General Appearance
Symmetrical, balanced, active, powerful, level mover; sound with kindly expression.
Characteristics
Biddable, intelligent and possessing natural working ability.
Temperament
Kindly, friendly and confident.
Head and Skull
Balanced and well chiselled, skull broad without coarseness; well set on neck, muzzle powerful, wide and deep. Length of foreface approximately equals length from well defined stop to occiput. Nose preferably black.
Eyes
Dark brown, set well apart, dark rims.
Ears
Moderate size, set on approximate level with eyes.
Mouth
Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Neck
Good length, clean and muscular.
Forequarters
Forelegs straight with good bone, shoulders well laid back, long in blade with upper arm of equal length placing legs well under body. Elbows close fitting.
Body
Balanced, short-coupled, deep through heart. Ribs deep, well sprung. Level topline.
Hindquarters
Loin and legs strong and muscular, good second thighs, well bent stifles. Hocks well let down, straight when viewed from rear, neither turning in nor out. Cow-hocks highly undesirable.
Feet
Round and cat-like.
Tail
Set on and carried level with back, reaching to hocks, without curl at tip.
Gait/Movement
Powerful with good drive. Straight and true in front and rear. Stride long and free with no sign of hackney action in front.
Coat
Flat or wavy with good feathering, dense water-resisting undercoat.
Colour
Any shade of gold or cream, neither red nor mahogany. A few white hairs on chest only, permissible.
Size
Height at withers: dogs: 56-61 cms (22-24 ins); bitches: 51-56 cms (20-22 ins).
Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
The Labrador Retriever is a retriever in the class of Sporting dogs. They are considered a 'flushing' dog that will retrieve thegame for the hunter once down. They are generally used to hunt both upland game birds and waterfowl. More recently some have worked on perfecting a pointing characteristic with Labradors. Labradors have come to be one of the favorite family house pets today due to its wonderful personality, gentle disposition and loyalty.
Labrador Retrievers were recognized in England as a Kennel Club breed in 1903 and first registered by the American KC in the United States of America in 1917. Labradors were originally called a St. John's Dog or lesser Newfoundland dog. The breed was in Newfoundland in the 1700's and imported to England beginning the early 1800's. The Labrador's exact origin unknown but some speculate the Greater Newfoundland dog or the French St. Hubert's dog is part of the cross that made the St. John's dog.
In 1887 the Earl of Malmesbury first coined the name Labrador in a letter he wrote referring the them as his Labrador Dogs. The Territory of Labrador is just Northwest of Newfoundland geographically. Richard Wolters in his book the "Labrador Retriever" writes that the 19th century Brits lumped that area together as the same land mass, so it could have referred to dogs from that area.
Newfoundland was settled by English fisherman as early as the 1500's and the St. John's dogs seemed to develop along with the fishing occupation . The English fisherman in Newfoundland used the St. John's dog to retrieve fish that had fallen off their hooks as well to help haul in fishing lines through the water. The St. John's dogs were considered "workaholics" and enjoyed the retrieving tasks given in the fishing environment. This breed was very eager to please and their retrieving abilities made them ideal for hunting companions and sporting dogs. In today's world many see their hunting companion as living for the sport. He will break ice to retrieve birds only to return and wait for the next one to come down. You have to keep an eye on the dog in warm weather as he will gladly work beyond his physical abilities and even overheat if you don't watch him. It was said that the dogs would work long hours with the fisherman in the cold waters, then be brought home to play with the fisherman's children. The wonderful temperament of the Labrador Retriever is documented back to its early days in England and has made them ideal family pets as well as accomplished sporting dogs.
The Labrador has a dense, short coat that repels water and provides great resistance to the cold and water. Labradors come in 3 colours; black, yellow and chocolate. Black is the most well known colour and it is dominant in Labradors. Black was also the colour commonly preferred and bred for up until more recent times. It should be noted that the colours chocolate and yellow have been noted in the original St. John's dogs from the Newfoundland. They are recessive genes and were referred to as the colour 'liver' or sometimes 'golden'. In 1807 a ship called brig Canton carried some St. John's dogs destined for Poole, England as likely breeding stock for the Duke of Malmesbury's Labrador Kennel. The Canton shipwrecked and two dogs, one black and one chocolate, were found and believed to have become part of the breeding program (along with other breeds) that created the Chesapeake Retriever. So we know that chocolates had been a colour in the original St. John's dogs which later became established under the name Labrador Retriever. As recessive colours the yellow and chocolate pups would occasionally appear in litters throughout time. During the earlier breeding programs these 'off colours' were often 'culled' until they were finally accepted by the British and the American Kennel Clubs and registered. Some people still favour blacks saying they are the best Labradors. We think it is more personal preference as long as you have a good well balanced pedigree and breeding program behind your dog.
Labradors almost became extinct a few times and the St. John's dogs that Labs came from are now extinct in Newfoundland. It was only through some events and efforts of some key people that we have the wonderful companion we call the Labrador today.
Originally known as the Little River Duck Dog in its home of the Little River District of Nova Scotia, the modern Toller gotits present name in 1945 when it was recognized by the Canadian Kennel Club registry. As usual, the exact origin of the breed is lost, but a dog resembling the present-day Toller was seen in 17th Century Europe, luring waterfowl into nets. Whether the Toller originated from these dogs or was developed from a combination of the Flatcoat Retriever, brown Cocker Spaniels, Brittany, Irish Setters, farm collie, Golden Retriever and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are among the breeds heritage.
The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever first came to Great Britian in 1988 when there was one imported from Canada. Since that time there have been many more imported to strengthen the British gene pool from Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Croatia, Poland and the list goes on.
Some people will tell you that the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is the best all round dog you can have. They are an extremely intelligent and energetic dog. You should be willing and able to keep them fit and their minds stimulated. They are great companions, sensible and devoted to their families.
