Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers
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All In The Familiy By Alison Strang
Crufts, "the greatest show on earth", has come and gone for another year. As far as the British Toller is concerned, the result has simply added to the lustre of what is by any stretch of the imagination a record-setting family connection. For Best of Breed went to Camusmor Whattabargin for Ruddyduck, whose sire is the illustrious Ami, Narod the Impossible Dream, an apt name for a dog who has made so many dreams come true.
It all began when Dave and Babs Harding, who were among the first in Britain to fall under the Toller spell, acquired Decoymans I’Am A Viking who was imported from Sweden in utero by breeder John Norris, the Nacton decoyman. This was in the days before Tollers had to compete in Rare Breed classes but Kai left his mark there before siring the key Toller so far in UK. It may be as well to explain here that new breeds in UK have to wait some time in order to reach Challenge Certificate status, so no championships can be awarded until this happens. That day has not yet come for Tollers.
Ami, owned by Babs with her niece Elaine Whitehill who always handles him, soon made his presence felt and when Tollers got KC recognition in 2001, Ami began his dominance of the show scene. He was the first Toller to go Best of Breed at Crufts in 2002, followed by Best of Breed in 2004, 2006 and 2007. Babs, a longtime breeder of Welsh Springer Spaniels, judged Tollers at Crufts in 2003 so Ami could not be shown, but BOB that year went to his sister, Narod the Enchanting Dream. Ami then added to his lustre by going Best Veteran Male in Breed at the 2008 and 2009 Crufts. Just for the record, the 2005 Breed winner was an Arni son, Camusmor Bruichladdich at Tilita, and in 2008 yet another son came out on top, Camusmor Glen Scotia at Dallyvista. And waiting in the wings is Dave and Babs' young winner Trevargh The Entertainer at Brizewood, an Arni grandson who was Top Top Toller 2008 at just 23 months of age.
Ami also has won 58 Best of Breeds and twice placed 4th in Veteran Group judging at Championship shows. He was Top Toller from 2002 through 2006 and joint Top in 2007.
But it is as a stud dog that Arni has displayed his true worth. He has gone Top Stud Dog in Breed from 2004 through 2008, and placed Top Rare Breeds Stud Dog in 2005 and 2007, Top Rare Breeds overall 2006. Along with the Crufts-winning sons, one of his daughters, Camusmor Caol Ila of Trevargh, was Top Bitch in breed for 2006 and 2008, with 23 Top Bitch in Breed awards. And, guess what, she is dam to Woody, Top Toller 2008!
Believe it or not, all this has come from only THREE breedings! Whatta dog. Those girls and he must have really "nicked."
The exact history of the Toller is somewhat unclear but is known that "smallish ginger-coloured decoy dogs" were used for centuries in Europe to lure ducks into nets. These "red decoy dogs" could very well be fore-runners of today’s Toller. Other breeds thought to be in the Toller’s ancestry include Brittany Spaniel, Irish Setter, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Golden Retriever and some small type of Collie. However it was done, the cross breeding produced a fox-like dog with the desired working abilities which became known as the Little River Duck Dog after Nova Scotia’s district of Yarmouth County, the centre of the breed’s development. Nova Scotia is considered the place of origin of this breed and in 1945 it was officially recognised by the Canadian Kennel Club as the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.The Toller was bred to Run, Jump and play along the shoreline in full view of geese or ducks the dogs playful action arouse the curiosity of the ducks swimming off shore and they are lured within gunshot range, the Toller is then sent out to retrieve dead or injured birds, they are strong and able swimmers.
They were first introduced into the UK in 1988 by the late Miss Geraldine Flack, the first litter being born in quarantine kennels in Bristol to a bitch imported in whelp from the Harbourlights Kennel of the late Avery Nickerson of Nova Scotia, these puppies became the foundation stock for Geraldine's Lyonhouse Kennel.
They are medium sized 18/19 ins. for a bitch, 19/20 ins. for a male,they are a powerful balanced well muscled dog, medium bone, with a high degree of agility, alertness and determination.
They were first introduced into the UK in 1988 by the late Miss Geraldine Flack, the first litter being born in quarantine kennels in Bristol to a bitch imported in whelp from the Harbourlights Kennel of the late Avery Nickerson of Nova Scotia, these puppies became the foundation stock for Geraldine's Lyonhouse Kennel.
They are medium sized 18/19 ins. for a bitch, 19/20 ins. for a male,they are a powerful balanced well muscled dog, medium bone, with a high degree of agility, alertness and determination.
