The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (NSDTR) originated in Nova Scotia and was bred to attract ducks until they were in range for the hunter, and to collect them once they were down. They are thought to be a mixture of the Labrador, Irish Setter, Flat Coated Retriever, Cocker Spaniel and Chesapeake Bay retriever! The variety of hunting and sporting breeds combined into this dog make the NSDTR excellent at their job and gives them a high prey drive.

This breed has a compact, athletic body with toned, thin legs. They have a long, slender muzzle and medium sized floppy ears that are pricked upwards. The NSDTR has large curious eyes and a long bushy tail that is used as a rudder when retrieving game that has landed in water.

The NSDTR is a lively, loving breed that will make a great working partner as well as a great family dog because they adore children, dogs and smaller pets. This breed is friendly, outgoing and affectionate and will be a simpler dog to train, but their owners will experience their stubbornness at times! NSDTR’s thrive on the attention and praise they get from their owners because they need to know that they are needed!

Breed Group

Sporting

Size

Males: 17-21 inches high

Females: 17-21 inches high

Weight

Males: 37-51 lbs
Females: 37-51 lbs

Color(s)

The NSDTR will only be a reddish colour but can come in different shades of the red. White patches or markings on their paws, tail, and chest are permitted but they must not be large.

Coat

This breed has a wavy, smooth textured double layered coat. The outer layer is a bit more coarse and long but the under layer is plushy and thick. The NSDTR will not need extensive grooming but weekly brushing and monthly bathes should be perfect!

Life Expectancy

About 12-14 years.

Personality

The NSDTR is an active, smart and energetic breed that will need a large amount of exercise to keep them happy. Despite their small size, this breed should have at least 1-2 hours of physical activity per day. This breed is outgoing and friendly with family and friends but when it comes to people they’ve never met, they tend to be more weary until they are introduced. NSDTR’s have an unusually strong bond with their owners and they literally thrive on the affection they get from them.

These dogs are in a constant mind of play and usually find things to keep them entertained. They love to explore and are high spirited dogs making friends everywhere they go! This cheerful breed will do best with an active owner or family that enjoys outdoor sports or events.

Care

The NSDTR will need a minimal amount of grooming maintenance to upkeep their coat. Brushing 1-2 times per week and bathing every 2 months will be great! These dogs are prone to hip dysplasia, eye ailments such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy and possibly thyroid problems. For the most part, this breed is generally quite healthy!

Training

These dogs are incredibly clever and will just need a gentle owner who can be firm while teaching them. Shorter lessons that take place multiple times per day will be much more effective as it will give the dogs more repetition and time for the information to sink in. NSDTR’s are not a difficult breed to train because they have such a high motivation to please their owners.

Activity

The NSDTR will need at least 1-2 hours of exercise per day to tire them out. This can be done running at an off-leash park or swimming in a lake. These dogs don’t really care what sort of activities they do but as long as they and their owners are having fun, that’s all that matters! They will be well off in an apartment as long as they are taken out every day and a backyard is not needed but access to one would be a bonus.

The Labrador Retriever, also called “Labrador” or “Lab” for short, is one of the most popular breed of dog in the North America and England. One of the oldest recognized breeds, there are more Labrador Retrievers officially registered with breed registries in the beginning of this century than any other purebred in the US or UK.

Originating on the island of Newfoundland, Canada, during the 1700s, the Labrador Retriever were brought to England in the early 1800s by English fishermen. The Labrador Retriever is the result of selective breeding between the now-extinct St. John’s Water Dog, the Newfoundland, and some native water dogs.

He was first used to jump overboard into the icy waters of the North Atlantic to retrieve large fish escaping from nets or to haul fisherman’s nets to shore. There are two types of Lab, the English and the American lines. The English bred Labrador are more calm, thick and heavy, while American bred Lab mature slowly and are tall and thin.

Breed Group

Sporting

Size

21 – 24 inches tall (at shoulder)

Weight

55 – 80 lbs, but some males can grow up to 100 lbs.

