Hope You Enjoy This Video Overview Of The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a medium sized hunting dog that is known for their beautiful red coat that often brings to mind the coat of a Golden Retriever. In fact, many people often mistake these dogs for miniature Golden Retrievers but they are not like them in any way, except in appearance. In many of the dogs, a white tip on the end of their tail is also seen and is used in an interesting manner by the dog.
These are very hard working gundogs and while they can be very friendly to their own family members, they are usually reserved and distrustful of people they don’t know and they have a very strong prey drive, which makes them unsuitable for homes with smaller pets.
The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a very active breed that requires a lot of exercise. They are used in a variety of ways in the field but have an interesting way of luring ducks, which is called Tolling.
This is a rare breed and while it may not have the personality of a lot of retrievers, there is little doubt that you can see some amazing things when you see a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever in the field.
Pro’s and con’s of owning a Flat Coated Retriever.
Like all breeds, there are a number of pros and cons involved with the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. While this is a very friendly breed that brings a unique dynamic to duck hunting and to the family, it is also not a breed that is suitable for everyone. They have a very strong prey drive and they also have a lot of energy.
The Pro’s
There are many good points about the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever and if you are looking for a smaller, very energetic gundog, then this is definitely the breed for you.
• They do well in a variety of dwellings and will even do well in apartments.
• They are very friendly dogs and usually do well with children of all ages.
• They look similar to the Golden Retriever, only smaller. It is important to note that this is not a miniature Golden Retriever. They have different personalities than the Golden Retriever and there is a distinct difference between them. If you want to upset a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever breeder, simply refer to their dogs as a Golden Retriever.
• Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are very hard working dogs.
• They usually do very well with other dogs.
• They are very good at being a guard dog and will alert bark.
• They have a very unique way of luring birds called Tolling, which is where they get their name from.
• They are a rare breed.
• They are considered to be moderate shedders.
The Con’s
As with all dog breeds, there are a number of cons that should be taken into consideration before you purchase a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. The breed has an active personality that does not work for everyone.
• They are a working breed so they have lots of energy. Expect to exercise your Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever about 30 to 60 minutes per day.
• Since the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a rare breed, there can be a long waiting list to purchase one.
• There is a small breeding pool for the breed and some diseases are beginning to occur in the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
• They will need to be groomed on a weekly basis.
• This is not a clean dog. Yes they are easy to groom but the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever delights in rolling in puddles and jumping in mud. They will quickly put that mud into the house the moment they come in.
• They are not as friendly as other retrievers and tend to be a bit reserved with people.
• They need to be properly socialized to avoid any aggression, especially stranger aggression.
• The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever has a very strong prey drive. They are not recommended for homes with cats or other small animals. They will also chase squirrels and other animals in their yard if they are given the chance.
Health Issues:
When it comes to health, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a very hardy breed but there have been a number of diseases that have and are becoming a problem for the breed. This is due to the fact that there is a very limited number of dogs in the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever’s breeding pool. It is very important that you make sure that all health checks have been done on the parents and that the breeder is using healthy breeding stock. This will help not only lower the risk of having an unhealthy gundog but will also ensure that the disorders that are occurring in the breed are prevented. If you doubt at any time that they are, look for a new breeder.
• Hip Dysplasia
• Deafness
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
• Auto-immune Hemolytic Anemia
• Hypothyroidism
• Hydrocephalus
• Chondrodysplasia
• Cataracts
• Epilepsy
• Megaesophagus
• Addison’s Disease
• Collie Eye Anomaly
Height & Weight:
The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a medium sized dog that is used for retrieving. They are usually slightly longer than they are tall and they are a breed that is known for its well balanced and appearance of being a powerful athlete. While there is a range of acceptable height, the idea size for a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is 19 inches (48 cm) for a male and 18 inches (46 cm) for a female.
The size of a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is:
Males: 18 to 21 inches (46 to 53 cm) tall and 45 to 51 pounds (21 to 23 kg)
Females: 17 to 20 inches (43 to 51 cm) tall and 37 to 43 pounds (17 to 20 kg)
Note: Height is always determined from the ground up to the withers, also known as the highest spot on the shoulders, of the dog.
Grooming:
When it comes to grooming the medium coat of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, many people often feel that it will take a lot of time. In fact, it doesn’t take much time at all and a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever can be brushed on a weekly basis to keep the tangles and mats from the hair.
In addition, you should always take the time to brush the coat whenever your dog comes in from the field since brambles and other debris can cause a lot of problems. Generally, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is considered to be a moderate shedder, except when they are blowing their coat.
The other grooming that should be done with this breed is to strip any mats out of the coat and to also keep the hair between the dog’s toes kept trim. Nails should also be kept trimmed and ears should be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent ear infections.
With bathing, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever should only be bathed when it is absolutely necessary and could probably done once or twice a year.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 14 years
History:
The history of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is not entirely clear. We do know that it originated in Little River, which is in Nova Scotia, Canada but we aren’t exactly sure how they came to be. It is believed that the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever was developed in the early 1800’s but there has been some evidence that the dogs may have existed as far back as the 17th century.
In fact, the dog was recorded by a Nicholas Denys (1598-1688) who wrote of the small red dogs and their amazing retrieving ability but many people believe that these dogs were ancestors of the Nova Scotia Duck tolling Retriever as the dog is today.
Still, even with that murky history behind them, most enthusiasts believe that the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever can own their origins to James Allen who crossed a liver colored Flat Coated Retriever with a St. John’s dog. From those dogs, the puppies were bred to Cocker Spaniels and the Irish Setter and it is believed that the Golden Retriever, Chesapeake Bay Retriever and the Collie were also introduced into the line.
Although it has a fairly long history, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever has remained a rare breed and was not recognized by the CKC until 1945 and the AKC until 2003.
Grouping:
Gun Dog, AKC Sporting
Recognition:
CKC, FCI, UKC, CKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR