Top Ten Reasons Not to Get a Toller - The Movie (with Chester)

[Shastaphirre]

My dog is a mutt that very closely resembles a Toller. However, she must have lost all of that "smartness" that you're talking about.

[boarderhsoj420]

Griffon is our 6 year old Toller and fits all ten reasons perfectly! He has a habit of always holding his tennis or racquet ball in his mouth while laying around. So that scream/howl he makes is usually a muffled scream/howl. It's the funniest noise ever! Especially when you tell him to be quiet because he will just keep doing but really soft and give you that classic guilty Toller look. I'll have to post a video to show it. Great video! KCCO!

[natew00]

@boarderhsoj420 It sounds like Griffon is a wonderful Toller. Thank you so much for the kind words. While I know every dog is different, I thought it would be fun to create a video that illustrated Peggy's great list.

[eyea00]

@boarderhsoj420  I really want a toller, but my parents are at the thinking stage. we have never had a dog. I rreeaallyy want a toller puppy. Can anyone help me? Where to get the pup, training etc.

[tommyrazzleisback]

Lovely video. We may be getting a toller pup at the end of february. 

[Syshil]

nice dog you have! I also have a toller, named Wildfowlers Here Comes the Sun (Coda). I participate in shows with him :D. One tip to make your dog even more beautiful: do his ears...

[Infaenyte]

Thank you for uploading such a lovely video!

We had a toller girlie up until a couple of years ago when she unfortunately passed away from old age. Everything on your video rang true!

Ours would bark at the door bell, and then wag her tail at whoever was behind it once it was open. She was also very food orientated which you didn't mention in your clip - but perhaps we just got a slightly greedy one :)

[englus]

Our nickname for our girlie is "Miss Priss"... she has ALWAYS had a mind of her own since she was a pup. RE: Vocal expression--We had a golden who was always getting out of the fence, the girlie toller would jump, pounce and loudly bark at point of golden's escape...then come to back door and "tattle" on the golden by doing her bark and scream...then go back to golden's point of escape. When we'd find golden and get him home, she would jump around him and on him barking like a scolding Mom :)

[englus]

We have a 9 y/o toller. Love her! Your adorable video & top 10 list spot-on about this breed. Our girlie, however, VERY protective of her "mommy" - me-- assertive & no tail wagging if she thinks a stranger approaches too close when we're walking.She is the smartest, most expressive dog we've ever met. Loved that you included Chester ignoring when you called-- our girl does too if she's not inclined to respond...I swear I think I've seen her roll her eyes a few times when she's ignoring me!

[natew00]

@englus Thanks so much for the nice reply. While others have correctly pointed out that a well trained (and mature) Toller can be incredibly obedient. I think you really touched on the point that the author of the list was making. Tollers will obey, but only if they are motivated. You really have to be as smart as the dog, and that can be difficult at times. It sounds like you have a wonderful Toller. Thank you...Nate

[GiJordyn]

"The scream (This sounds like the dog is getting fed into a wood chipper." Lol That was a funny description.

[natew00]

@GiJordyn Indeed.  Chester and other Tollers have a most distinctive voice when they get especially excited. Thanks for the nice comment.

[GiJordyn]

@natew00 I actually kind of like their "scream", it is unique. And No problem. Thanks for posting.

[calicokity1]

"Opportunistic and stunningly smart".  Ha! That describes our dog as well. We have long suspected our shelter rescue dog was part Toller (in fact, my husband's grandmother got them recognized here in Canada) but now I know it! Our dog won't steal food off the counter if anyone is around, but one time we left some pizza out for our son who was coming home after we went out. Son came home, nothing but an empty pizza box on the floor. Thanks for the video!

[natew00]

@calicokity1 How nice that you have a Toller now. We did not create the top 10 list, but we were asked to read it by several breeders before we got our Toller. We decided to make the movie to illustrate the list, but we can't take any credit for the items. Glad you enjoyed the video as well.

[haenen100]

Aw, your toller is cute, but I don't think he is(or she is) raised too well. Just be very pissed every once in a while when they bark and that should do it. My toller only barks when a family member is returning, and not even so extreme as yours on point 8. But it's good to know that others are experiencing the toller his dissaffection as well when it comes to hugging, we've got a neighbour with like 5 tollers and they are all dying to get some attention.

