The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a medium-sized gundog bred primarily for hunting. It is often referred to as a 'toller'. It is the smallest of the retrievers, and is often mistaken for a small Golden Retriever. When the birds are close, the hunter calls the dog back to the blind then rises putting the birds to flight allowing the hunter a shot. Duck Tollers are working animals and are happiest when they have a job to do. However, like almost all dog breeds, certain genetic disorders are known to occur in the breed. This is sometimes blamed on a relatively small gene pool.