Although not as popular as other retrievers such as the golden retriever and Labrador retriever the duck tolling retriever does make a good pet, this is a breed that was developed especially for luring and retrieving water fowl on shoots. The dog will run, jump and play along the waters edge in sight of the birds then disappear from sight only to re appear again, this arouses the bird’s curiosity and in turn they are lured into gunshot range. Once shot the retriever gets to work and retrieves the bird to its owner.

The tolling retriever as a pet

The tolling retriever is a very gentle and sensitive retriever who is exceptionally well with children of all ages and as such is perfect for a family, they are of a very curious nature but can be very wary of strangers especially if they sense nervousness in the owner. As the dog is essentially classed as a working dog they are very easy to train and obedience training should start at a very young age, they are quick to learn and a firm but gentle hand is needed when teaching them.

As the dog is bred to retrieve from water they have a double coat which is of medium length and softness with a soft dense undercoat, they are generally in shades of varying reddish colours and have a straight coat though it sometimes can have a slight wave in it.

Caring for your tolling retriever

This retriever isn’t plagued by as many problems as most other retrievers are though they can still suffer from eye problems, as long as you bought your puppy from a reputable breeder who has tested breeding stock then problems shouldn’t occur.

The coat is relatively easy to keep in good condition and generally all that is needed is a good brush with a strong bristle brush and comb, you shouldn’t bath your retriever too often as this disturbs the oils in the coat. When fully grown the male tolling retriever will reach around 21″ and the female should reach around 20″, the weight should always be in proportion to the height.

The tolling retriever is a particularly active dog and one that loves to swim; the dog will need plenty of fresh air and exercise if he is to remain happy and healthy so is more suited to the outdoor type person who can take him for long walks.