Training: Tollers are incredibly fast learners who are very eager to please, plus they thrive on the creativity and mental stimulation that comes with training. Although some Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers can seem reserved in new situations, they aren’t often shy and they’re quick to come around, showing how alert and outgoing they can be. Tollers can, on occasion, also be quite stubborn, but they respond well to reward-based training done in short sessions.
Barking: The Toller is a mostly quiet dog, but when excited they can get a bit loud, emitting a high-pitched bark known as the “Toller Scream.” Besides using their mouths to bark on occasion, the breed is also known to be quite interested in chew toys, especially when they are young. It’s important to tame their love of chewing from a young age with proper training to keep them from getting into trouble with it as they age.
“Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are busy, trainable, obsessive retrievers,” says Klein. “They can be a bit sensitive [and] proper early socialization around small animals such as cats or kittens is best done early. Tollers are great and calm with people and in different situations.”
Temperament & Behavior: Don’t let this dog’s “small” size fool you — the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is ready to play and work. In fact, the breed can succeed in all types of competitive sports, says Klein. Although the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is known to be outgoing, alert and incredibly active, they are also tend to be patient and affectionate without becoming highly nervous or overactive. An athlete by nature, this breed is also perfect for anyone who loves exercise or outdoor adventure, and does best when it receives proper mental and physical stimulation combined with a steady dose of affection.
Behavior with Kids: Especially when they are socialized at a young age, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever makes a great companion for kids.
Protection: Tollers are more known for their friendliness than for protective instincts. They are more likely to exuberantly greet an intruder than to fend them off.
