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MediumSporting Group

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever was bred in early-19th-century Nova Scotia to 'toll' (play along the shoreline) and lure ducks within shooting range.

Calculate Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever age
Lifespan13.2 yrrange 12–14
SizeMediumSporting Group
Weight35–50 lb15.9–22.7 kg
Senior at7 yrgeriatric at 11

Gallery (3)

About

About the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever was bred in early-19th-century Nova Scotia to 'toll' (play along the shoreline) and lure ducks within shooting range. The smallest of the AKC retrievers, recognized by the AKC only in 2003.

Aging

How Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers age

RVC VetCompass gives a median lifespan of 13.2 years (n=333). The small founding population has concentrated risk of steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA); progressive retinal atrophy (prcd) also screens at elevated rates.

Lifespan deep-diveAvg 13.2 yr · range 12–14Senior careSenior at 7 · geriatric at 11Common health issues11 tracked conditions
Physical

Physical characteristics

Weight
35–50 lb(15.9–22.7 kg)
Height
17–21 in(43.2–53.3 cm)
Coat type
Double
Colors
RedBuffRed Gold
Temperament

Temperament

How Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers tend to show up around their people, other dogs, and the world.

affectionatealertplayfulintelligent
  • Energy
  • Trainability
  • Good with kids
  • Good with other dogs
  • Shedding
Health

Common health issues

Full health profile
  • Moderatetypical onset ~5 yr

    Hypothyroidism

    Description and veterinary guidance for Hypothyroidism land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Moderatetypical onset ~5 yr

    Intervertebral Disc Disease

    Description and veterinary guidance for Intervertebral Disc Disease land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Low prevalencetypical onset ~7 yr

    Cataracts

    Description and veterinary guidance for Cataracts land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

Exercise
90min
per day

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are high-output dogs — plan for 90 minutes of daily activity across a mix of walks, off-leash play, and purposeful work.

Related

Related breeds

Breeds with a similar size and group profile, for readers comparing options.

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References

Sources

Lifespan and health figures on this page are drawn from the peer-reviewed and organizational sources below.

  1. AKC breed standardAmerican Kennel Club breed page

    Breed size, weight range, height, AKC group, origin, coat type, and temperament baseline.

  2. RVC VetCompassRoyal Veterinary College VetCompass life-table research (McMillan et al. 2024)

    UK primary-care records; source for the median-lifespan and mortality figures.