Tollers?

[suzysues]

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. Hubs & me have fallen in love with these dogs after seeing them on the net. Has anyone had any experience with them. There is a breeder about 1.5 hrs from me, so when the time is right, we may go for this one. I think they are a lot like a Golden in temperment ect, but are slightly smaller. I will do lots of research 1st, but they are so pretty!!

Tollers (http://www.toller.org/PhotoOfTheWeek/)

[goodtim'n]

I totally love them also. The do very well in agility, not many around yet, but I think they are on the move. Recently brought in to AKC. Wonderful dogs on the research I did on them last year, I also am very interested in acquiring one. I'd like to get one before the breed gets out of control as we know can happen with breeding programs. Some have said they are the, OTHER VERSION OF THE GOLDEN, I beleive they are referring to the all around nature of the breed. Not quite as large, still lots of coat, very sharp with brains, and gets along well with others, same as the goldens. Happiest living near water and LOVES to go DUCK hunting.

[suzysues]

They sound wonderful!! And surely a good 2nd dog for a Golden owner? I was suprised to find any in UK as they originate from Canada. I will try to find out more about the breeder. I don't want one yet as Abbey is only 11 months, so she would just want to puppy play with it and she is too big to do that to a puppy!! I think it will be within the next year. :029

[goodtim'n]

Great, I think the breed can be very successful in the right hands. If I had to any reason downsize the large breed, I would definetly go with the trollers, but like I said I think one will be in my family next year. Now you went and got me all jazzzed up. rofl3 They will never totally take the place of my goldens, because there will always be a GOLDEN roaming around our home. After 20yrs with this breed, I think I'm HOOOOKED. banana Happy Tolling Hunting :029

[Dogli]

I almost got one when I was looking for a second dog. They aren't really like goldens. They are less willing to please you and are more cautious of strangers.
http://www.nsdtrc-usa.org/toller_info.htm
Here they have some info about them.

[goodtim'n]

But really, is there anything anywhere that totally compares to a GOLDEN banana

[suzysues]

Thanks for the info Dogli! I liked this bit:
While they learn quickly, they also bore quickly. Training sessions must be kept short and light, fun and challenging. I thought they were describing me!! :laugh2 So I think I will get on well with a Toller.

Today the Toller is multi-faceted. You get the ideal dog...a retriever, a hunter, a loyal watchdog, a show dog (obedience or conformation) and a wonderful loving pet all rolled into one! I just want a loving pet who will be obedience trained, to pet standard. I hope that that won't mean it will be bored. Abbey gets a run in the park everyday and always comes back wet & muddy. Therefore, I think that playing with her will keep the Toller happy.

It’s not a definite decision yet. I would love a Rough Collie or Sheltie as they are so graceful & remind me of my darling Rough Collie X, who I still miss so much. However, hubs prefers a more boisterous dog.

[Dogli]

Nothing really does compare to a golden,but there are some great breeds out there,especially in the AKC sporting group.

[Ami]

All I can say is that they have TONS of energy.

[koda_dad]

But really, is there anything anywhere that totally compares to a GOLDEN banana

Nope

[kristyrenee]

Rockne is my first golden and they are the best breed ever...I'm hooked now! I can't imagine NOT having a golden- they have such great personalities :dogbark

[2blondebabes]

Koda dad

Your golden looks so much like my girl! I don't have a more recent shot of her but I swear they could be related! :003

[GoldenLady]

I almost got one when I was looking for a second dog. They aren't really like goldens. They are less willing to please you and are more cautious of strangers.
http://www.nsdtrc-usa.org/toller_info.htm
Here they have some info about them.

I agree - they're not really like Goldens at all. A lot of people have the idea that they're like a smaller version of the Golden, and Toller breeders are very quick to tell people about all the differences. My sister and her husband have an 11-month old Toller; before they got him we all did a lot of research into the breed, and so far his temperament and behaviour have backed it all up.

They are, as previously posted, *very* active dogs - people often describe them as being just one step down from a Border Collie. And as Dogli said, they're more aloof with strangers - very loving with their own families and friends, but not the type of dog to want to meet and get attention from anyone and everyone when they're out in public.

