Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever vs Dorgi - Breed Comparison

The Dorgi is a designer crossbreed whose origins are not entirely known, however it is a popular breed, being a mix between a Dachshund and a Pembroke Welsh Corgi.

The Dorgi itself is new breed and therefore has a short history, but both dogs used to develop the Dorgi – the Dachshund and the Corgi – have their own unique histories.

The Dachshund originated in Germany in the 1500s and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi originated in the United Kingdom centuries ago.

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever dog was bred in the 19th-century in Nova Scotia, Eastern Canada.

They were used as hunting dogs. Known as the ‘Toller’, the dog was at first referred to as the Little River Duck Dog but it was in 1945 that it became officially recognized by the Canadian Kennel Club as a pure breed.

The dog is a mix of retriever, setter, spaniel and possibly a farm collie mix breed. It was in 1980 that the breed gained national recognition, being declared the provincial dog of Nova Scotia in 1995.

The Dorgi is known for his long body, short legs and the erect ears of the corgi. He is a small dog, measuring roughly 20-30cm in height and weighing in the region of 6 – 12kg.

Many people also refer to him as the sausage dog. The look of your Dorgi can depend quite a bit on whether he looks more like a Corgi or a Dachshund, so for instance the coat can be short and smooth, or thick and coarse.

They can surprise you with their looks, and some are born with long tails while others are born with bobtails. The coat comes in many colors too, from tan to brown to black and white or a mixture of these colors.

Temperament:

The Dorgi is full of the joys of life, just loving all the attention he gets from his human family. Of course, in return for this affection, he offers love, loyalty and plenty of fun and games.

He is an energetic breed too and is always ready to join in any games with the children in the home as well as with cats and dogs living in the home too.

Training and socialization will also be needed for the Dorgi who is intelligent and easy to train. He has wonderful behavior when trained, being obedient and relaxed around visitors to your home.

Social and sweet, this is one little dog who is guaranteed to make a wonderful pet and companion, as he loves human companionship and never wants to be left alone for too long. He is alert too, so while he is small and no real threat to an intruder, he is willing to do what it takes to protect his human family and to bark to alert you.

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a medium-sized gundog. Both male and female stand at about 42 to 54cm in height and they weigh anything from 17 to 23kg.

This beautiful dog is looked upon as the smallest of the retriever dogs. He has a remarkable medium-length, feathery red, copper or golden coat with some white markings and a long feathery tail with medium length, floppy ears. The coat will need brushing twice a week.

He is a powerful dog and also agile with a somewhat worried expression on his face. The expression becomes bright and animated when he is busy working and you’ll notice that the feathery tail is held high with confidence and delight when he is busy working or doing some activity he loves.

Temperament:

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is an intelligent, alert dog who is eager to please its owners.

They are affectionate dogs too, making a splendid family pet. If you’ve got kids in the home, you can trust this dog to get on well with them.

He is energetic, thriving on both physical and mental stimulation. He’ll love a walk every day as this will give him the chance to get out and sniff around. He won’t be content though with just a walk and will want ball games, walks in the park, hikes and swimming. This dog loves water and is well equipped for it with his double coat and webbed paws.

The Dorgi is such a sweet little designer breed of dog that happens to also be low maintenance. Apart from being a little dog full of energy and attitude, he is loving and loyal as a family pet too, being gentle around children and making a splendid pet.

He isn’t going to eat you out of hearth and home either and he is a fairly healthy breed as well.

When you bring a Dorgi into your home, you’re bringing in a whole lot of happiness as he is an awesome family member who wants to be counted in on everything the do.

Your Toller is a high energy dog, and with the right family he is going to be an absolute joy to have. Give him lots of activities to stimulate him physically and mentally as he is an intelligent dog.

He is playful and social and full of life, although he is wary around strangers. Just like with most dogs, he will need training and socialization to round him off, making him obedient and well balanced.

With this good-natured pet, you will have a wonderful family friend and enthusiastic sport companion.

Because the Dorgi is a hybrid breed, he promises to be quite healthy, but on the other hand, it could be that he inherits some of the common health problems associated with either the Corgi or the Dachshund.

Obesity is always a problem with a small dog, as they’re so sweet, you just want to be popping treats into their mouths all the time. It is important to follow a healthy diet for your pet however if you want to stave off common dog disorders.

Obesity:

An obese dog faces a shorter life expectancy, and some of the major health issues that an obese Dorgi has to contend with is diabetes, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure and cancer among others. Certainly better, healthier pet food choices can help save you money on vets fees.

Diabetes:

Diabetes in canines is just as serious as in humans and its a glucose-insulin complication where the pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin.

Sugars build-up in the blood and these can cause damage to your dog’s eyes, heart and kidneys. You may notice your pet gaining weight, being more thirsty, being tired and having cloudy eyes which could be indicative of cataracts. Take your pet to the vet as insulin shots may be required.

These dogs are robust, but certain genetic disorders do occur in the breed because of the smallish gene pool. Some of the biggest health problems they face are hip dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy:

This eye disease is all about a group of degenerative eye disorders that cause blindness in both eyes of the dog.

The first symptom of this disease is night blindness where you see your dog being reluctant to go outside or to go up and down stairs in dim light. The surface of the eyes will get that cloudy, glazed-over look and as the disease progresses, you’ll find your pet bumping into things.

Mercifully it isn’t painful but you will need to get your pet to the vet to manage the condition.

Grooming:

Your Dorgi’s coat will be shortish, and shedding is minimal so a good brush twice a week will be perfect for this pet of yours, and he will love the attention you give him while doing so.

Exercise:

He is an active breed so he will require regular exercise. Take him with you on your walks. Even if you have a small garden, he’ll love fetching a ball for you.

Diet:

If you give your Dorgi commercially manufactured dog food, remember to be guided by the feeding recommendations to avoid obesity.

Its always a good idea to add in some raw meat to his diet to keep his nose wet and his skin free from being dry and itchy. You can also add in some cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken for variety.

Always ensure that a bowl of fresh water is constantly available.

Exercise:

Tollers are energetic dogs and you won’t have to extend a second invitation to this dog to join you on your walks, hikes, hunting and swimming. It is perhaps why he is better suited to country living as opposed to living in the city.

Diet:

You want to ensure the best food for your four-legged friend, but the idea is to keep things simple and nutritious for your dog.

Your pet can’t tell you when he’s got a stomach-ache from eating the wrong foods so you have to be careful what you feed him. You want to make sure that the food you give your dog is balanced for the stage of life he or she is in – puppy, young adult, pregnancy, ill dog or senior dog.

You’ve also got to see whether your dog is small or large, active or a couch-potato type of dog, and choose commercially manufactured foods that cater for the kind of dog he is.

It is fine to feed your dog a kibble food or you can mix in some chopped up boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach. Some raw meat added in when you can afford it, will also do your pet the world of good.

You can see from this diet, it is uncomplicated, plain, wholesome food and will do your pet good.

Always be careful of bones with your dog and speak to your vet first before you opt to give your dog bones.

Never leave your pet without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Training and Socialization:

Both dogs and owners benefit when a dog has been trained and socialized. The dog is balanced and obedient and a stronger relationship develops between owner and dog because of the dog being well behaved. The Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever is an intelligent dog so he won’t have any trouble with training.