1.Shedding and mess
Tollers do blow their coat seasonally, and they are dogs who
like to swim and roll and wallow. They are not a dog for the fastidious or
the allergic. 2.Watch your cat Many tollers
do just fine in households with cats or other animals. They do have a
strong prey drive, however. If you don't want your cat chased, this may
not be the dog for you. The chasing will be all in fun, but it is likely
to happen. 3.Don't expect me to protect you
Tollers are generally wary of strangers, but if you want a dog to
serve as protection, look elsewhere. While they are excellent natural
watch dogs, and their barking may be more than enough to scare away a
burglar, these dogs are not cut out to protect. They may not lead the
burglar to your silver, wagging all the while like a lab or golden, but
they also aren't likely to go for his leg. 4.The
scream Many Tollers have a penetrating scream which they
produce to indicate excitement and eagerness. To the uninitiated, this can
sound like the dog is being fed into a wood chipper; it's high pitched,
frantic and loud. Not all Tollers scream, but many do. If you are unable
to teach quiet manners, or live in a neighborhood where dog noise will get
you in trouble, or just don't like dogs who make noise, this is not the
breed for you. The scream is usually a reaction to an exciting stimulus
(water, a toy, a ball) rather than a constant behavior, but it can be
annoying. 5.Drive Tollers are a hunting
breed and are bred to be working dogs. They have a frantic drive to work,
and will retrieve until your arm is ready to fall off. Tendinitis in
Toller owners is not unusual. This dog is a retrieving fool who will climb
trees to get to a bumper stuck there (we have pictures). This may sound
cute now, but after the 400th throw, you may change your mind. 6.Not be everyone's best friend If you are looking
for a dog who wants to be the world's best friend, the Toller may not be
for you. Tollers are gentle and kindly and many can be quite outgoing, but
if you are looking for a dog with that Lab "I just met you and you're my
best friend" attitude, the Toller may be wrong for your. The Toller will
greet strangers happily, but generally reserve true enthusiasm for their
family and special people. 7.Did you say no?
If you give a Toller an inch, they will take a mile and come back for
another. Tollers are generally too smart to engage in out and out
dominance battles. Instead they sense power vacuums, and exploit them. If
you are unable to be firm (kind, but firm) about the rules of your
household, and to enforce them consistently, you will find that the ruler
of your house has four legs and is red. They don't have a mean bone in
their bodies, but they are opportunistic and stunningly smart. If you
aren't in charge, they will be. 8.Just do what I tell
you Tollers love to work, but they are not always as easy to
train as other breeds. They need to be challenged and engaged by their
work, or they get bored and stop paying attention. They may also try
things a dozen ways before they get around to doing what you're looking
for. Patience, inventiveness and flexibility are the rules. If you want a
dog who's going to learn by the book, or if you're at all unsure about
your ability to train a dog who's a little different from the norm, the
toller may not be for you. 9.Smart, smart,
smart It cannot be stressed enough that this is a dog with
brains to spare. Keeping all that intelligence focused and busy is a big
challenge. These dogs MUST be given at least basic obedience training, and
many toller owners are active in several dog activities (hunting, agility,
fly ball, tracking, competitive obedience) just to keep their Tollers
occupied. Even a Toller who is "just a pet" MUST have basic obedience
training and the chance to use their brains (teach them to bring the
paper, have them carry the mail in, teach them tricks) or they become
downright obnoxious around the house. 10.Vrooom
The toller is an energetic dog, and needs plenty of exercise. While
they aren't quite as hyperactive as some breeds, they do need lots of
exercise, physical and mental. If you are looking for a dog who is content
with nothing more than a pleasant walk in the evening, go elsewhere.
Better behavior through exhaustion is the rule for living with a Toller.
If you don't have time to give this breed at least an hour of exercise a
day, every day, with plenty of swimming and fetching, look elsewhere. A
Toller with excess energy will find another outlet for his drive, and the
results are seldom pleasant. If you can't keep this dog busy, don't get
this dog. More than many breeds, a Toller is a mental and physical
commitment. They are not the dog for everyone, and while we love them
dearly, we don't want to see them in pounds and shelters. Keep this in
mind as you consider choosing a "Little Red Retrieving Machine". Thanks to Peggy
O'Connell On a Lighter Side