Wake up & Breakfast
– 7:30
Chief of belly rubs (Dad) usually wakes up the earliest and prepares her barf breakfast: a variety of meat, vegetables, some oils and vitamins.
Learn what it means to own a Toller.
Follow Whisky’s life to discover daily routines, training, challenges, and what makes this dog breed so special.
- Date of Birth
- 02.01.2022
- Birthname
- Hestia nochwas
- Gender
- Female
- Origin
- Certified breeder near Vienna
Meet the family
Day in the Life
Naptime
until noon
Digesting her meal, she gets tired and naps, especially while listening to my Mom calling/working.
Big walk
– 13:00
Now the exciting part. Going on a walk that is laced with dummy trainings, playmates, or man-trailing. Every walk is different, and poses its own challenges. That makes it interesting, and a bond can be formed.
Naptime
until evening
If taken care of properly, you can see dogs nap a lot.
Small walk
– 18:00
Usually a shorter walk is sufficient in the evening with a few dummies retrieved and dog played with.
Cuddles & couch
end of day
Ending the day by watching a movie and snuggling with family.
There’s more to Tollers than looks. Their history reveals why they need real work.
The Mi’kmaq people, the Indigenous inhabitants of Nova Scotia had a clever method for hunting ducks and geese. They would pull a fox pelt along the shoreline using strings. Curious birds came closer to investigate, giving hunters the chance to take a shot, and their dogs would retrieve the birds.
This inspired the creation of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever: a fox-colored dog that mimics those same playful movements to lure waterfowl into range, a behavior known as tolling. Once the birds fly close, the hunter shoots, and the dog retrieves. It’s a remarkable partnership built on clever instinct, agility, and teamwork.
Today, that natural drive to retrieve lives on in activities like dummy training: a modern, fun way to work with your Toller’s instincts.
Dummy Training
Based on the Toller’s history, this sport emerged to fit their inherent skills.
Step 1
Bring Whisky in a waiting position.
Step 2
Owner hides one or more dummies.
Step 3
Whisky eagerly starts searching the area. Based on the dummies' scent trail and curve, she finds and retrieves them.
3 Pillars of Training
We learned mainly with Sasha from DogPerformance. This reflects her approach.
With a lively Toller, it is important to have a gentle method to help them settle. We learned to use a leash and a mat.
Placing a foot on the leash naturally limits movement. Over time, the dog learns that pulling or barking does not change anything and starts to relax. The mat adds comfort and signals a place to rest.
Together, the leash and mat become a simple, effective way to guide your dog into calm.
Tollers are not made for a laid-back lifestyle. They are smart, energetic dogs that need mental and physical challenges.
Activities like dummy training, mantrailing, or rescue search are great ways to keep their minds, noses and bodies busy.
Good communication starts when we read our dog correctly: body language, arousal, and focus.
If we adapt timing, tone, and setup to what the dog can handle in that moment, teamwork becomes clearer and more reliable.
Are You Ready for a Toller?
Choose the best answer for each question. If you get it wrong, do not worry, you will learn why!
Adventures
First Snow at Home
01Initial caution, tiny paw prints, and a few confused sniffs before the zoomies began.
Toller Meetup Switzerland
02In Innertkirchen, Whisky joined around 100 fellow Tollers for an unforgettable group photo and a day of play in the Alps.
Breeder visit at Home
03Our breeder brought her three Tollers to visit, giving Whisky a chance to reunite with her dog family in our own backyard.
Mountain Weekend Getaway
04We spent a weekend in the mountains, staying in a cozy cabin with trails, fresh air, and room to run.
Family reunion in Austria
05Whisky reunited with her four siblings for the first time since puppyhood—games, swimming, and a lot of happy chaos.
