Snarky with other dogs isnt a huge deal to me, I think that can just be a matter or socilization and what not.
You'd think, but some Tollers really are just snarky with other dogs. Dance is perfectly fine away from home with other dogs, but she
hates other dogs coming to our house. Even ones she's known and seen often since I got her at 13 weeks. She's shown a bit of leash reactivity before as well, but I'm pretty sure that was stress induced as I've only seen her exhibit that behaviour twice in her life. She has zero tolerance for rude dogs, too (which is good, IMO). Another Toller I know, just as heavily socialized, is very dog reactive and has shown lots of aggressive tendencies toward them before as well. I think she's pretty extreme though, as DA is not something well known in the breed. DR is relatively common though.
In any case, Tollers do require a ton of socialization. Dance was socialized like you wouldn't believe & is still weird about people. She's extremely, extremely reserved now, but she was shy as a puppy. She sees no enjoyment in people she doesn't know well petting her. Once she gets to know you, she thinks you're great, but it does take a while. She also has a weird aversion to bags of any sort -- she's petrified of them. I have no idea why, and this fear just kind of appeared one day out of the blue. To my knowledge, she's never had a bad experience with a bag, but yet she has issues with them. Tollers are very quirky dogs. Spring is much more easy going about things. She likes people a lot, and there isn't much that worries her. Which is very surprising to me, considering that she
wasn't socialized very well as a puppy. She just naturally has an easygoing, take what comes at her in stride personality.
I have to disagree that they need more training than other retrievers. No, they're certainly not your typical "what can I do to please you" Golden, but they're by no means difficult as long as you know how to deal with a somewhat selfish, "what's in it for me?" type of dog. One of my favourite things about the Toller is that most of them are thinkers and don't just do whatever you tell them to do for the sole sake that you told them to do it. They're very enthusiastic eager dogs -- you just need to know what motivates yours. They're supposed to be extremely intelligent too. Some are, some aren't. Dance is highly intelligent, but still doesn't really compare to my Toller/Border Collie I had, and Spring is lacking a brain, haha. Part of that is probably her age though, as she's just 15mths old.
Mine aren't overly energetic or unmanageable as many people believe the breed is. Part of that is they've been taught since I got them that I will not tolerate overly exciteable behaviours in the house. They're happy to do whatever I want to do when I want to do it. They sleep most of the day (by choice). I throw the ball for them in the house if they bring it to me, but they aren't obsessive about it. They get about 45mins of physical exercise a day, by way of a leashed walk or a run in the park usually. That's all they want/need, but if you want them to keep going, they'll have no qualms about that. Most of the Tollers are sat for in April (roughly 12 of them) were the same way. You can definitely get more energetic, always on the go Tollers. Mine are about average I think. Nice and easy to live with, but still have plenty of energy. But yeah, definitely don't expect a dog with the energy and intelligence level of a Border Collie (which is a breed they're often compared to for some reason). Many come close, but not quite.
They are a pretty vocal breed. My girls feel everything needs to be announced, especially Dance, but they usually are quiet when I tell them to be. They aren't nuisance barkers by any means, though. And as was pointed out, they can scream. But only when overly excited in most cases.
Here's the top ten reasons not to get a Toller list, full of pretty good info:
Tollers: Top Ten Reasons NOT to Get a Toller
I've left out plenty of information I'm sure, so if you want to know anything else, just let me know! They're certainly a fun breed, and probably the only sporting breed I'll ever have.