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General Appearance
Medium sized, compact. Powerful, well muscled. A heavily feathered tail, constantly moving.

Characteristics
Jumps and plays to lure waterfowl into decoy. Retrieves dead and wounded birds. Strong swimmer.

Temperament
Kind, confident, intelligent, easy to train. Playful.

Head and Skull
Clean cut skull, slightly wedge shaped. Broad, slightly rounded. Occiput not prominent. Cheeks flat. Moderate stop. Muzzle tapers from stop to nose. Nostrils well developed. Nose flesh coloured or black.

Eyes
Medium size, almond-shaped, set well apart. Friendly, alert expression. Brown to amber, blending with coat colour. Eye rims flesh coloured or black.

Ears
Triangular, dropped ear of medium size. Set high and well back on skull. Base held very slightly erect. Well feathered at back of fold, hair shorter at rounded tips.

Mouth
Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Teeth sound and strong. Softness of mouth essential. Lips tight fitting, flesh coloured or black.

Neck
Medium length, strongly muscled, well set on, no indication of throatiness.

Forequarters
Shoulders well laid back, muscular, medium length. Elbows close to body. Forelegs straight and strong. Pasterns strong, slightly sloping.

Body
Deep chested, ribs well sprung, brisket reaches to elbow. Back short, level topline. Loins strong and muscular. Moderate tuck up.

Hindquarters
Well muscled. Stifles well bent, hocks well let down turning neither in nor out.

Feet
Medium size, round, tight. Toes well arched and strongly webbed. Pads thick, blending with coat colour.

Tail
Set on, slightly sloping towards croup. Broad at base, well feathered; reaching the hock. Carried below level of back at rest; when alert, curves over, not touching back.

Gait/Movement
Impression of power, springy, jaunty with good reach of forelegs and strong rear drive; parallel movement fore and aft. Single tracks at speed; head carried almost level with back.

Coat
Straight, repellent, double coat of medium length and softness with a softer, dense undercoat. Slight wave on back allowed. Feathering at throat, behind ears and at back of thighs. Forelegs moderately feathered.

Colour
All shades of red or orange with lighter featherings and underside of tail. White markings usual in at least one of the following places: tip of tail, feet not extending beyond the pasterns, chest and blaze. Lack of white not to be penalised. Any black in coat highly undesirable.

Size
Ideal height: dogs: 48-51 cms (19-20 ins); bitches: 45-48 cms (18-19 ins).

Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Last Updated - February 2003

Glossary of Canine Terms

Health Information

The Kennel Club operates health screening schemes with other organisations.  Some are clinical veterinary screening schemes and some are DNA screening schemes, which may be relevant to this breed.

The current health screening requirements and recommendations for Kennel Club Accredited Breeders of this breed show what is required and recommended for the sire and dam of any litter of this breed bred by an Accredited Breeder.

Breed specific summary results from the Purebred Dog Health Survey in 2004 are available.  Individual summaries are only available where the breed response rate was greater than 15%.

Recommended Reading

All the below publications are available from the Online Shop.

Kennel Club Breed Standards Kennel Club Breed Standards are available for most breeds indicating the qualities which competition judges normally take into account and the standard or model which breeders endeavour to achieve. The Breed Standards can be purchased by group.

The Kennel Club Illustrated Breed Standards Containing full descriptive standards for 192 breeds, as well as representation for the six Kennel Club recognised breeds that are currently without standards, this beautifully illustrated volume is a must for all dog enthusiasts. This third edition has been completely revised and updated by a panel of experts and incorporates the very latest standards for breeds in each group.

Breed Clubs and Societies

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club of UK. Sec. Mrs B Harding. Tel No: 01235 813749.

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