The AKC calls the Toller the smallest of its retrievers and says it is intelligent, affectionate and eager to please. Its description of fetch is the one to remember: throw it until your arm falls off and the Toller will ask you to throw left-handed.
Size and kennel
The AKC lists males at 18 to 21 inches and females at 17 to 20 inches, at 35 to 50 pounds. That is a medium dog in a compact frame, and an Economy kennel works for a single Toller: about 16 square feet inside plus 48 outside. A very active Toller sometimes does better in Business Class at $59, which has a longer run. Two Tollers from one home can share Economy for $52 plus $44.
Water-resistant double coat
The Toller has a medium-length, water-repellent double coat in shades of red and orange. On the bath chart effective January 1, 2024, a 26 to 50 pound dog is $45 in the medium column and $55 in the double-coated column. Please ask which column applies and confirm the price. Feathering behind the legs mats if left wet, so a quick brush before drop-off is a good idea.
Fetch and drive
Tollers were bred to lure ducks into range by playing along the shore, then retrieve them. The result is a dog that wants to run, chase and bring things back. Walks are included, and the grass field and large fenced play areas are the right setting for this breed. If yours is a ball obsessive, bring one toy and ask staff to keep the others out of reach. A Happy Pupsicle at $7.99 is a good afternoon treat for a fetch-tired dog.
Warm days in Dixon
nearby Vacaville, the closest weather station, averages about 100 days a year at 90 degrees or higher, and a double-coated Toller carries a lot of coat. Runs are air-conditioned in summer. The dog chooses indoors or out through the doggie door, and the indoor space is the place to cool down after play.
Before a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever's first stay
Upload the vaccine records and arrive free of fleas and ticks. Bring one toy that is not the favorite, and a slow-feeder bowl if your Toller gulps.