 as a purebred dog.
  • The breed was perfected in the second half of the 19th century.
  • The breed gained national recognition in 1980 and was declared the provincial dog of Nova Scotia in 1995, when two Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers were awarded Best in Show at championship events that included many breeds.
  • The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a medium-sized gun dog bred primarily for hunting.

Size and appearance

Tollers are often mistaken for small Golden Retrievers, but the toller is more active, both physically and mentally. According to the breed standards, the toller is athletic, muscular, compact, medium to heavy boned, balanced and powerful. The toller's chest is deep. Conformation judges require tollers to be capable of tolling and physical faults that inhibit working ability are heavily penalized. They should be of moderate build, with a lack of substance or a heavy build being penalized by judges for detracting from the breed standard and athleticism. A toller's legs are sturdy and solid and they have webbed feet. Tollers can be 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 lighter shades of golden red are deeply pigmented and rich in colour. The Toller should not be buff, brown, or beige, though some buff and sable tollers do appear in breeding lines.

  • Body mass reference: 17 - 20 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 17 - 20 kg. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Body mass reference: Up to 20 kgBreed reference body mass. female, maximum.
  • Body mass reference: Up to 17 kgBreed reference body mass. female, maximum.
  • Body mass reference: 20 - 23 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 20 - 23 kg. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Body mass reference: 23 kg or moreBreed reference body mass. male, minimum.
  • Body mass reference: 20 kg or moreBreed reference body mass. male, minimum.
  • Height reference: 45 - 48 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 45 - 48 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: Up to 45 cmBreed reference height. female, maximum.
  • Height reference: Up to 48 cmBreed reference height. female, maximum.
  • Height reference: 48 - 51 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 48 - 51 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 51 cm or moreBreed reference height. male, minimum.
  • Height reference: 48 cm or moreBreed reference height. male, minimum.
  • Coat layers: double
  • Coat length: medium
  • Coat length: long
  • Coat texture: straight
  • Height category: medium
  • Weight category: medium

Personality and behavior

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are known to be very intelligent, curious, alert, outgoing, and high-energy dogs. They are affectionate, eager to please, busy, and get along well with children. They are good family dogs. However, potential owners should be wary of the physical and mental commitment that is required in order to keep a toller busy. Physical stimulation should be provided for these dogs each day since they may become destructive when they are not exercised enough or are left alone for long periods of time. Duck Tollers are working animals and are happiest when they have a job to do. Tollers are excellent hunting companions. They excel at many types of sporting competitions such as agility, dock diving, and obedience. Their keen sense of smell, intelligence, drive for work, and small size make them perfect search and rescue dogs. The breed standard states that the dog should have a strong retrieving drive, intense birdiness, endurance, and a love for water.

  • Attachment and attention seeking (C-BARQ mean): 1.84 / 4Owner-reported attachment and attention seeking factor mean for US reference population Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
  • Chasing (C-BARQ mean): 2.21 / 4Owner-reported chasing factor mean for US reference population Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
  • Dog-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.66 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
  • Dog-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.50 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed fear factor mean for US reference population Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
  • Energy (C-BARQ mean): 2.52 / 4Owner-reported energy factor mean for US reference population Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
  • Excitability (C-BARQ mean): 2.09 / 4Owner-reported excitability factor mean for US reference population Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
  • Familiar-dog aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.55 / 4Owner-reported familiar-dog aggression factor mean for US reference population Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
  • Non-social fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.77 / 4Owner-reported non-social fear factor mean for US reference population Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
  • Owner-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.19 / 4Owner-reported owner-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
  • Separation-related problems (C-BARQ mean): 0.59 / 4Owner-reported separation-related problems factor mean for US reference population Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
  • Stranger-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.41 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
  • Stranger-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.52 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed fear factor mean for US reference population Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
  • Touch sensitivity (C-BARQ mean): 0.82 / 4Owner-reported touch sensitivity factor mean for US reference population Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
  • Trainability (C-BARQ mean): 2.93 / 4Owner-reported trainability factor mean for US reference population Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

Exercise and activities

Tollers are named for their ability to entice or lure waterfowl within gunshot range, which is called "tolling". The hunter stays hidden in a blind and sends the dog out to romp and play near the water, usually by tossing a ball or stick to be retrieved. The dog's appearance is similar to that of a fox. Its unusual activity and white markings pique the curiosity of ducks and geese, which swim over to investigate. When the birds are close, the hunter calls the dog back to the blind, then rises, putting the birds to flight and allowing themselves a shot. The toller then retrieves any downed birds. They are particularly suited for retrieving in cold water climates because of their water-repellent double coat.

  • Activity guidance: high energy

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

  • Coat layers: double
  • Coat length: medium
  • Coat length: long
  • Coat texture: straight
  • Shedding pattern: seasonal

Health and lifespan

A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 13.2 years from a sample of 47 deaths for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

Compare breeds

Compare supported adult height and weight ranges, matching research measures and sourced coat and care categories.

Add Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever to a comparison

Breed history

The breed was developed in the Acadian community of Little River Harbour in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia around the beginning of the 19th century. The toller was originally referred to as the Little River Duck Dog before being officially recognized by the Canadian Kennel Club in 1945 as a purebred dog. The toller is a mixture of retriever, spaniel, setter, and possibly a farm collie mongrel, although the latter has yet to be confirmed. The breed was perfected in the second half of the 19th century. The breed gained national recognition in 1980 and was declared the provincial dog of Nova Scotia in 1995, when two Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers were awarded Best in Show at championship events that included many breeds.

Clubs and further reading

Sources

  1. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, revision 1368886152. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nova_Scotia_Duck_Tolling_Retriever&action=history
  2. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
  3. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
  4. File:Duck Toller.jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Public domain. Duck Toller.jpg - Cal119 at English Wikipedia. Public domain. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duck_Toller.jpg. License: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duck_Toller.jpg#Licensing.
  5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.
  6. AKC national parent club directoryAmerican Kennel Club Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Factual reference only. Names and verified external links only. No source descriptions, logos or endorsement reused.