Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever vs Bosnian Coarse-Haired Hound - Breed Comparison

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.

Once known as the Illyrian Hound and also known also as the Barak, the Bosnian Coarse-haired Hound was developed in Bosnia, and as a scenthound, it would hunt large game. Barak belongs to the hound group so typically this dog wants to chase wild game which he used to do long ago for his master.

The breed was developed into what is's current looks are. In the 1890’s he was crossed with Italian gun dogs with local scent hound stock. It is a rare breed, and outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is all but unknown.The dog is also known as the Bosnian-Rough-Coated Hound or the Illyrian Hound. In 2006 the breed was recognized by the United Kennel Club as the Barak in the Scenthound group. Unfortunately, while the Bosnian Coarse-Haired Hound is still found in Bosnia, there is plenty of conflict in the country, and the future of the dog is unknown.

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 medium to large sized dog is known for his coarse, shaggy coat of wheaten, black, red or grey shades. Some dogs are bi- or tri-colored. The shaggy coat has a thick undercoat and this is what provides insulation for the dog to cope in extremely cold weather conditions. He is a moderate shedder and he will need to be brushed thoroughly twice a week to remove his loose hairs.

Some dogs have white marks on the head. The height of this dog ranges between 46–55cm at the withers and he can weigh in at between 16–24kg. He is well known for his facial hair – a moustache and beard on the muzzle with large, brown eyes and an intelligent, alert and playful expression.The Bosnian Coarse Haired Hound is a robust dog with a deep chest that provides him with a well proportioned appearance. The brown eyes have bushy eyebrows, the ears fairly long and floppy and the tail long and somewhat feathery.

The Bosnian Coarse-haired Hound makes an exceptional pet because he is loyal and friendly with his family members and patient and tolerant of children’s antics. He also gets on well with other pets in the house.

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.

Bosnian Coarse-Haired Hounds are loyal, loving dogs. They are intelligent too and easy to train. With training and socialization, they are well behaved and a pleasure to have in the home. He makes an excellent pet for any family who bears in mind that he needs lots of exercise. When he uses up his energy with games, walks and other activities, he becomes a playful friend with children in the house.

His temperament fits his tousled looks and he is outgoing, amicable, social and friendly. He wants to be a member of the family and to be part of all the activities going on. When he is happy and well cared for, he makes a splendid pet.

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.

The Bosnian Coarse-Haired Hound is a generally healthy breed, but just like with other dogs, he can also be prone to some hereditary health issues.

Hip Dysplasia

This is essentially a kind of degenerative arthritis and can be painful for your pet. You’ll notice that he battles to get up after lying down. There are some treatment options that can alleviate his pain and make him more comfortable, but there is no cure.

It is essentially where the dog’s hips partially dislocate and it is a genetic condition. It is more usual in larger dogs but any dogs can battle with hip dysplasia.

Patellar Luxation

This occurs when your dog’s kneecap is dislocated. It can be a genetic malformation or trauma. A dislocated kneecap is a common knee joint abnormality and a dog with a dislocated kneecap will have abnormal hind-limb movement, occasional skipping and even lameness.

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.

Exercise

This bearded dog is energetic so he will need to be exercised by you. You can take him on walks or take him to the park or play ball games with him. He will be prone to excessive barking and other kinds of destructive behavior through no fault of his own if you buy a pet like this and just plonk him in your back garden. He wants to be a part of your family and exercising him daily is part of owning a pet like the Bosnian Coarse Haired Hound.

Training

The Bosnian Coarse Haired Hound is a strong-willed dog and intelligent too. Train him and socialize him because then he becomes such an obedient, amicable pet who just wants to please.

Feeding

Your Barak is an energetic breed so he will need top quality food packed with vitamins and minerals that can provide him with the energy he needs. When it comes to feeding your Bosnian Coarse Haired Hound, store-bought dog food comes in a dry form or wet canned form.

If you’re unfamiliar with these foods, you can also speak to your veterinarian about the best food for your pet. Many dogs are lucky because their owners provide homemade diets – raw or cooked meat, vegetables and rice. A good multivitamin with omega 3 is also recommended for your pet as this can ensure his coat is shiny and his eyes bright and alert. Fresh, cool water must be within reach day and night.