--- title: Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | Royal Gun Dogs url: https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/nova-scotia-duck-tolling-retriever/ business: Royal Gun Dogs trainer: Richard Gebhart (professional gun dog trainer since 2002) phone: (530) 341-4496 email: royalgundogs@yahoo.com trains_at: Hastings Island Hunting Preserve, 7758 Hastings Island Rd, Rio Vista, CA 94571 (Solano County) booking: call or text Richard directly --- - [Home](https://royalgundogs.com/) - [Breeds](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/) - Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever # The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever as a gun dog The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, nicknamed the Toller, is the smallest of the retrievers and was bred in Nova Scotia to lure ducks within gun range before retrieving them. Training a Toller usually adds a task the other retrievers do not have: learning when to play at the shoreline and when to hold still. ## Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever at a glance - **Origin:** Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, Canada AKC breed standard - **AKC group:** Sporting AKC - **Typical weight:** 35-50 lbs AKC breed standard - **Hunting style:** Retriever (tolling, waterfowl) AKC The Toller is a red dog with a fox-like look and an unusual job. Here is how the breed works and how its training differs from a Lab's. ## What tolling means Tolling is a technique, described by the AKC, in which the dog plays along the shoreline, tossing and fetching sticks, to pique the curiosity of ducks. The ducks drift toward the commotion, and the hunter, hidden, shoots when birds come within range. The dog then retrieves. The breed's red coat, white markings and busy tail are part of the lure. For a California hunter on a pond edge or a small slough, the idea may be new, but the retrieving work after the shot is the same. ## A smaller dog with a big engine Tollers are intelligent and energetic. Many owners find they need steady mental work and a clear job. An under-exercised Toller can turn its energy to mischief, so structured training helps channel it. They also tend to be vocal and alert. A hunter working a Toller wants the dog quiet and still in the blind when needed, which makes [steadiness to shot](https://royalgundogs.com/guides/steady-to-shot/) an important topic. ## How a Toller is commonly started Tolling itself is a game the dog tends to know by instinct. Most of the training effort goes into the retrieving foundation and the discipline around it. - Build a reliable recall and sit with early obedience - Introduce water, birds and a bumper as for any retriever - Teach delivery to hand - Run marks and blind retrieves for control - Shape quiet and stillness before adding any tolling game, only if you plan to use it ## Hunting a Toller in California The AKC calls tolling an old technique from Nova Scotia, and California duck hunting is a different setup from the Maritime ponds the breed grew up on. Most California handlers use a Toller as a close-working retriever from a blind or a boat. The key skills are the same as for any dog: quiet in the blind, a clean mark and a delivery to hand. Check the current CDFW regulations for your hunt, since rules on dogs and training birds change; see [training birds and California rules](https://royalgundogs.com/guides/training-birds-california-rules/). ## Programs that fit a Toller As with any retriever, the [Basic Waterfowl Program](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/basic-waterfowl/) is the base, after [Puppy Camp](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/puppy-camp/) for a pup. Add the [Advanced Waterfowl Program](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/advanced-waterfowl/) as the dog matures. Richard has trained dogs professionally since 2002 and works with dogs from field trial level to everyday hunting dogs, so ask him about your Toller and what you hunt. ### Sources (3) - American Kennel Club : [akc.org/dog-breeds/nova-scotia-duck-tolling-retriever/](https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/nova-scotia-duck-tolling-retriever/) (checked October 27, 2026) - American Kennel Club : [akc.org/sports/retrievers/hunting-tests/join/](https://www.akc.org/sports/retrievers/hunting-tests/join/) (checked October 27, 2026) - Hastings Island Hunting Preserve : [hihp.com/royal-gun-dogs-dog-training/](https://hihp.com/royal-gun-dogs-dog-training/) (checked October 27, 2026) ### Matching program - [Basic Waterfowl Program](https://royalgundogs.com/programs/basic-waterfowl/) ### Your trainer Richard Gebhart has trained dogs professionally since 2002, learned the Rex Carr method for Retriever Basics under Billy Sargenti, and has run and qualified at an AKC Master National. [Meet Richard](https://royalgundogs.com/richard-gebhart/) ### Related - [Labrador Retriever](https://royalgundogs.com/breeds/labrador-retriever/) - [Steady to shot: what it means and how it is taught](https://royalgundogs.com/guides/steady-to-shot/) - [Hunting dogs and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta](https://royalgundogs.com/hunting-in-the-delta/) - [AKC Junior Hunter](https://royalgundogs.com/hunt-tests/akc-junior-hunter/) ## Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever questions [All questions](https://royalgundogs.com/faq/) ### Is a Toller a real retriever? Yes. It is one of the retriever breeds and retrieves shot birds from land and water. ### Can a Toller hunt in California? Yes. Duck hunters in the Delta and Central Valley use a variety of retrievers. ### Can Tollers run AKC hunt tests? They are eligible for AKC retriever hunt tests. Read [AKC Junior Hunter](https://royalgundogs.com/hunt-tests/akc-junior-hunter/). ### Do I have to teach tolling? No. It is optional, and many handlers use the Toller as a standard retriever.