[KhanZelda]

This amazing dogs is exactly like my Jack Russell: FAST. Smart. Noisy. I love them ♥ =3

[natew00]

@KhanZelda Thanks for posting. We sure love Chester too.

[shyeeyore]

Orry (my toller) is similar to Chester except that Orry is very quiet. No body but the family has seen Orry barking or whining. I just wish Orry was a little bit more affectionate. He never gives kisses to anyone!

[natew00]

@shyeeyore Funny how Tollers show their affection in unique ways. Thanks for the comment.

[will77537]

you just havent trained him well AT ALL!! i have one and live in nova scotia. i use him frequently for duck hunting. he is very tame and doesnt bark like a hyeina. when i say heal he comes to me and lines up by my side. when i say break he does as he pleases and sit he stays until i say break etc. whe i say bird he goes to retreive a bird or what ever the small game is. not a dog for the city though...at all

[BalletxBeast]

Our Toller Buddy is so many of those things. He is the opposite, though. He is crawling in my lap right now and is trying ot lick my whole face. He competes with my husband for time and space next to me. We can't take him to the dog park because he will fight with any dog that gets close to his family. We got Buddy from the pound 7 yrs ago, so we have only known he was a toller since I posted his pic on Facebook. This video was awesome. Thanks.

[natew00]

@BalletxBeast So glad you left the nice post, thanks. It is nice to hear about other wonderful Tollers.

[jibdah]

ive never had a dog before. do you think a toler is a good dog for us?

[natew00]

@jibdah In many ways, Tollers are like any other dogs in that they need their exercise, and training is very helpful. I would only recommend that you pick a dog that compliments your lifestyle. If you are active, then choosing an active dog will be great. If not, you might look for a dog that is also not as active.

[GiJordyn]

@jibdah I dont think thats a good dog if youve never had one. Get a golden retriever theyare a better starter dog for people whos never had one.

[callikins1]

A bored Toller is a BAD Toller ..... make sure this breed is the proper one for your family ... if you are dedicated and an active family this dog will fit in very well:) Love you Reba!!!

[sprytaen]

We were originally told that Ruby was a full Aussie - we knew that wasn't true, but thought she was a Golden/Aussie. We'd never heard of the Toller breed until someone told us about it at the dog park. She is *definitely* a Toller. And after watching this video, she could BE Chester. Same mannerisms. Especially the standoffishness to strangers and familiars alike. :)

[natew00]

@sprytaen How great. I'm so glad you found the video to be helpful. We get so many comments that people want a Toller, but can't find one. You are fortunate that you had one all along.  Hope you and Ruby have many happy years together.

[RoxasM]

LoL! i love #6, how the other retrieving dog -black lab, doesn't run for the ball, only Chester. LOL, that's pretty funny. I've thought most labs to be crazy about retrieving -especially balls. :p

[natew00]

@RoxasM Thanks for the nice comment. It was fun making the video...Chester is a great dog.

[shashingdeath]

We have a Toller too. His name is Cody. He has some trouble with coming back to us if we call him. He's runaway before, but otherwise he's pretty good.

[natew00]

@shashingdeath Tollers seem to have a mind of their own at times. Thanks for the post.

[ItsTheTwinThing]

I must disagree with this video...habits such as barking and not listening occur in any breed, even goldens and labs. It needs to be nipped in the butt right away, like biting. It may be your dog's habits but this is a generalization. Tollers are extremely smart, eager to please and friendly. Not saying Chester isn't loved - he looks very healthy and beautiful and happy! - that's just to say your dog is his own personal, come-offy antisocial pet. He doesn't fit the generalization of this breed..

[natew00]

@ItsTheTwinThing Greetings. We have gotten similar comments, and I can't disagree that good training is critical to having a happy Toller. I can only offer that we did not create list, that is credited to Peggy O'Connell. We learned of her list when we visited Toller breeder websites, and it is even referenced on the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club website. So while the list is a generalization, I believe it serves a purpose to tell new owners that the breed takes patience and work.

[oparkhereo]

Great video! When did Chester start barking? Button, my two year old female, hasn't barked yet. She yelped once when she was startled by a squirrel going around a corner but that's about it.

[lmlollmfao]

Chester is the most beautiful toller i have yet seen!!!

[natew00]

@lmlollmfao How nice of you to say. We are pretty happy with out little boy too.

