How to Identify a Yarmouth Toller

The Yarmouth Toller is a product of Nova Scotia and has many names such as; the Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever, and the Little River Duck dog. It’s believed that this breed is a descendent of the Tolling Red Decoy dogs which went with their masters on the move from Great Britain. Tolling is a specific activity typically performed by foxes that effectively lures inquisitive geese and ducks. The Yarmouth Toller shares this instinctive ability, which makes it a very good dog for duck hunting enthusiasts. This breed also makes for an excellent companion, given its playful, loving and energetic demeanor. It coexists well with children and other dogs and never barks unless it senses danger.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog
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Instructions

    • 1

      Begin by assessing the dog’s size, weight and dimensions. It should stand between one and a half and two feet high at the shoulder, weighing a moderate 40 to 50 pounds. The dog should be significantly longer bodied than it is tall, possessing a build very similar to the Golden Retriever. The back should be straight and the tail should be half as long as the dog and heavily feathered. This tail is typically kept level with the ground but raises up when the dog is excited. This breed should have a moderately thick bone structure and an excessively deep and fatty chest and torso for insulation against the cold waters of its homeland.

    • 2

      Check the dog’s fur. The coat should be long, thick, and very dense with a light coating of natural oil that repels water. Typically the dog is a shade of orange or red with variations in shade throughout. It often has white markings on the chest, tail, feet and sometimes on the face. The fur should be straight and flat with a slight curl on the back and heavy feathering on the chest, underbelly and legs.

    • 3

      Examine the dog’s head. It should be solid and wedge-shaped with long triangular ears flopped far to the sides of the skull. The fur should be shaggy, slightly longer than one would see on a Golden Retriever. One thing to note is the size of the eyes. They are dark and much, much smaller than one would expect on a dog of this size. This is in part due to the oversized thick eyelids which protect it from cold water and snowy conditions. If the dog matches this description, then it’s a Yarmouth Toller.