Canadian Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling) Standard, January 1, 1982.
HISTORY:
"TOLLING" MEANS "to entice game to approach by arousing their curiosity." To the huntsman waiting in a duck blind, this means to draw the waterfowl within firing range by using the antics of a made-to-order breed of dog--a trick learned quite by accident from the fox. The story goes that early in the 19th century a huntsman in Maryland, waiting patiently for a flock of ducks to come closer, observed the birds suddenly lift their heads and swim towards shore. What attracted them was a fox dashing back and forth among the rocks flashing his bushy tail while a second waited in ambush. In short order some over-curious ducks became breakfast for two foxes. Putting this curiosity of the waterfowl to practical use, early sportsmen invented a dog closely resembling the fox in appearance, active but silent at work with the ability of a water retriever.
Such dogs have been used in Europe and in the east from Chesapeake Bay to the Maritimes since the mid-19th century. But Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, is considered the place of origin of the pure-bred officially recognized by The Canadian Kcnnel Club as the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
Stories that the original tollers resulted from a fox/retriever cross have been discredited. More credible is the story that in 1860 a Mr. Allan mated a liver-coloured Flat-Coated Retriever to a Lahrador Retriever-type dog. Females from this breeding then were mated with a brown cocker spaniel. A later cross to the Irish Setter gave the hreed its colour and possibly by a cross to the yellow farm collie, its bushy tail. Other bloods may also have been used, including the Brittany Spaniel and the Golden and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. However it was done, the cross-breedings produced a fox-like dog with the desired working abilities which became known as the Little River Duck Dog after the district of Yarmouth County, the centre of the breed's development.
After generations of pure breeding the toller was granted official breed status by The Canadian Kennel Club in 1945 when a total of fifteen were registered. For a number of years tollers were seldom seen outside the Maritimes, but today there are breeders across Canada. Fanciers believe their breed finally came of age in 1980 when two Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers were awarded Best in Show at all-breed championship events.
Official Breed Standard for the Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling)
Faults: Shyness or aggression.
Size: Ideal height for males over 18 months is
19-20 in. (48-51 cm); females over 18 months 18-19 in. (45-48 cm). One
inch (3 cm) over or under ideal height is allowed. Weight should be in
proportion to the height and bone of the dog-guidelines: 45-51 Ib. (20-23
kg) for adult males; bitches 37-43 Ib. (17-20 kg).
Faults: Deviations from ideal size should be penalized
according to the amount of deviation.
Coat and Colour: The Toller was bred to retrieve
from icy waters and must have a water-repellent double coat of medium length
and softness with a softer, dense undercoat. The coat may have a slight
wave on the back, but is otherwise straight. Some winter coats may form
a long, loose curl at the throat. Featherings are soft at the throat, behind
the ears and at the back of the thighs, and forelegs are moderately feathered.
Colour is various shades of red or orange with lighter featherings and
underside of tail, and usually at least one of the following white markings
--tip of tail, feet (not extending beyond the pasterns), chest, and blaze.
A dog of otherwise high quality is not to be penalized for lack of white.
The pigment of the nose, lips, and eye rims to be flesh-coloured, blending
with coat, or black.
Head: the head is clean-cut and slightly wedge-shaped.
The broad skull is only slightly rounded, the occiput not prominent and
the cheeks flat. A good measurement for an average male would be 5112 in.
(14 cm) between the ears, tapering to 11/2 in. (3.8 cm) at the bridge of
the nose. Length of head is approximately 9 in. (23 cm) from nose to occiput,
but the head must be in proportion to body size. The stop is moderate.
Muzzle tapers in a clean line from stop to nose, with the lower jaw strong
but not prominent. The underline of the muzzle runs almost in a straight
line from the corner of the lip to the corner of the jawbone, with depth
at the stop being greater than at the nose. Hair on the muzzle is short
and fine. Nose tapers from bridge to tip, with nostrils well open. Colour
should blend with that of the coat or be black. Mouth: lips fit fairly
tightly, forming a gentle curve in profile, with no heaviness in flews.
The correct bite is tight scissors, full dentition is required. Jaws are
strong enough to carry a sizeable bird, and softness in mouth is essential.
Eyes set well apart, almond-shaped, medium-sized. Colour, amber to brown.
Expression is friendly, alert, and intelligent. Flesh around the eyes should
be the same colour as the lips. Ears triangular, of medium size, set high
and well back on the skull, with the base held very slightly erect, well
feathered at the back of the fold, hair short at the rounded tips.