A Toller is a smart and studious dog, who needs to be worked and trained, whether in hunting or a different kind of dog sports. They love to work with and for their humans. A Toller is not a dog for three times a day around the house.
The Toller is and stays a hunting-/working dog with a lot of passion and these properties have to be maintained. In addition is the Toller a sensitive dog, who needs to be educated with a gentle but consistent hand, humor and lot of patience. The Toller will not always obediently do what you ask, they are well-known for to fill in a command their own way. There you should be able to cope with as an owner/handler, a healthy dose of humor and perspective is important for a Toller-owner. Tollers are not everybody's friend (definitely no small Golden Retriever), they learn fast, but can also quickly learn the wrong things :-) So know very well what you are starting. They are energetic dogs, need for physical movement and mental challenge. The Toller is a smart dog, who is quick and eager te learn. The Toller is, in addition to hunting and retrieving, also extremely suitable for other training as obedience, tracking and agility. The natural retrieving desire and their playfulness are essential for the "toll"- feature. As can be also said of the "pointing" with pointing dogs, is that the "toll"-feature is determined genetically and not or hardly can be taught. The Tollers have an intense and natural duty. You have to train and play with a Toller in order to build a bond. The people in Nova Scotia don't talk about working the dog, but "playing the dog". Other owners say the Tollers are retrieving maniacs. "If anyone ever throws away a ball, the Toller keeps bringing the ball back, until the arm of this unfortunate falls of". There is a story of a Toller, which still takes his ball to the top of the hill to drop it there. Then he runs hard back in an attempt to catch the ball before it comes down the hill. This game could have hours of repeat. The breed is sensitive and very attached to his pack. The Toller is not always a everybody's friend like the Golden Retriever. Towards strangers he is sometimes reserved (but certainly not aggressive). Also in training the Toller distinguishes itself by the high degree of intelligence. The Toller will not always unthinkingly do what you ask, but think for themselves whether there is an easier way to achieve the desired result. This means that a patient approach to proper training is required.
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