Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Breed Group: Sporting

"I cast a spell on people... and ducks!"

Breed Profile

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a medium-sized dog with a beautiful red coat. They get their name from their special talent of “tolling” or dancing to attract ducks to hunters. They are very smart and can learn to do many things, but they can be stubborn and require lots of patience.

Behavior

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers love to play in water and make water retrievals. You’ll never grow tired of watching them run up and down the shoreline and dancing around to attract ducks. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are generally friendly toward strangers, unless they sense that their owners are unhappy with someone. They tend to take on the attitudes of the people they trust and often learn best by mimicking your behavior. Sometimes, especially if they’re young or unhappy, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers can be prone to barking and making noise.

Coat

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers have a beautiful, reddish coat that repels water. You’ll want to brush them at least once a week to get rid of any dead hair and prevent tangles. During periods of heavy shedding, you can brush them more often to cut back on the amount of hair you find in your furniture. They typically won’t need more than a couple baths every year, unless they roll in something stinky or get a little too curious about a skunk.

Lifestyle

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers can live in many different environments, as long as they get their daily quota of exercise. They typically get along well with other pets and make fast friends with children. Plan on having your Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever live in your house with you, or you’ll find that they’ll get unhappy when they are away from you for too long. Patient owners who plan on providing daily exercise and training opportunities usually have the best success with this breed.

Activity

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers will typically need about an hour of exercise every day. The older they get, the more mellow they become, but you’ll still want to plan on giving them plenty of exercise. They love hunting for ducks and can learn to excel in doggie sports. You should plan on daily training sessions to keep their minds challenged; a bored Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever will not be happy and will likely start misbehaving.

Characteristics

Space Needs
Activity Needs
Intelligence
Playfulness
Grooming Needs
Trainability
Watchdog Ability
Affection
Barking
Cat-friendliness
Dog-friendliness
Child-friendliness