Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?
- Thread starter Zife
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Tollers should be extremely energetic, active, always on the go dogs. Dance isn't quite as energetic as they should be, but I think that's because she's got a lot of show lines in her. People always told me that Tollers were "Border Collie active" and so I'm a bit disappointed that she isn't, but most of the other Tollers I know are extremely active and energetic. Not quite to the point of a Border Collie, but almost. They require at least an hour of exercise daily, preferably more (both physical and mental). If that doesn't happen, then like many other high energy breeds, they'll find other ways to use up that energy. Ways that result in destruction, non-stop barking, etc. Of course, if they miss one day of full exercise they'll be quite content to lay on the couch and relax but generally you can't expect that two days in a row. They excel in sports such as Agility and Flyball, if you're interested in either of those. They're very high drive dogs as well as highly intelligent, pretty easy to train dogs (though they can be quite stubborn at times).
Tollers are also very alert dogs. More so than most breeds I've been around. Dance doesn't miss a beat. She can look sound asleep and even if I so much as move my foot she springs up and assumes I'm going somewhere fun. They're also said to be independent but I think that very much just depends on the dog. Dance is a velcro dog.
Tollers need loads of socializing all through out their life, and especially as puppies. More so than many other breeds. Dance has had tons and is still at times pretty shy and barky if a stranger stares or touches her. I couldn't imagine how she'd be had I not taken her everywhere with me. Gradually we're working through this though. Tollers don't have a "Hi, I just met you and you're my best friend" attitude, which is another point that makes heavy socialization all the more important. Most are pretty reserved with strangers and save their exuberance for close friends and family. They're very devoted to their family, and many choose one person inparticular to get attached to, but not all.
They're known to be a very vocal breed. They have a wide array of whines, yodels, howls, etc. The Toller scream is quite often used when the dog is in anticipation of something, or a state of extreme excitement or anxiety. And no, not all Tollers do scream, but many do. Dance doesn't, fortunately. And, eventhough they're vocal they aren't really barky. They won't bark unless they see a real reason to.
And here's the "Top 10 reasons not to get a Toller" list:
http://www.calibertollers.com/toller/topten.htm
It's not something to steer you away from the breed, but it's full of information on what a Toller is basically about.
I'm sure I've missed something and if you have any specific questions, I'll try my best to answer them for you!
Tollers are also very alert dogs. More so than most breeds I've been around. Dance doesn't miss a beat. She can look sound asleep and even if I so much as move my foot she springs up and assumes I'm going somewhere fun. They're also said to be independent but I think that very much just depends on the dog. Dance is a velcro dog.
Tollers need loads of socializing all through out their life, and especially as puppies. More so than many other breeds. Dance has had tons and is still at times pretty shy and barky if a stranger stares or touches her. I couldn't imagine how she'd be had I not taken her everywhere with me. Gradually we're working through this though. Tollers don't have a "Hi, I just met you and you're my best friend" attitude, which is another point that makes heavy socialization all the more important. Most are pretty reserved with strangers and save their exuberance for close friends and family. They're very devoted to their family, and many choose one person inparticular to get attached to, but not all.
They're known to be a very vocal breed. They have a wide array of whines, yodels, howls, etc. The Toller scream is quite often used when the dog is in anticipation of something, or a state of extreme excitement or anxiety. And no, not all Tollers do scream, but many do. Dance doesn't, fortunately. And, eventhough they're vocal they aren't really barky. They won't bark unless they see a real reason to.
And here's the "Top 10 reasons not to get a Toller" list:
http://www.calibertollers.com/toller/topten.htm
It's not something to steer you away from the breed, but it's full of information on what a Toller is basically about.
I'm sure I've missed something and if you have any specific questions, I'll try my best to answer them for you!
Yep, they're definitely a far cry from a Golden or a Lab. Aside from being retrievers, they're virtually nothing alike. They're not really "hyper" as in bouncing off the walls in excitement, but they are way more energetic and ready for action. Good point about the breeders as well. There aren't many poor Toller breeders out there, but there are some now that AKC decided to recognize them and made the breed quickly gain popularity. It's not too hard to find a reputable breeder though, as there are more good Toller breeders than there are bad ones.
I'm going to agree with everything toller_08 posted. They really are amazing dogs, but not for everyone. Research into the breed... spend LOTS of time around them and see what you think. I'm looking into getting one myself. The plan was to have a Toller as my next dog, but we'll see what happens. If not this time then definitely down the road when I have a bigger place and I'm more financially ready... they're not cheap to buy considering they're a relatively rare breed. You could always look into the Toller rescue as well. I'm on their waiting list as well. However, from what I was told by the lady I talked to about their rescue... there's a little bit of a line and they don't have many toller rescues in need of homes. Do some digging. You'll find the right dog for you.