Question 1

What can I expect after submitting my application?

Accepted Answer

1. Notification of a breeding to those who are on the list for a puppy (we will ask if you are still interested) 
2. Update on confirmation (ultra sound around day 30) this tells us if there is a pregnancy but we don't get a reliable count at this point.
3. X-ray around day 55 (we advise those on our list if we anticipate a puppy for them assuming all goes well)  
4. Birth announcement
5. Contact and soft commitment birth +7-10 days (by 7-10 days we are usually comfortable with the status of the puppies to make commitments and take deposits $500)
6. DNA testing, assuming we have breeding and show homes we will test to select for those homes, we do not breed carrier to carrier and all breeding stock is tested/screened ... you can see their details by clicking on the link to K9 Data (here are two examples…you can copy and paste them into The Breed Archive (Select Nova Scotia Duck Toller)
SPROUL'S SPIRIT INCREDIBLE TEMPTATION
TRAVELDA’S BEACH BABY
7. By week 6 we do a Bile Acid Test to clear puppies for release, Tollers are susceptible to Liver Shunts  and we do this test as a final control before release. Puppies who fail the test are withdrawn. A Liver Shunt (google Liver shunts in dogs) can be devastating to a new home and very expensive (~$15,000 to diagnose and repair).
8. The vast majority 98% of our puppies clear the test without issue and slotting puppies to homes takes place at 6 weeks, we will be talking with you as we begin to see the emerging personalities. We also do worming, shots, health clearances and micro chipping at this point.
9. We schedule puppy release for 8 weeks after birth, the strongest bonding period is between week 6 & 12 so it’s important that most of the bonding occur in the new home.
We co-breed with several other breeders who all subscribe to the same approach.

Question 2

Do I need to place a deposit?

Accepted Answer

Deposits are not required until we are satisfied the puppy will have a successful transition to a new home often we will wait some time before a final commitment. Litters vary in size and our infant mortality rate, while it is dropping, is in the 15% range. This statistic is consistent with a study conducted on 10,810 litters of 224 breeds in the Norwegian Kennel Club in 2006 and 2007. Consequently, we do not take deposits until we have high confidence puppies are past the highest risk. We would also suggest never placing a deposit to “hold” a spot. Too many things can go wrong and getting your deposit back is unlikely as most are non-refundable.

Question 3

What health guarantees do you provide?

Accepted Answer

All puppies come with a 1-year money back health guarantee for inherited disease. All puppies come with 30-day breeder provided AKC or Trupanion health insurance coverage. We strongly recommend buyers take this coverage and maintain it for at least the first year. We know that not all heath issues can be prevented, nor can they be identified at our 8-week wellness visit or buyers first wellness visit. Just as important as the guarantee is that the breeder makes good on it. We have had 4 distinct occasions in which we made good on our guarantee which is about 3% of the puppies.we have bred. Most studies suggest 5% is expected across all breeds assuming a high standard of care.

Question 4

What is the normal waiting period for a puppy?

Accepted Answer

This depends on the time of the year. Many prospective pet owners want spring/summer puppies, so the wait is longer for this time period. The average time from request to pick up is 6 months. Another variation of this question is once a litter is bred how long is it until the puppies are born and how long is it until they can be picked up? That is a more definitive answer. From breeding to birth, the time is 9 weeks (63 days) and from birth to release is 8 weeks.

Question 5

How are puppies selected for their new homes?

Accepted Answer

We select puppies starting with Show, Breeding and Performance homes. Puppies are DNA tested for carrier status and those with best match are prioritized for these homes. We will also discuss your lifestyle and try to match the puppy with the personality that has the best match for your family at that time.  Puppy personalities, like people, change over time and they do respond/develop based on the environment that they live in so what we see at 8 weeks may not be the case a year later.  The age old argument between Nurture & Nature.

Question 6

What Health Clearances should I be looking for?