[celticrafter]

Forgot to say that Penny loves being cuddled sitting with her head on my thigh just like in your video and she has been an excellent swimmer from three months old. We live near the ocean and she prefers to jump in the water from the rocks rather than wade in on the beach.

I do agree that tollers needs plenty of training right from day one when you get them home. Besides the regular obedience classes, Penny has participated in Agility which she loves, especially going through the tunnels!

[celticrafter]

I have a toller- Ch Copper Penny, age 9, and had one previous to Penny. Neither of my Tollers barked like how you show in your video. They were both very quiet dogs even when on the hunt. They can be easily trained as puppies to be quiet.

Just want to say this in case people see your video and think that all tollers makes this noise.

Sharon

[KGotschall]

Althought this video is really cute, and Chester seems to have quite a personality, I wanted to let people know that the list is intended to educate people on the breed tendencies, not things all Toller owners should be content living with. Toller owners will find that many of these breed tendencies can be put under control through creating a healthy outlet for drive and energy, as well as setting good standards of obeidence and good manners.

They are not he breed for the novice.

[natew00]

@KGotschall Thanks for the thoughtful comments. I believe "the list" was written and published to inform prospective owners of the breed tendencies.  We simply made the video to illustrate the list with some love and humor. It sounds like you love your Tollers too

[Airbornpress]

Chester is soooo much like Josh! (Check out his video "A Scream of Tollers"

Right down to the eating of whatever-it-is in the dirt, and not being too interested in water. I gather a lot of young tollers are like that.

Nice thing about tollers, as opposed to other active dogs, is that they have an off-switch. Josh can go in an instant from a determied pest to a complete cuddle-bug. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to locate the switch :-)

Fun movie!

[LisaheartFanta]

the toller is one of the best breeds in the whole world. if you make it your friend it'll follow you through whatever. and even if it does some bad things now and then, you're gonna miss it when you're gone and all the great moments you had together. For one my dog always gives me a cosy wakeup with licks in face and then lays down close to me. he always makes me happy seeing him work. The best thing in the world with him, is that he's ALWAYS happy to be with me. love him to bits ^^

[natew00]

@LisaheartFanta I fully agree. Interesting that you began the comment "If you make it your friend". Chester is not like other retrievers (Goldens/Labs) in that he is not instantly everyone's best friend. He takes time to meet strangers as if to decide who he wants as a friend. Thanks for nice comment.

[paintballer34878]

Would a toller be a good first dog to get? I've looked into them a lot and I love the outdoors and I am an avid Huntsman, But I was wondering whether or not to get a toller first or get a Lab first.

[natew00]

@paintballer34878 I think both breeds are great dogs. From what I've read, both dogs make wonderful pets. Tollers are known to be very active, and will need to trained and worked. It will be much easier for you to find a Lab. Either way, find someone who can help you learn how to train the dog so it becomes a happy member of your family.

[anjichojou]

#4 another example: my toller was a little older and my sister was making herself a chicken sandwich. she went to get some mayo or something and the chicken that was on the plate on the table was gone. xD my toller had snatched the meat and rushed to the dining room to hide it. All the same, we trained her very well and now she is sweet, well natured, and lovable. :D

[natew00]

@anjichojou Thanks for the nice comments. Sounds like you have a great Toller.

[anjichojou]

#4 another example: my was a little older and my sister was making herself a chicken sandwich. she went to get some mayo or something and the chicken that was on the plate on the table was gone. xD my toller had snatched the meat and rushed to the dining room to hide it. All the same, we trained her very well and now she is sweet, well natured, and lovable. :D

[anjichojou]

#4 example: It was easter when my toller was a puppy and there were groceries sitting on the living room floor waiting to be put away. She went into the dining room to check out what the strange things on the floor were. The plastic had split on the lamb roast and she waited until everyone was in the kitchen to start gnawing on the revealed bone. We caught her before she got too far though :)

[purplemakeuplove]

do u think these dogs are good with hcildren and other dogs?

[natew00]

@purplemakeuplove I'm not an expert with Tollers and children. My experience is that Chester will sometimes avoid small children when he wants his space. He is never protective of his toys or space. I think you just need to realize that they are not like a Golden in that they don't always want to be cuddled and hugged. Sometimes, they need space, and children can't use them as a living stuffed animal. My wife does however.

[haganmaggie92]

my brittany ("spaniel?") cuddles b/w my legs but wont give me kisses either! haha

cute toller. i want one as a buddy for my brittany. he needs a playmate.

