Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Care
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In our earlier article, we brought you the inside info on the history, temperament and exercise needs of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. Today we dive into the care needs of this unusual breed.
Grooming Your Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Proper and frequent grooming of your Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (Nova Scotia Toller, or Toller) is necessary to keep him or her looking and feeling great. Regular grooming can also help prevent skin irritations and infections.
Here are some tips on how to groom your Toller:
- Coat Care: The Toller’s coat is medium-length, water-resistant, and slightly wavy. Brushing your Toller’s coat regularly will help keep it shiny and remove any loose debris. Use a slicker brush or a comb to remove any tangles or mats. Pay particular attention to the areas behind the ears, under the legs, and around the tail. If you notice any mats, use a dematting tool to gently remove them.
Trimming your Toller’s coat is not necessary, but if you prefer a shorter coat, you can use clippers or scissors to trim the fur. Be careful not to cut the fur too short, as it can damage the coat’s water-resistant properties
- Bathing: The Toller’s coat does not need frequent bathing. But, if your Toller spends a lot of time outdoors or gets into something smelly, a bath may be needed. Use a vet-approved dog shampoo and conditioner and rinse thoroughly to remove any soap residue. Be sure to dry your Toller’s coat thoroughly after a bath to prevent any skin irritations. Note: Never over-bathe any dog as doing so dries out their skin too much.
- Nail Trimming: Regular nail trimming is important to keep your Toller’s paws healthy and to prevent pain or discomfort. Use a dog-specific nail clipper and trim the nails one at a time. Be careful not to cut the quick, but if you do accidentally cut the quick, apply some styptic powder to stop the bleeding. If you are unsure about how to correctly trim your Toller’s nails, ask your veterinarian or pay a professional groomer to do it.
Want more tips about grooming? Watch these useful YouTube Videos: Nail Trimming, Bathing, Coat Care
The dematting brush has a dual-sided design that starts with 9 teeth for stubborn mats and tangles and finishes with 17 teeth for thinning and deshedding. It's skin-friendly and allows for easy and safe removal of mats, tangles, knots, and loose hair. The undercoat rake is effective in removing loose hair, tangles, knots, dander, and trapped dirt, making it the perfect solution for dogs and cats with thick fur or dense double coat care.
Breeding and Puppies
Breeding Standards
It is often asked, “what dog breeds make a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?” The Toller is an older breed dating back to early 19th century Nova Scotia breeding with an uncertain past. However, it is generally thought that the Tollers come from a mixed breed stock — as in several breeds. See this post for more information.
When it comes to breeding Tollers, following the accepted standards will help to ensure the health, well-being, and breed purity of the puppies. Breeders should only breed dogs that have been health tested and cleared of any genetic diseases. They should also know very well the breed’s temperament, characteristics, and other details to know that the puppies will be a good fit for new owners. The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club of Canada has set breeding standards that breeders should follow. These standards include health testing for hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and eye diseases.
Puppy Care
Taking care of a Toller puppy takes love, time, and dedication. Puppies should be socialized at a young age with other people, pets, and surroundings. This will help them become well-adjusted and friendly family dogs. Helping the pups adjust to their new owners and home will be immensely important as they adapt and age.
Puppies should always be fed a good dog food properly balanced for a growing puppy’s nutrition. These puppies also need to be exercised daily so they will grow up healthy and fit. A balanced and properly ingredient-sourced diet which is fed right for their age and size is very important to their physical and mental health.
This puppy food has real chicken, whole grains, garden veggies, and fruit for healthy muscle development. It also has DHA and ARA for cognitive function and LifeSource Bits for immune support. No by-products, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives.
It is just as important to start training early on to form good discipline and behaviour. As with all dog breeds, positive reinforcement training is recommended for Tollers they learn well with lots of praise and rewards. Make no mistake, breeding and raising Toller puppies requires a lot of effort and dedication. But, with healthy care and good training, Toller pups will grow into loyal, loving, fun, and well-behaved best friends.
The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is hard to beat if you’re looking for a loyal and energetic companion dog. This breed is highly intelligent and fast to learn. The Toller makes a great choice for first-time dog owners — This breed is also great with kids and other pets when raised correctly.
Remember to keep in mind that Tollers have a high energy level and need plenty of exercise. Be aware that if you’re not able to train them properly, including lots of physical activity and mental stimulation, they may become bored and become a behaviour brat.
Tollers are generally a healthy lot with a usual lifespan of 12-14 years. However, like all breeds, they can develop unfortunate health problems such as hip dysplasia and eye issues.
Finding a reputable breeder with Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (Toller) puppies may take six months to a year or more due to their rarity. The breed was recognized by the AKC in 2003, and it’s important to invest time and money into finding a good breeder if interested in a Toller. You may also want to adopt a Toller from a breed-specific rescue organization.
The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a wonderful breed with a unique history and a bright future. They will make a loving and devoted personal companion or family pet for many years to come.
