THE SMALLEST OF THE RETRIEVERS WITH THE LONG NAME

SOURCE: DEUTSCHER RETRIEVER CLUB E.V. (DRC)

 

He is a medium-sized, powerful, compact, harmonious and well-muscled dog. The bone substance is medium to strong, with a high degree of agility, alertness, and determination. Many tollers show a somewhat sad expression until they get to work; then their appearance changes to intense concentration and excitement.

His home is Canada, but he originally comes from the Scottish highlands. Nova Scotia was formerly called Acadia and was a French-populated area. In the great Anglo-French War, the French settlers and Scots were expelled from the highlands, from Acadia.

They could no longer live there because the clan masters introduced intensive sheep breeding and thereby deprived many "highlands" of their livelihoods. These were resettled to Canada, to Nova Scotia. The French expelled from the area settled in the south in Louisiana (Dixieland) and still shape the character of this region today. They couldn't bring Toller back to Louisiana because they didn't know the breed. Toller were only introduced to Nova Scotia by the Scots moving up from Scotland and made their home as working dogs. The toller was bred to attract waterfowl and retrieve it. He runs, jumps and plays along the edge of the bank and can be watched by a flock of ducks without restriction. Sometimes it disappears from view, only to reappear quickly. Here he is supported by the hunter from his hiding place, who throws the dog small sticks or balls. This playful act arouses the curiosity of the ducks swimming some distance from the coast; they are thus lured into the range of the shotgun projectiles. The toller is then sent to retrieve the dead or wounded birds.

The toller was not recognized as a breed until 1945 and was almost extinct in 1956. 36 years later (1981), the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) took it over. He is an intelligent, "robust", very nimble dog. He is happy to deal with, very docile and obedient. He has a high temper, can be disgruntled and stubborn, soulful and tough, musty, reserved and affectionate. He shows a lot of enthusiasm for work. These contrasting characteristics could be summarized under the heading "Scottish sense of family". He behaves like a typical Scot. He has a lot of sense of family that is coolly hidden from strangers. Whoever has been accepted by a toller once belongs to his clan.

As a strong and capable swimmer, he is a talented and reliable retriever on water and on land. Always ready to act energetically as soon as there is even the slightest sign of the need to fetch. His pronounced sense of retrieval and his play instinct are the indispensable bases for his ability to attract.

You can work well with him. He is cheerful and spirited and wants to please. He is sensitive, affectionate or wandering, sometimes obedient, sometimes cocky, depending on the situation. For his special friends in his clan, he is a good mind reader and reflects the changing moods of his master with amazing adaptability.

The Toller tends to be reserved towards strangers and keeps a distance: stubborn and uninterested.

Although he is not prone to biting, his innate suspicion makes him a good, slightly barking watchdog; if necessary, he will defend his terrain effectively with "Scottish" stubbornness.

The Toller can work on commands in an atmosphere of mutual respect, attention, and affection, making it a true retriever. Do a lot to him and he will do a lot for you. Don't do anything to him and he won't do anything.

The toller needs family connection and is not suitable for the kennel, here it would wither away. He needs an enterprising family, plenty of exercise and activity. In addition to his hunting skills, he is very versatile. You can do popular sports, agility or flyball with him. He is friendly and open-minded towards other animals.

​

​

TRAINING

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is an intelligent, spirited, active and alert retriever without being nervous, which absolutely needs close contact with its "human pack". He is friendly and confident in dealing with people, including children and other dogs, with a feeling for the moment when his temperament is required. He likes to fetch for his life. His great love is water. Once his family has found the right "connection" to him, he develops an enormous will to please, i. H. he is very interested in pleasing his people as much as possible. His very pronounced play instinct remains with him into old age. The training of the Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever requires a lot of loving consistency without harshness, a lot of imagination and the ability to observe yourself when dealing with your dog. He needs a lot of variety in the lessons. His intelligence and tireless curiosity let him learn quickly, as long as you don't let his charms wrap you around your finger.

The most important thing in training is practice and consolidation of the understanding between master and dog. But even "master" can easily feel his stubbornness if he is too frugal with rewards and caresses, if he goes to work hastily and overwhelms the dog. In case of doubt, however, his Scottish manner can break through at any time, and he then seems to think: "Get your dummy yourself!"

​

​

THE TOLLER AS GUN DOG

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a versatile, water-loving hunting helper with a high working pace. For the usual retrieval after the shot, he has the skills to toll (see word wise). He works reliably in the search for hoofed game. Visual and standing sounds can be trained to him. In Scandinavia it is also widely used for pressing. However, his main passion is water work, i. H. retrieving ducks, geese etc. Here he shows great perseverance. His smaller body size is hardly an obstacle. A hunting dog that can quickly switch from playing in family life to serious hunting work. A hunting helper who combines the hunting dog and the adaptable family companion.

​

​

WORTWEISER: TOLLER

The playful retrieval of a ball or stick, combined with excessive movements, which lures water fowl into shooting distance. The handler repeatedly throws the ball or stick from the hiding place to different distances without a command. The dog is supposed to come back with its tail upright and wagging in a curve. He is not allowed to jump into the water and has to ignore the approaching geese or ducks. The dog must be absolutely steady at the point of a finger.

Due to the combination of the following properties, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is the specialist for this hunting method: Joy of play, joy of movement, perseverance, temperament, willingness to be subordinate, joy of water, indifference to game birds before the shot, posture of the tail and richly feathered flag, reddish coat color , Size and maneuverability. When the ducks or geese are close enough, normal retrieval begins for the toller after the shot.

​

​

ALTERNATIVE TRAINING

All dog sports in which he can interpret his agility and liveliness and which also demand his intelligence, such as B. Agility or Flyball, he gladly accepts. Even as a rescue dog, he is now recognized by his curiosity and the unconditional trust that he can build in his leader. However, his favorite pastime remains fetching. Dummy work is an excellent field of activity for this. There are hardly any limits to what the owner can do. The Toller receives a versatile opportunity to live out his will to find, his temperament and his will to please. If he is not offered an occupation that matches his temperament, he is intelligent enough to look for a field of activity that cannot always be reconciled with the interests of his owner.

​

​

​