[natew00]

@haganmaggie92 I think the two dogs have more in common than pink noses.

[haganmaggie92]

my brittany ("spaniel?") cuddles b/w my legs but wont give me kisses either! haha

cute toller. i want one as a buddy for my brittany. he needs a playmate.

[argamoff]

Really there's only two reasons not to own a toller.

1) Don't own one if you're not willing to put in the hours. Obedience classes and lots and lots of daily exercise are essential. This will help put the kibosh on the barking and the errant behavior.

2) Sooner or later ALL duck tollers will outsmart their owners so don't own one if you aren't patient and can't handle having a dog who occasionally thinks and then acts of his own volition. This dog will show you respect as long as it's mutual.

[natew00]

@argamoff Great comments. They are so smart and worth all the work. You could almost say that they are a sensitive breed.

[argamoff]

My mother had one and when she started getting ill (dementia) the dog's personality changed right along with my mother. Cranky and generally unstable. We didn't know if she could be rehabilitated, she was just that unpleasant. When we finally got Mom into the nursing home my sister took the dog and now she's getting back to being a normal happy-go-lucky toller again.

My household is on our second toller. These dogs are very different from all the other breeds we've had over the years.

[xGUNSxGUITARxGARYx]

i love tolers. i am getting one in june! ive been waiting since last december!!!! my parents said i could get another dog if i finish wit ha 90 % grade or above. we are in a dog rescue especially for small dogs, but i LOVE tollers!!!

[natew00]

@xGUNSxGUITARxGARYx Good luck and enjoy your Toller

[chibyers]

I don't know. You pretty much described a long haired Border Collie

[natew00]

@chibyers It is true that many of the items in the list can be applied to other (working) dogs. Others have also commented that their Tollers don't exhibit all the qualities on the list. We did not write the list, and had fun making the video showing Chester.

[pukkepop]

Well I see some things are similar to our toller (Luka). He can be a pain and he's really smart. Although he is very active and lively, he absolutely not dominant. He adores my mom and he just likes the rest of our family. Anyway a fantastic breed, but they can be difficult. (Btw our toller doesn't like water ?!)

[natew00]

@pukkepop It actually took Chester a while to learn to enjoy swimming. As you can see, he surely does now. Thanks for the comment.

[vasiliskand]

not all of the are true. voice differs from dog to dog and tollers are good guards too.tollers are very easy to train but they sometimes need to take their time. i tottaly agree with #1:)

[natew00]

@vasiliskand Thanks for the comments...while we enjoyed creating the video, we certainly can't take credit for making the Top 10 list. That credit goes to Peggy O'Connell, and her list is widely referenced by breeders when new dog owners ask about the breed. I am sure that any specific dog might not display all the behaviors in the list, but they serve a useful purpose.

For the full text, you might enjoy doing a google search on the title.

[natew00]

@vasiliskand I'm sure every dog is different...it was just fun making a video show how our little boy fits the list...and sometimes doesn't.

[PTKilowatt]

I saw one of these today. There's a beach where dogs are welcome where I live, and at first I could have sworn it was a red-tailed fox at first. Very sweet dog, made friends with my greyhound very quickly.

I do have a friend who is looking to get a second dog so that his boxer isn't bored out of his skull all the time, how well do tollers get on with other dogs?

[natew00]

@PTKilowatt I am sure that it depends on the dogs.  Ours is very social, but we only have the one in our home. I don't think there is anything unique to Tollers on sharing a home.

[natew00]

@PTKilowatt I think it depends on the dog.  Chester was aggressive with other dogs when younger, but is pretty indifferent to most dogs now. He really enjoys private time with his mom in the woods now instead of running with a pack.

[canfieldchj]

LOVE IT!!! What a handsome boy, a great idea and a super movie!

[natew00]

@canfieldchj Thank you for leaving such a great comment. Today is Chester's birthday too!

[chicho242]

@Germanshepherdlover and natew00

Tollers dont bark so much actually. Im pretty sure Chester barks a lot just because thats the way he is (not saying its a bad thing).

Bred to toll (lure) and retrieve ducks, Tollers have to remain quiet so the birds dont take off abruptly.

Anyways, tollers are super smart and easy to train, training him to not bark should be easy

[natew00]

@chicho242 Thanks for the added info.