Other common names: Toller, duck dog, decoy dog, little river duck dog and NSDTR for short.
Tollers are the smallest waterfowl retriever available and they are specialists in, you guessed it, tolling. The Tollers are one of the smallest retreivers in the gundog group.
To “Toll” in duck hunting means to lure the ducks in.
Waterfowl hunters generally wait in a blind for ducks or geese to be lured into gunshot range. Hunters fortunate enough to have a Toller along can hasten the process by using the dog’s playful antics to catch the attention of inquisitive birds.
The hunter tosses a small inconspicuous object from his duck blind parallel to the shore. The dog retrieves with great enthusiasm, tail wagging, and feet dancing occasionally disappearing from sight and then quickly reappearing.
The flashy white markings on his chest, feet, and tail-tip accentuate the effect as he retrieves time after time, luring the birds closer and closer to shore to get a better look at this remarkable performance. When the birds are close enough, the hunter is able to shoot, sometimes having to shoot in the air first just to flare the ducks off the water to shoot the birds in a sport-like manner.
The ducks lure towards this fox like dog as they are meant to have a natural dislike for foxes and want to protect thier young.
The toller has not taken off it this country as a gundog yet, but all toller owners will tell you the same thing , once owned you'll never change your mind. This little dog not only captures your mind but also your heart.
General Appearance
Strongly built, short-coupled, very active; broad in skull; broad and deep through chest and ribs; broad and strong over loins and hindquarters.
Characteristics
Good-tempered, very agile. Excellent nose, soft mouth; keen love of water. Adaptable, devoted companion.
Temperament
Intelligent, keen and biddable, with a strong will to please. Kindly nature, with no trace of aggression or undue shyness.
Head and Skull
Skull broad with defined stop; clean-cut without fleshy cheeks. Jaws of medium length, powerful not snipy. Nose wide, nostrils well developed.
Eyes
Medium size, expressing intelligence and good temper; brown or hazel.
Ears
Not large or heavy, hanging close to head and set rather far back.
Mouth
Jaws and teeth strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Neck
Clean, strong, powerful, set into well placed shoulders.
Forequarters
Shoulders long and sloping. Forelegs well boned and straight from elbow to ground when viewed from either front or side.
Body
Chest of good width and depth, with well sprung barrel ribs. Level topline. Loins wide, short-coupled and strong.
Hindquarters
Well developed, not sloping to tail; well turned stifle. Hocks well let down, cowhocks highly undesirable.
Feet
Round, compact; well arched toes and well developed pads.
Tail
Distinctive feature, very thick towards base, gradually tapering towards tip, medium length, free from feathering, but clothed thickly all round with short, thick, dense coat, thus giving ‘rounded’ appearance described as ‘Otter’ tail. May be carried gaily but should not curl over back.
Gait/Movement
Free, covering adequate ground; straight and true in front and rear.
Coat
Distinctive feature, short dense without wave or feathering, giving fairly hard feel to the touch; weather-resistant undercoat.
Colour
Wholly black, yellow or liver/chocolate. Yellows range from light cream to red fox. Small white spot on chest permissible.
Size
Ideal height at withers: dogs: 56-57 cms (22-221/2 ins); bitches: 55-56 cms (211/2-22 ins).
Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
General Appearance
Medium sized, compact. Powerful, well muscled. A heavily feathered tail, constantly moving.
Characteristics
Jumps and plays to lure waterfowl into decoy. Retrieves dead and wounded birds. Strong swimmer.
Temperament
Kind, confident, intelligent, easy to train. Playful.
Head and Skull
Clean cut skull, slightly wedge shaped. Broad, slightly rounded. Occiput not prominent. Cheeks flat. Moderate stop. Muzzle tapers from stop to nose. Nostrils well developed. Nose flesh coloured or black.
Eyes
Medium size, almond-shaped, set well apart. Friendly, alert expression. Brown to amber, blending with coat colour. Eye rims flesh coloured or black.
Ears
Triangular, dropped ear of medium size. Set high and well back on skull. Base held very slightly erect. Well feathered at back of fold, hair shorter at rounded tips.
Mouth
Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Teeth sound and strong. Softness of mouth essential. Lips tight fitting, flesh coloured or black.
Neck
Medium length, strongly muscled, well set on, no indication of throatiness.
Forequarters
Shoulders well laid back, muscular, medium length. Elbows close to body. Forelegs straight and strong. Pasterns strong, slightly sloping.
Body
Deep chested, ribs well sprung, brisket reaches to elbow. Back short, level topline. Loins strong and muscular. Moderate tuck up.
Hindquarters
Well muscled. Stifles well bent, hocks well let down turning neither in nor out.
Feet
Medium size, round, tight. Toes well arched and strongly webbed. Pads thick, blending with coat colour.
Tail
Set on, slightly sloping towards croup. Broad at base, well feathered; reaching the hock. Carried below level of back at rest; when alert, curves over, not touching back.
Gait/Movement
Impression of power, springy, jaunty with good reach of forelegs and strong rear drive; parallel movement fore and aft. Single tracks at speed; head carried almost level with back.
Coat
Straight, repellent, double coat of medium length and softness with a softer, dense undercoat. Slight wave on back allowed. Feathering at throat, behind ears and at back of thighs. Forelegs moderately feathered.
Colour
All shades of red or orange with lighter featherings and underside of tail. White markings usual in at least one of the following places: tip of tail, feet not extending beyond the pasterns, chest and blaze. Lack of white not to be penalised. Any black in coat highly undesirable in the show ring.
Size
Ideal height: dogs: 48-51 cms (19-20 ins); bitches: 45-48 cms (18-19 ins).
Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.