They can also be a *real* challenge to train as puppies. I've seen more sass in this little Toller than I've ever gotten out of any of my Goldens - and my first Golden, a female, was a very difficult pup for a Golden, almost impossible to tire out and constantly testing me to make me prove I really was the leader of the pack.

Tollers are great dogs, don't get me wrong. But like many Golden owners, I had thought that maybe *someday* I wouldn't mind having a Toller as well, and now I'm thinking I'll just stick to Goldens.... I've gotten spoiled for that sweet, gentle, loving character, and I like the fact that they're that way all the time, and with everybody. :)

[suzysues]

Thanks for all the info. I am having second thoughts now. I am leaning more to a smaller, gentler dog. Abbey isn't very affectionate, but that maybe because she is still young and is either playing or sleeping? I miss my cuddles with my Rough Collie X so am thinking I need something more like her. A Sheltie or Cavalier? I won't be getting another pup until I move house, (if I can wait that long!!) as I have to keep the house nice for viewings.

Any advice will be greatly received. Thank you!

Koda-dad: I notice you live in Nova Scotia Canada :) Are their lots of Tollers around you?

[GoldenLady]

Suzysues, I don't know how set you are on getting a smaller dog, but you might also want to consider a male Golden.... I find the males can be cuddlier and generally ****ier (they want to be with you all the time, while females tend to be more independent), and a Golden boy might fill your need for a more affectionate dog - they're like big teddy bears. :) Don't get me wrong - female Goldens can certainly still be cuddly and mushy - but in my experience (I know a lot of Golden breeders and have been working with dogs for the past 12 years), there do tend to be differences between the sexes. I've seen it summed up as follows: Male Goldens behave as if they're saying I love you, I love you, while with female Goldens, it's love me, love me. ;)

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are wonderful little dogs - I always think of them as being like Goldens in small packages. :) I'm not sure if you'd want a Sheltie.... They're nice working dogs, but the temperament is quite different from that of a Golden.

GoldenLady

[suzysues]

I've seen it summed up as follows: Male Goldens behave as if they're saying I love you, I love you, while with female Goldens, it's love me, love me.
That is a really good point! I must admit when I read the post's here is does seem to be the boys that are more affectionante & the girls are clowns (or show off's?)

I showed this to my daughter & she said that she always found our boy dog (lab or Golden X) more affectionate than our girl. I never noticed, because the girl (The Rough Collie X) was MY baby, she was totaly loyal to me! She was always by my side & sitting with me. Its only now that I see Abbey being more loving to my hubby, that I realise how Pebs was with me.

It is defiantely worth thinking about. I do love Goldens. Its just that Abbey has "issue's" so it has made me look to another breed. But I do beleive (tell me if you disagree) that having another dog will help with Abbey's "issues".

[GoldenLady]

I do love Goldens. Its just that Abbey has "issue's" so it has made me look to another breed. But I do beleive (tell me if you disagree) that having another dog will help with Abbey's "issues".

I'm new here (well, actually I used to post here a long time ago, but have only just come back over the past few days), so I haven't had the chance to read about Abbey's issues yet, unfortunately. (If you'd care to point me in the direction of some of your posts or to post an "in a nutshell" version of it here, please feel free!) I can tell you that from my own experience with my first Golden, a female, I really wasn't at all sure I'd go for another Golden the next time around.... She was sweet and loving, of course, but she always had a preference for men (I found this out *right* after I got her, much to my chagrin), and was a very stubborn girl and quite independent. Also, it seemed like no matter what I did, she always preferred other people because they were new and more exciting to her. :rolleyes: Then I met a wonderful Golden boy that one of my clients had; he was everything my Heidi was not, and I fell in love with him instantly. I even offered to board him at my house while his owners were away for a couple of weeks, and having him around was pure heaven. After that, and doing some more research of course, I decided to get a Golden boy of my own.... I have never looked back since. I now have two boys, and if I were to get a third dog I would still get another male. And I have no interest in having anything but Goldens now. :)

I'm not saying that all females are like mine was, by any means - just wanted to share my own experience in the matter, since it sounds like you're in a similar situation to what I went through.