Native to Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is one of four recognized Canadian breeds of purebred dogs. (The other three are the Newfoundland, Canadian Eskimo Dog and the now extinct Tahltan Bear Dog.) First recognized by the Canadian Kennel Club in 1945, the Toller also holds the status of being the official dog of Nova Scotia.

Tolling is a technique used to entice game to approach within firing range of the hunter by arousing their curiosity. The Toller is a highly intelligent and easily trained dog. He is a dog of great endurance and an excellent swimmer with natural retriever instincts both on land and in the water. Physically, the Toller is a medium-sized, well-muscled dog. He is very agile, alert and determined.

The Toller is very versatile and is often seen participating in many competitive dog activities and sports including: Conformation, Obedience, Field Trials, Tracking, Flyball and Agility.

As a family companion, the Toller is loving and playful. He may be somewhat reserved with strangers but is never aggressive or overly shy.

He has a double coat of medium length that is water-repellent. Tollers come in a variety of shades of red or orange and may have white markings on the chest, feet, tip of the tail, and the head/face, but there is no requirement to have any white.

It must be noted that the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a high-energy and active dog who requires plenty of exercise, both physical and mental. This is not the breed for everyone and if you are considering bringing a Toller into your home, be aware that a commitment to keep the dog busy is extremely important.