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November 24, 1988 – December 1999 |
Tolling means luring, attracting, drawing in; you won't find these dogs ringing church bells, but you will find them luring ducks close to a beach or waterfront. What, exactly, it is about the playful dogs that the ducks find so fascinating must be left to the duck experts to decide. The ducks come when the toller plays.
In the mid-1980's, we acquired our first Toller, whom we cleverly named Toller, and started down the long road that leads, today, to our heavy involvement in the breed and related activities. These days we have two girls (Betsy and Pixie) living with us and a bunch of visitors (including Betsy's brother Gromet and a Rideau rescue Shadow). Our tollers tend to live the life of Riley and are kept exceptionally busy with training, showing, and play.
Temperament is important to us, our puppies are charming, willing companions that are eager to meet each challenge presented. Using the Canadian Kennel Club breed standard, we bred to produce dogs that would be champions in a variety of fields of endeavor. Rideau Tollers have proved strong in obedience, agility, and the show ring. Rideau Tollers tends to have a strong prey drive. This drive makes them excellent retrievers and hunting dogs.
The past 17 years represent 4 generations of breeding. We started with CH Sport's Lass of Littleriver (Lady) and CH Laird Rankin of Rideau (Tug). Lady's daughter, Missy, was an excellent dog with a great temperament and a wonderful mother. Her pups have achieved great things in the world of Tollers. Her daughter, Betsy, continues in the great tradition and her daughter, Pixie, looks like she has great puppies in her future.
We recently moved to a larger property in Perth, Ontario that allows us the room to train and host tollers. We have river-front property and we've dedicated nearly an acre of land to toller training. Having just divested ourselves of two litters (10 pups altogether), we have the time and energy to return to agility and obedience training. We're working with Gromet in field work and we hope to get his WC later this year (before he goes home to Seattle).
These dogs can steal your heart with a glance and the gum out of your purse when you aren't glancing.
We believe in these versatile little dogs. Our dogs have found their ways into the hearts and homes of hundreds of people, or at least dozens. We aim to breed for temperament, health, vigor, drive, intelligence, and size. Our breeding profiles result in well-structured dogs,all of whom exhibit a lively interest in hunting and retrieving; many of our pups are equally happy racing through a park, a marsh, or an agility maze.
We're glad you dropped by and we hope that your interest in information is satisfied because once you own a toller, your interest in tollers will never be satisfied.
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November 24, 1988 – December 1999 |
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November 12, 1990 – |
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June 20, 1987 – May 9, 1999 |
As part of our support of the breed, we've sponsored an annual clinic. These clinics introduce toller owners to a variety of activities such as agility, field, grooming, showing, and fly ball.
These annual clinics, held on our property, give Toller owners a chance to meet with local experts in various types of competition.
The dogs also get to meet with other tollers, they seem to recognize other tollers, and gather into what is affectionately known as a scream.
The Tollers have become very popular and therefore you may encounter very long waiting lists. It is best to find a reliable breeder, with good health history in their dogs and a money, not replacement, guarantee. Also ask to see health certificates for hips and eyes, for the parents, grandparents and further if possible. Not that genes won't pop up unexpectedly, but at least you have eliminated known problems. You may have to wait a year or two for the dog you want.
Costs can range from $700. to $2500. (N.S. price for a breeding bitch/stud fee !)
Some breeders will have different prices for a "show quality" versus a"pet" quality, but most realize one cannot guarantee "show quality" at 8 weeks! Look very carefully at contracts - some may put limits or duties on you which you do not want. That aside, most breeders sell on a CKC Non-Breeding Contract, which can be lifted later if certain conditions are met. Ask if there is a cost ( apart from the CKC fee) for lifting the contract.
We have 4 Tollers living with us ( or vice versa?) so you are welcome to visit and see how versatile the little red dogs are! We are home most of the time on Sundays - just phone to set up a time and get directions. ( we are 2 miles west of Perth, just off Hwy.7) Phone 613 264-0087.
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Image copyrights held by Rideau Kennel and Phyllis McDonald.
Text copyright held by Rideau Kennel.