Accepted Answer

You should look see what screenings and DNA Testing is being done. Screenings are typically snapshots that tell what is going on at a point in time, hip screening is typically done at two years old,  and is good for a lifetime others need to be repeated (eyes). DNA tests are good for a lifetime and are a strong indicator of a breeders commitment to the heath of your puppy.
Fundamentally you as the puppy buyer are the beneficiary of these health clearances most breeders will spend over $2000 to get clearances for parents.   
• Screening for: Eyes, Hips, Elbows, Patella’s, Cardiac 
• DNA Tests for: 
	• CDMC 
	• CLAM 
	• CDDY 
	• PRA 
	• JAAD  
	• DM 
	• DE 
	• CLPS 
	• CP1 
Not all dogs need to be tested for each item. If their parents are clear then there should be no chance that they inherited the mutation (Clear by Parentage). However, one should not rely on Cleared by Parentage for several generations. When placing puppies, some will test for the mutations that are likely and use that information to inform decisions about inclusion in a breeding program. However, it's optimal for any breeding animal to be fully tested.

Testing/Clearances are reported to OFA by the lab doing the testing so the results are more reliable than self reporting. Any purebred Toller in the US should be visible on www.ofa.org.

OFA has a program called CHIC which certifies that a dog/bitch has been tested for the requirements of the Parent club, in our case the NSDTR_US.  The NSDTR-US has agreed to a bare minimum level of testing in order to receive  a CHIC certification.  
NSDTR CHIC Requirements: Be screened for all diseases recommended by the parent club for the breed.

1. Have the results released to the public 
 	2. Have permanent identification, such as a microchip or tattoo 
	3. Have the owner release all test results into the public domain 
	4. For Tollers Pass the following tests: 
		Hip dysplasia 
		Eye examination by a boarded ACVO Ophthalmologist 
		Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

We find the bare minimum detrimental to the breed and to unsuspecting puppy buyers, as some point to this as the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.

Question 7

Are puppies housebroken?

Accepted Answer

No, we do use a litter tray in their living area, so they are started but each time the environment changes, it’s a step backward. We do provide guidance to make the transition, but everyone should expect that each puppy will have to be trained in the home environment.

Question 8

Are puppies leash broken?

Accepted Answer

If the weather permits, we do start puppies on this and will show you the process at puppy launch.

Question 9

What is the life expectancy for Tollers?

Accepted Answer

Our experience suggests 10-12 years. There are some who have lived as long as 15 but these are the exceptions. Most breeds experience some level of cancer and, while Tollers have their share, the incidence is lower than many other breeds. Our belief is that the average age is dropping across all breeds and the most likely cause is environmental, a view backed up by many studies. 
 The Australian Shepherd Health & Genetics Institute (ASHGI) conducted a longevity survey in 2017, revealing that the average lifespan of Australian Shepherds is approximately 11 years. This reflects a decline from earlier data; in the late 1990s, a study by John Armstrong of the University of Ottawa found that early generations of the breed averaged 14 years, while more recent generations averaged 12 years. The decrease in lifespan has been largely attributed to an increase in cancer-related deaths among younger dogs. 
Aussie Health Institute

Further analysis of the ASHGI survey data indicated a steady decline in overall longevity over time. Specifically, there was an 8.3% decrease in average lifespan from dogs born before 1990 compared to those born between 2000 and 2005. Additionally, the median lifespan showed an 11.4% decline, suggesting that more dogs are dying at younger ages. This trend correlates with an increase in deaths due to cancer and epilepsy, while deaths attributed to old age have decreased. 
Aussie Health Institute

In contrast, a 2024 UK study reported a median life expectancy of 13.7 years for Australian Shepherds, which is higher than the median of 12.7 years for purebred dogs and 12 years for crossbreeds. 
Wikipedia

These findings highlight the importance of monitoring health trends within the breed, particularly concerning the rising incidence of cancer and its impact on longevity.

Frequently asked questions