The Complete Toller
Most breed guides are written from research. This one was written from the kitchen floor.
Michael Petitpas lives in Nova Scotia with two Tollers, Crosby and Ember, and this is the book he could not find when he needed one. It is honest enough that, if this is not your breed, it will tell you so.
- The real temperament — the engine, the off switch, and the famous Toller scream
- An eight-question self-assessment that is allowed to say no
- Finding a responsible breeder, with the DNA panel explained in plain language
- Health in owner language — Addison’s disease, autoimmune signs, and when to call the vet
170 pages · 30 photographs · quick-reference appendices.
A Toller is not a small golden
Generic retriever advice keeps failing Toller owners. This is the breed-specific version, start to finish.
Choosing, honestly
Rare-breed waitlists, the health file a breeder should show you before any deposit changes hands, and the one question that separates a responsible breeder from a seller.
Raising and training
Land-shark survival, a cue that lasts a lifetime, the two-tank exercise system, and positive-only methods — which, with this breed, is a requirement rather than a philosophy.
Health and the long run
Addison’s disease — “the great pretender” — explained plainly, then the senior years: re-tuning every system for a dog that refuses to admit its age.
From the first conversation to the senior years
- Temperament — the intensity, the scream, and why reserve with strangers is correct
- Is a Toller right for you? — eight honest questions, asked before the deposit
- The first weeks home — including a puppy arriving to a resident dog
- Sport and heritage — agility, dock diving, scent work and working tolling
- Quick-reference appendices — shopping list, daily rhythm, health watch-list, first-30-days plan
For Toller owners, and anyone still deciding
Written for people who already share a house with a Toller and want advice that fits the breed, and for families still weighing whether they should.
Every chapter comes from a real Toller household on the coast where the breed began. The same household writes NSDuckToller.com, which has free breed guides and the book’s printable pack.
View on AmazonMore books for life with a dog
Same house, same dogs — a different stage of the story.
The Whole Family Puppy Training Book
The first-year training system featuring Crosby and Ember, built for the whole household.
The Senior Dog Health Journal
An undated care planner for the golden years — medications, mobility and comfort.
The full pet bookshelf
Training, keepsakes, care planners and gentle goodbye books for every stage of a pet’s life.