Dog breed

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, or Toller for short, is a small red retriever from Canada that lures ducks within gunshot range by playing on the shore and then retrieves them from the water. Males stand 48–51 cm at the shoulder and weigh about 20–23 kg. It is a smart, energetic and very playful dog, ideal for an active family that enjoys dog sports.

FCI Group VIII · Retrievers and spaniels · standard no. 312

Weight: 17–23 kg
Height: 45–51 cm
Lifespan: 12–14 years
Origin: Canada

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Photo: Cal119 at English Wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

The Toller is a dog with an enormous zest for action. The FCI standard describes it as highly intelligent, easy to train and full of stamina, and the AKC gives it top marks for energy, playfulness, trainability and being good with children. At home, it's warm and close to its family, but the moment it sees a ball, it turns into a retrieving machine. It can be reserved with strangers, watching rather than greeting them effusively. It usually gets along with other dogs. It has a noticeable prey drive, so it lives best with a cat it has known since puppyhood. Boredom is its worst enemy: an idle Toller invents its own entertainment, usually at the expense of the furniture and garden. It responds well to reward-based training and likes having a job, which is why it shines at agility, flyball and scent work.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever for?

The Toller is a great choice for an active family with children, a hunter, someone who does agility, flyball or obedience, or anyone who spends a lot of time walking by the water. It can live in an apartment if it has plenty to do. We don't recommend it for people who want a calm couch dog, who are away all day, or who dislike walks in rain and mud.

Pros

very easy to train
great with children
excellent at dog sports
loves water and retrieving

Challenges

high physical and mental needs
seasonal shedding
risk of Addison's disease
noticeable prey drive

Size and looks

Size and looks: Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Height at the withers	males 48–51 cm, females 45–48 cm
Weight	males 20–23 kg, females 17–20 kg
Lifespan	12–14 years
Coat	medium
Colors	red, orange, red or orange with white markings
Country of origin	Canada
Classification	Group VIII: Retrievers, Flushing dogs, Water dogs
Also known as	Toller, Tolling Retriever, Little River Duck Dog

Care and exercise

60–120minof exercise a day

2/5grooming needs

3/5shedding

A Toller needs a daily dose of exercise and work. The AKC says a brisk 30-minute walk plus a few retrieving sessions a day is enough for many dogs, but some need much more. In practice, 60–120 minutes of activity, including swimming and scent games, works well. The UK Kennel Club stresses that the Toller is an excellent swimmer thanks to its webbed feet. The medium-length, water-repellent coat with an undercoat needs brushing once a week, and daily during shedding. Pay special attention to the fine hair behind the ears, which mats easily, and trim excess hair between the pads. The standard calls for a natural look, so trimming is limited to the feet and around the ears. Dry the ears after a swim in the lake.

How much should the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

Tollers are considered a relatively healthy breed. The AKC gives a lifespan of 12–14 years, and in the British McMillan et al. (2024) study the median was 13.2 years. According to the AKC, the breed's most important problem is Addison's disease, or hypoadrenocorticism, which usually appears in middle age, often after the dog has already been bred. Efforts to develop a genetic test have so far failed. The AKC adds that Tollers are somewhat more prone to autoimmune diseases. When buying, ask about the parents' joint X-rays, eye exams and DNA tests, and about the health of older relatives.

Addison's disease (hypoadrenocorticism)Usually appears in middle age; the AKC says there is no genetic test for it.
autoimmune diseasesThe AKC notes that Tollers are somewhat more prone to them than other breeds.
hip dysplasiaAs with other retrievers, breeders X-ray the parents' joints.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

hip and elbow X-rays (HD/ED)
eye exam (ECVO)
DNA tests recommended by the breed club

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The breed was developed in the 19th century in the Little River district of Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia. Hunters used a clever method called “tolling,” or luring: a red dog played on the shore, running and retrieving, and curious ducks swam closer, as they would to a fox. Once they were within range, the dog brought the shot birds back from the water. The AKC notes that the name comes from the Middle English word “tollen,” to lure. The breed's exact origins are unknown; spaniels, setters, retrievers and herding dogs are all named among its ancestors. The FCI recognized the breed in 1981, and the AKC in 2003 as its 150th breed.

Fun facts

According to the AKC, the Toller was the 150th breed registered by the American Kennel Club.
The breed's name comes from the Middle English word “tollen,” meaning to lure or call.
The FCI standard allows the nose, lips and eye rims to be flesh-colored, blending with the coat, or black.
Tollers didn't reach the United Kingdom until 1988.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Toller weigh?

The FCI standard gives a guideline of 20–23 kg for adult males and 17–20 kg for females, at 48–51 and 45–48 cm at the shoulder. A deviation of 2.5 cm above or below the ideal height is allowed.

Do Tollers shed?

Yes, moderately, with a clear peak during the seasonal coat change. The AKC rates shedding 3 on a 1–5 scale. During that time, brush the dog daily; the rest of the year, once a week is enough.

How long do Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers live?

The AKC gives 12–14 years, and in a large 2024 British study the median was 13.2 years. The parents' health, including no Addison's disease in the line, matters a lot when choosing a puppy.

Can a Toller live in an apartment?

It can, if it gets a solid dose of exercise every day, ideally with retrieving and swimming, plus mental challenges. An under-exercised Toller becomes restless and creative at destruction.