Labrador Retriever vs Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

A Labrador Retriever
Photo: SixtyWeb
A Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Photo: Naellenathan

Side by side

Labrador Retriever
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Adult weight
Males 29–36 kg (65–80 lb); females 25–32 kg (55–70 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 20–23 kg (44–51 lb); females 17–20 kg (37–44 lb)2
Height
No sourced figure
Males 48–51 cm; females 45–48 cm2
Lifespan
Median 13.1 years3
Median 13.2 years3
Fully grown
12 months, both sexes4
11 months, both sexes4
Group
Retrievers & water dogs5
Retrievers & water dogs2
Coat
Short coat5
Coat of medium length2
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
A brush once a week
Brushing a few times a week
Exercise
Plenty
Health
Elbow joint disease (much more likely); Outward-drooping eyelid (much more likely)6,7
No sourced figure
Class
Family
Sport

Which suits you

Size
The Labrador Retriever is larger: about 31 kg (68 lb) as an adult, against 20 kg (44 lb) for the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
Grooming
The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever needs more grooming, brushing a few times a week, where the Labrador Retriever needs a brush once a week.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Labrador Retriever: a lap or leaning dog; Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever: affectionate on its own terms) and on loyalty (Labrador Retriever: friendly with everyone; Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever: bonded to its family).
Alike
Both are rated the same on independence: keen to work with you.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Labrador Retriever
Retrievers & water dogs · Large

The breed is friendly, outgoing and keen to work alongside people. Its steady nature has made it a common choice as a guide dog for blind people.

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Retrievers & water dogs · Medium

Tollers are alert, energetic and quick to learn, affectionate with their own people and sometimes reserved with strangers.

The Labrador Retriever page →The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Labrador Retriever
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Activity
Needs lots of exercise
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Differs
Learns readily, likes games
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Differs
Suits a first-time owner
Needs steady training
With people
Labrador Retriever
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Affection
Differs
A lap or leaning dog
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Differs
Friendly with everyone
Bonded to its family
Independence
Keen to work with you
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Labrador Retriever
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Sensitivity
Differs
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Average
Voice
Differs
Barks to alert, then settles
Very vocal
Prey drive
Differs
Usually fine with small pets
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour8. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home9,10.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Labrador Retriever grows to the heavier adult, about 31 kg against the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever's 20 kg.
Labrador Retriever
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
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More comparisons

Compare the Labrador Retriever with
Golden Retriever vs Labrador RetrieverGolden Retriever vs Nova Scotia Duck Tolling RetrieverAustralian Shepherd vs Nova Scotia Duck Tolling RetrieverChesapeake Bay Retriever vs Labrador RetrieverGerman Shepherd vs Labrador RetrieverKooikerhondje vs Nova Scotia Duck Tolling RetrieverAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·