Breed History
The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is, as the name suggests, a hunting dog....
But what is tolling?Tolling is using a dog to lure out waterfowl. The hunter throws a stick for their Nova Scotia Retriever, who jumps into the water and starts splashing around. This arouses the curiosity of ducks and geese, who come to investigate the commotion. The hunter shoots the birds, and the Toller retrieves the carcass.
As the name might suggest, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever was born in Nova Scotia during the early 19th century. They were bred to assist hunters. In the breeds early days, this dog was also called the Little River Duck Dog and the Yarmouth Toller. Although its genetics are somewhat of a mystery, its believed to be a cross of several different dogs with an aptitude for hunting, including spaniel breeds, pointer dogs, and, of course, retrievers. Even the herding Collie went into the mix, all to improve this dogs ability to herd and hunt.
The Nova Scotia Retriever entered the Canadian Kennel Club in 1945, but the breed was not recognized by the AKC until 2003. In 1995, the Toller was named the official dog of Nova Scotia.