Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
新斯科舍誘鴨尋回犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever — the Toller — is the smallest of the retrievers, a red-coated Canadian gundog developed in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia to lure ducks within gunshot by playing along the shoreline like a fox. Tollers are smart, affectionate and quick to learn, but the AKC calls them 'red tornadoes' suited only to owners with the time and energy to keep them usefully busy. The double coat sheds seasonally, and the breed is famous for a high-pitched 'Toller scream' when excited.
Facts
| Size | Medium |
|---|---|
| Height | 43–53cm |
| Weight | 16–23kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–14years |
| Breed group | AKC: sporting FCI: 8 |
| Role | Sporting |
| Coat | Double coat |
| Shedding | 3/ 5 |
| Exercise | 30–180min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 3 hours |
| Companionship need | 5/ 5 |
| Trainability | 5/ 5 |
| Barking | 2/ 5 |
| Good with children | 5/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 4/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 2/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 4/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Hip dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen hips by X-ray. Ask your vet about hip screening and about keeping your dog lean and fit.
Elbow dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen elbows by X-ray. Ask your vet if you notice front-leg lameness, especially in a growing dog.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
An inherited eye condition reported in the breed; DNA tests and eye examinations are available. Ask your vet or breeder about eye screening.
Degenerative myelopathy
Degenerative myelopathy, a progressive spinal cord condition of older dogs, is reported in the breed; a DNA test identifies risk. Ask your vet if an older dog shows hind-leg weakness.
Collie eye anomaly
Collie eye anomaly, an inherited eye condition, is reported in the breed; a DNA test is available. Ask your breeder about CEA testing.
Addison's disease
Addison's disease (an adrenal condition) is reported in the breed. Ask your vet if your dog has recurring vague illness, vomiting or lethargy.
Neuroaxonal dystrophy / neurological DNA-tested conditions
Inherited neurological conditions are reported in the breed and DNA tests exist for some. Ask your breeder which tests were done.
Immune-mediated conditions
Immune-mediated conditions are reported in the breed. Ask your vet if your dog has unexplained illness.
Patellar luxation
Patellar luxation is on the parent club's list of screening examinations for breeding stock. Ask your vet if your dog skips or holds up a hind leg.
Heart conditions
A cardiac examination is on the parent club's list of screening tests, and a DNA test exists for the breed-specific cardiac laminopathy (CLAM). Ask your breeder which tests were done and your vet about heart checks at routine visits.
Behaviour
A retriever that needs a job
The AKC describes Tollers as upbeat athletes that need outlets for their vigour — hunting, hiking, camping and above all swimming (they have webbed feet) — and says they can be recommended only to people with the time and energy to keep them occupied. Most have a medium-to-high energy level; a brisk 30-minute walk plus a couple of ball-chasing sessions a day satisfies many, and owners often add agility, flyball or field work.
Stubborn and soft at once
The AKC calls the Toller a curious mixture of stubborn and soft — "the brain of a Chessie and the heart of a spaniel" — that responds best to reward-based training in short, fun sessions but still needs consequences for unwanted behaviour. The parent club adds that they are incredibly fast learners and that early bite-inhibition training matters because a retriever wants to carry everything in its mouth.
The Toller scream
The parent club says Tollers are generally quiet but produce a unique high-pitched bark, the "Toller scream", when excited; it can be trained down, and hunting dogs are taught to be silent.
Temperament
The AKC summarises the breed's temperament as "intelligent / affectionate / outgoing".
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 5/5 (very high) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "up to 1 hour per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 5/5, barking level 2/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Retriever Nova Scotia Duck Tolling (Sporting Dogs)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Retriever Nova Scotia Duck Tolling
Breed characteristics (size medium, exercise up to 1 hour per day, lifespan under 10 years), plus the recommended pre-breeding health schemes and DNA tests.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (standard no. 312, group 8)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The parent club's temperament page warns that a bored Toller will chew and dismantle the house — drywall, couch stuffing and photographs are all cited — so owners should stock a variety of chew toys, keep training creative and mentally stimulating, and remember that "a tired dog is a happy owner". Tollers are described as patient with children and fine with other pets when socialised early.”
— Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club (USA) — Temperament via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Retriever Nova Scotia Duck Tolling — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Retriever Nova Scotia Duck Tolling — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever — FCI standard no. 312 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Health Tests — Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club (USA) — Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club (USA) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [8]Temperament — Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club (USA) — Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club (USA) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.