Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers boast a beautiful red coat of medium-length fur that, along with their exceptional hunting abilities, makes tollers, as they're also known, a distinctive breed. The good news for toller owners is that they are relatively low-maintenance when it comes to grooming,
according to the Novia Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club. The bad news? They shed, so they're not completely low-maintenance.
Here are and tips for keeping a toller well-groomed, according to
PetWave, the
American Veterinary Dental College, and
Toller Dog Blog.
1. Use a pin brush to brush your toller’s coat. Usually, you will only need to brush her about once a week; when she starts shedding, you should brush once a day to reduce the amount of shed fur all over the house. Frequent vacuuming of the house during shedding is also a must.
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2. Your toller's nails should be clipped once a month. Clipping can be tricky – it's easy to cut into the skin that grows with her claws. If you're not comfortable doing it yourself, take her to a groomer monthly.
3. Clean your toller's teeth about once a month, using a canine toothbrush. Your vet will show you how to use it. Check for brown spots or other signs of periodontal disease; report dental abnormalities to the vet, who may recommend dental scaling.
4. Tollers are outdoorsy dogs that love getting dirty. Avoid bathing your toller more than once a week unless she gets really dirty. Frequent bathing can cause a dog's skin to dry out. To avoid dry skin, use a soap-free shampoo. While you can bathe your toller one a week, less frequent baths are fine.
5. Dry your toller properly. Being water dogs, tollers have a double coating of fur with a water-repellent top layer. When the bottom layer is soaked, the top layer can trap moisture near the skin, which can breed fungi. After a good towel dry, use a regular hair dryer to dry the fur thoroughly. She'll have a beautiful glossy coat that will keep her healthy.
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