Nova Scotia Duck Tolling
Retriever
Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, Canada is considered the place of
origin of the purebred dog officially known as the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever – or
more affectionately known as the “Toller.”
There is no authentic record of the development of the Toller,
but present day thinking is that the basic stock was the red decoy dog,
probably brought to Nova Scotia with the early settlers from Europe. Crosses with other breeds: possibly spaniel and setter-type dogs; retriever-type dogs; and
farm collie, produced today’s Toller.
Originally known as the Little River Duck Dog after the district of Yarmouth
County, or as a Yarmouth Toller, the Toller has bred true for generations and
was granted official breed status by the Canadian Kennel Club in 1945, when
15 were registered.