[Germanshepherdloverx]

Wow - love tollers, but live in a neighbourhood where dog noise is not permited. Fortunately, before we move, we have a year in which to train the dog not to bark indoors. Can it be done?

[Germanshepherdloverx]

Wow - love tollers, but live in a neighbourhood where dog noise is not permited. Fortunately, before we move, we have a year in which to train the dog not to bark indoors. Can it be done?

[natew00]

@Germanshepherdloverx Goodness, I am no expert, but keeping a Toller from barking is like keeping a baby from crying. It might work for moments, but not for long. Tollers need exercise and they are very vocal.

[TheHFfilms]

how much do they shed?

[natew00]

@TheHFfilms Only at times. Brushing helps quite a bit.

[TheHFfilms]

@natew00 thanks!

[janetdownes]

Thank you for the wonderful video - I will be sending lots of people to see Chase's brother Chester! I can see so much family resemblance, as well as differences that make them individuals On the cuddling - while Chase has always been affectionate,he was more of a one paw on your foot guy than a cuddler. Then we got our second Toller, Bell. She is a big mush and taught him to snuggle, too! . Isn't it amazing they way Tollers can steal your heart and take over your life? Thanks again,

[natew00]

@janetdownes Hey Janet...it was great to meet you this weekend, and thanks for sharing the video with others. I know that a 10 minute video is a little long, but I wanted to really show the full Toller experience. I also agree that these dogs have a way of adding so much to our bi-ped existence.

[bkungl1953]

Thank you for sharing the two videos on Chester the well loved dog. I thoroughly enjoyed watching both of them and actually laughed in parts. You all are very lucky to have one another.

[natew00]

@bkungl1953 It's great to see that Chester has a new fan. We enjoyed making this movie as well.

[notefromself]

Toby was not slobbery. He gave sweet, little kisses. But he LOVED to hug. He would lean into hugs to hug me back. He was a one-man dog, but it was just Toby and me for 14 years. He liked people and other dogs, but was very protective of me. I wonder if he was a Toller mix. I'd liked to e-mail you a picture, Nate, to get your opinion.

[natew00]

@notefromself Toby sounds like a great dog, and thanksnfor the nice comments. Whether he was part Toller, or something else, he was a wonderful companion to you. I'm happy to see his picture. As for barking, Chester also has a deep woof he uses to protect us. I thoght about doing a short video just to show all his different voices.

[notefromself]

Toby was not slobbery. He gave sweet, little kisses and REALLY loved hugs. He would always lean into to me and hug back. I really miss him. So hard to look around and not see him wherever I go.

[notefromself]

Another great video, Nate. You may remember, I lost my Toller Toby this January. Toby, however, was extremely protective of me, especially with other men and had a husky bark, not a scream. He was also not crazy about water, but when he was dumped out on a country road as a puppy, horrible people put him in a plastic bag and tried to drown him in a pond. He was extremely smart. Does Chester ever pretend like you said "ball," "walk," "ride," or "outside" when you said nothing of the sort?

[Lotus0812]

Congratulations on having one of the cutest dogs I have ever seen. A friend recently got a toller and I instantly fell for it. Never knew much about that type of breed but if I ever get a dog, it will be a toller. Hope Chester is doing well. Adorable !!

[natew00]

@Lotus0812 Thanks for the nice comment. We made this video to let folks see Chester display his Toller self at home and at play. You certainly got the point of the video that while Tollers take some patience and effort, they are uniquely wonderful.

[Lotus0812]

@natew00 Absolutely. At the moment I have a cat the size of Chester(Maine Coon) LOL and he behaves like a dog. You can often tell from a dog or cat´s personality if/when they have owners who take good care of them. Chester is so full of life and personality. It´s obvious that he is in a loving enviornment with lots of play and attention. Once again, congrats on a job well done. He is simply wonderful :-))

[trudal987]

Dogs having lots of energy is a reason to not get one? Thats just a matter of preference.

[mojazzbass]

wonderful video, do they not like being hugged or anything?

[natew00]

@mojazzbass Glad you liked the video. Tollers do like to be hugged and more, but not all the time. People who have owned Goldens or Labs expect that other dogs will be the same, and will be instantly warm to anyone. Our experience is that Chester is selective with who he wants to cuddle with, and he can certainly be aloof. Right now, he's just napping under my feet.

[shimon174b]

Love the video, his look at 6:31 is great.  and I like your conclusions. The music worked well too.