Color(s)

The Labrador Retriever coat colors are solid black, yellow or pale to deep “chocolate”, in that order of frequency and popularity and it’s possible to have all three colors within a single litter.

Coat

The Labrador Retriever is a short, straight, easy-care and very dense water-resistant double coat breed, thus protecting this breed from the extensive use of the dog in all types of ground and water environments.

Life Expectancy

About 10 – 12 years.

Personality

The highly intelligent Labrador Retriever is a loyal, affectionate, patient and high-spirited dog. They are good-natured, outgoing, and possess an extremely sociable temperament, they love everyone.

They are kind to children and friendly to other dogs and animals. They may be aloof with strangers and make good watchdogs, but not guard dogs.

The Labrador Retriever need human attention and to feel they are part of the family. Known as docile and reliable, these active dogs have even been put to work as service dogs for the handicapped person and numerous guide dogs for the blind in the world are Labrador Retrievers.

Care

Labrador Retrievers are a generally healthy breed with few major problems. However, they may suffer from hip and elbow dysplasia, ear infections, eye disorders and skin tumors. The smooth, short-haired, double coat requires regular grooming with a firm bristle brush. Bathe only when absolutely necessary.

Training

The versatile Labrador Retrievers is easy to train and open minded to new things, some of their talents include; hunting, police work, search and rescue, watchdogging, agility, and competitive obedience. They needs fairness, firmness, consistency in training and do not respond to harsh or heavy-handed methods. The Labrador Retriever have very strong necks and must be train early not to pull on the leash.

Activity

Labrador Retrievers breed will do okay in an apartment dwelling if sufficiently exercised. They are fairly active indoors and will do best with at least an average-sized yard to run without a leash. They enjoy work and play (especially in water), family play sessions, swimming, retrieving a ball and fetch Frisbees.

The Newfoundland comes from Newfoundland’s island. It’s the descendant of the indigenous dogs and the big black bear dogs, brought by Vikings after the year 1001. The size of a dog might be a result of big mastiff dogs, which have been brought by Portuguese fishermen.

In 1610, when the island’s colonization started, the breed already had its own physical characteristics and its natural behavior. That’s how it could resist to the rough conditions. It was used to pull fishnets and heavy equipment and also to rescue people from the water.

Breed Group

Working

Size

Male: 27-29 inches
Female: 25-27 inches

Weight

Male: 130-150 lbs
Female: 100-120 lbs

Color(s)

Black: This is the original color of the Newfoundland. They are usually entirely black but they can have a little bit of white or copper tint.

White and black: This variety is called a Landseer; black head with a black and white body.

Brown: This color shades from chocolate to bronze. It can have a little bit of white.

Coat

The Newfie has a waterproof double coat. The outer coat is of a medium length and straight while the undercoat is soft and dense. On the head, the muzzle and the ears, the hairs are short and thin. The four legs are fringed. The tail is entirely recovered from long and dense hairs.

Life Expectancy

About 8 – 10 years

Personality

The Newfoundland has a calm, generous and gentle behavior. It is extremely intelligent, courageous and even playful at times, it is regarded as having human emotions. Entirely devoted to its family, it makes a very good watchdog; however, it does not bark or growl to scare the intruder. It tends to place its self between its family member and the intruder. It is very good with other pets and shows a great patience with kids; it is considered to be a “born babysitter”.

Care

The Newf is prone to hip dysplasia; you must never let a Newfoundland get fat. It also has a tendency to heart problems. It is a hereditary disease called sub-aortic stenosis (SAS). The owner of a Newfoundland should have its puppy’s heart checked at 8-12 weeks of age.

This breed has to be preferably brushed daily, but a weekly brushing is also acceptable. They moult twice a year and an extra care is required at these moments. Avoid bathing.

Training

The obedience training should start at a young age. Due to its high sensitivity, it is unnecessary to train your Newfoundland with a harsh voice; it will not respond well. It should be trained in a calm manner.

Activity

The Newfoundland is a lazy dog, but it needs moderate exercise every day. It will always enjoy to take a walk or to go swimming. It can easily live in an apartment if sufficiently exercised. Even a small yard should be enough.