How long does a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever live?

The listed lifespan for a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is 12–14 years.

How tall is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?

The listed height for a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is 18–21 in (male), 17–20 in (female).

Is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is 5 out of 5.

What is the energy level of a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?

The AKC energy score for a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is 5 out of 5.

Sporting Group

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a medium dog in the Sporting Group. Adult weight is 35–50 lb, height is 18–21 in (male), 17–20 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 12–14 years. AKC describes the temperament as Intelligent, Affectionate, Outgoing.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever dog — Photo: Pleple2000 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–14 years

Weight35–50 lb

SizeMedium GroupSporting Group

Height

18–21 in (male), 17–20 in (female)

Energy

5 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

5 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 59 single-size medium breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13 years is about the same as the 13.3-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 42.5 lb is about 8.4 lb heavier than the 34.1 lb average for those medium breeds.

The listed origin is Canada. The coat is described as double, medium. The AKC energy score is 5 out of 5, 0.9 points above the group average of 4.1 for the Sporting Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 5 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 4 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 69 in 2025.

AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Hip Evaluation, Cardiac Exam, Ophthalmologist Evaluation, Cleft Palate & Syndactyly (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever) (CP1, CLPS) - DNA Test, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, PRCD (PRA-prcd, PRCD) - DNA Test, Juvenile Addison's Disease (JADD) - DNA Test, and Buff Genetic Test - DNA Test. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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