Konnie Posted March 9, 2014 Report Share Posted March 9, 2014 watching crufts nova scotia duck toller any one use one for fowling, and whats your thoughts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad63 Posted March 9, 2014 Report Share Posted March 9, 2014 Have a look at "Dogs for Wildfowling" which I've just bumped (can't do links ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 Why is it whenever someone asks this question they ask about a rare and unusual choice? Go out on any well shot marshes and you see Labs dominate with a good number of ESS (as their owners likely beat or rough shoot). A few Goldies and a dew Chessies, an odd HPR, Duck tollers I have yet to see personally. Why make things hard and expensive? The breed club will likely tell you they do everything and are born trained Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 I may be totally wrong here but are duck toilers not more of a herding dog, think they were trained to be used with big commercial catching nets (like the 1 at slmbridge? now, they still use a duck toiler ) the dog was trained to go out and sort of round/scare the duck to swim into these big hanger like nets that cover a hole channel. Think it works as they look similar to a fox. Didn't think they were proper wildfowling dogs, ie geting out and swiming for duck and gesse all day, possibly small for handling geese anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 I may be totally wrong here but are duck toilers not more of a herding dog, think they were trained to be used with big commercial catching nets (like the 1 at slmbridge? now, they still use a duck toiler ) the dog was trained to go out and sort of round/scare the duck to swim into these big hanger like nets that cover a hole channel. Think it works as they look similar to a fox. Didn't think they were proper wildfowling dogs, ie geting out and swiming for duck and gesse all day, possibly small for handling geese anyway. Used by the old commercial fowlers across the pond as you suggest but also with the gun as and when that was the plan for the day. None the less historic. The gene pool here in the UK must be tiny and I doubt the majority even see wildfowl in the wild let alone work them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misser Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 hi - mate had one, fantastic temperament, slow but brilliant for retrieving trouble was when it had enough it would just stop, could be after 2 or 10 retrieves??...couldn't keep it out of water though - bit too unpredictable for my liking - atb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 They seem a decent trainable enough dog , a few clips on youtube . Not sure if you would be able to get one from a decent working line over here though or if it would be suitable for the foreshore , then I guess Nova Scotia is as cold as we will experience ! I am sure Konnie is only asking out of interest as I know he has some nice Labs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfSHx1SRR8A&feature=player_detailpage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shakin stevens Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 A chap down near me breeds and trains them for gundogs at carlton just outside Newark, been over years ago very nice chap. its called Fallowfen gundogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 hi - mate had one, fantastic temperament, slow but brilliant for retrieving trouble was when it had enough it would just stop, could be after 2 or 10 retrieves??...couldn't keep it out of water though - bit too unpredictable for my liking - atb That's a desire trait (both speed and quantity quitting), often seen in show blood Labs also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misser Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 thanks for the info, often wondered if the show labs would be any good, that's answered my question...was a nice enough dog the tolly, sure he got it from somewhere near Poole if im not mistaken....know it took him all day round trip to get her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted March 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 as fenboy said, only after a bit of knowledge, got labs just wondering about the other options Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 Hi Konnie, if you look up Borough Fen Decoy you may get to see one of these dogs in action. Borough Fen is not far from us (Newborough/Peakirk) near strangely enough a pub called The Decoy. Its the country's only 8 leg decoy. They were used to trap duck for the markets using funnel type nets and a dog that weaves in and out and jumps over reed hides. The dog is always a foxy colour and its intermittent presence attracts the ducks down the pipes. The dog is historically always named Piper. If they still have the working demonstration days its well worth the visit. See the link...be mindful this is not this years agenda ..http://pglcambs.homestead.com/2012Festival/DecoyFarmJune2011.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 I would also suggest that perhaps to original blood came from the UK/Holland in the form of the old 'piper' dogs that were used on the duck decoy ponds for enticing duck down the pipes. Used by the old commercial fowlers across the pond as you suggest but also with the gun as and when that was the plan for the day. None the less historic. The gene pool here in the UK must be tiny and I doubt the majority even see wildfowl in the wild let alone work them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 I would also suggest that perhaps to original blood came from the UK/Holland in the form of the old 'piper' dogs that were used on the duck decoy ponds for enticing duck down the pipes. it could well have gone over on the Mayflower or the like OR been created there, I doubt the early settlers ignored the decoy if they had them in their homeland. we will never know the answer for sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 The Toller type and colour is similar to what I have read about regarding the old decoy (originally a dutch word, although I'm sure you know) dogs. it could well have gone over on the Mayflower or the like OR been created there, I doubt the early settlers ignored the decoy if they had them in their homeland. we will never know the answer for sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 Which ever way these dogs sound just about as useful to a fowler as a three legged pair of chesties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalmac Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 A lady down my road has two, she is part of the breed club etc... she says they are hard work! They do look lovely though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 But they could come in useful, the third leg would make a decent reservoir. Which ever way these dogs sound just about as useful to a fowler as a three legged pair of chesties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 But they could come in useful, the third leg would make a decent reservoir. Well try jumping a creek afterwards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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