Best dog food for a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, or Toller, is the smallest of the retriever breeds but one of the most energetic, bred originally to lure and retrieve waterfowl in cold coastal water. That working history means most Tollers do best on a food that supports sustained activity and lean muscle rather than the lower-energy formulas suited to a less driven dog of similar size.
Feeding a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
A medium breed
An adult Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever typically weighs 17–23 kg, so a healthy Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever eats a moderate amount compared with other breeds. Every feeding guide on a bag is written per kilo of body weight, not per breed — start there, then adjust to the dog in front of you.
Life stage
A medium breed is usually done growing at ~12 months, which is roughly when a puppy food has finished its job. With a typical lifespan of 12–14 years, there is a long adult stretch in the middle; switch to a senior food when your vet thinks it is worth it rather than on a birthday.
A high-energy dog eats like one
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers sit at the top end for energy, and a dog working through a couple of hours of real exercise a day burns through the feeding guide faster than a dog on a short stroll. Feed to the dog's condition, not to the middle of the range on the bag.
How much should a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever weigh?
Adult 17–23 kgfully grown at ~12 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 2.6–3.5 kg | 15% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 4.3–5.8 kg | 25% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 8.5–11.5 kg | 50% |
| ~12 months | Fully grown | 17–23 kg | 100% |
A guide, from the same rule of thumb our puppy growth predictor uses — each age is that share of the way to maturity for a medium breed. Puppies grow fastest early, so a real puppy usually sits a little above the middle rows. Weigh yours and ask your vet if the number worries you.
Complete dog foods that suit a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Complete foods from our range, matched to a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever's size band and what the breed typically needs. Stock levels and delivery dates are live on each product.
Burns Adult/Senior Weight Control Chicken and Oats
A low-fat weight control dry food for adult and senior dogs, oat-based
£35.99
Simpsons Dog Sensitive Lamb Potato
A grain-free lamb and potato dry food for dogs with sensitive skin or digestion
From£17.05
Forthglade Cold Pressed Natural Turkey
Cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs from 2 months, soft enough to mix with water for young pups
£45.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Salmon
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for dogs, built on fresh and dried salmon
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Duck
Cold-pressed grain-free duck food with fruit and botanicals, in two bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Turkey
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% turkey, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Turkey
Grain-free cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs, gentle on sensitive stomachs
£69.69
Forthglade British Classics Chicken Family Lunch
Complete Forthglade wet dog food with 75% chicken in a 395G tray
£2.45
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
Harringtons Just 6 Dry Dog Food Lamb
Grain-free lamb dry dog food in 2KG and 12KG sizes, with size-specific formulas
From£13.99
Burns Puppy Original Lamb & Rice
Complete Burns lamb and rice puppy food in a 2KG bag for up to 12 months
£14.99
Why a Toller's energy needs differ from other retrievers
Tollers were bred to work — luring curious waterfowl within range through repetitive movement along the shoreline, then retrieving from cold water — and that working drive has stayed strong in the breed even as a companion dog. Many Tollers are notably food-motivated and highly trainable, which makes portion control worth watching since a driven, treat-responsive dog can gain weight quickly if training rewards are not accounted for in their daily food.
An adult food built for active or working dogs, with a meaningful protein content to support lean muscle, tends to suit the breed better than a formula designed for a sedentary companion dog. That said, a Toller kept mainly as a pet with moderate exercise does not need the same calorie density as one working or doing high-level sport most days — match the food to your individual dog's actual activity level.
What to watch for as they grow and age
As a medium-sized breed, Tollers grow at a moderate pace compared with giant breeds, so an all-life-stages or medium-breed puppy food covering their first year is usually appropriate rather than needing the slow-growth large-breed formulas built for much bigger dogs. Keep puppies lean rather than heavy during growth, since a driven, active breed carrying excess puppy weight puts more strain on developing joints.
Because the breed is prone to being highly food-motivated throughout life, weight tends to creep up gradually if treats and training rewards are not deducted from daily meals, so it is worth weighing your Toller periodically as an adult and adjusting food rather than waiting until a weight problem is obvious.
Common questions
- How much exercise does a Toller need before choosing an active dog food?
- Tollers typically need well over an hour of proper exercise daily, often including retrieving games or swimming, given their working background. If your Toller gets that level of activity regularly, a higher-protein active or working formula usually suits them better than a standard adult recipe.
- Are Tollers prone to weight gain?
- Their strong food motivation and trainability make it easy to overfeed through treats without noticing, more than any particular metabolic tendency. Weighing your dog periodically and accounting for training treats within their daily food allowance is the most effective way to keep a food-driven Toller at a healthy weight.
- What size dog food bag suits a Toller?
- As a medium-sized breed weighing roughly 17-23kg as an adult, a Toller's food needs sit between a small and large breed, so most standard adult or medium-breed dry foods are appropriately sized without needing a specialist small- or giant-breed formula.
- When should a Toller puppy switch to adult food?
- Most medium breeds, Tollers included, move from puppy to adult food from around 12 months, once their main growth phase has slowed. A vet can advise on timing based on your individual puppy's growth and body condition.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.