Chester - Toller

Nova scotia duck Tolling retriever

GENERAL APPEARANCE. Medium-sized, compact. Powerful, well muscled. A heavily feathered tail, constantly moving.

CHARACTERISTICS. Jumps and plays to lure waterfowl into decoy. Retrieves dead and wounded birds. Strong swimmer.

TEMPERAMENT. Kind, confident, intelligent, easy to train. Playful.

HEAD AND SKULL. Clean-cut skull, slightly wedge shaped. Broad, slightly rounded. Occiput not prominent. Cheeks flat. Moderate stop. Muzzle tapers from stop to nose. Nostrils well developed. Nose flesh-coloured or black.

EYES. Medium size, almond-shaped, well set apart. Friendly, alert expression. Brown to amber, blending with coat colour. Eye rims flesh coloured or black.

EARS. Triangular, dropped ear of medium size. Set high and well back on skull. Base held very slightly erect. Well feathered at back of fold, hair shorter at rounded tips.

MOUTH. Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Teeth sound and strong. Softness of mouth essential. Lips tight fitting, flesh-coloured or black.

NECK. Medium length, strongly muscled, well set-on, no indication of throatiness.

FOREQUARTERS. Shoulders well laid back, muscular, medium length. Elbows close to body. Forelegs straight and strong. Pasterns strong, slightly sloping.

BODY. Deep chested, ribs well sprung, brisket reaches to elbow. Back short, level top line. Loins strong and muscular. Moderate tuck-up.

HINDQUARTERS. Well muscled. Stifles well bent, hocks well let down, turning neither in nor out.

FEET. Medium-sized, round, tight. Toes well arched and strongly webbed. Pads thick, blending with coat colour.

TAIL. Set-on, slightly sloping towards croup. Broad at base, well feathered; reaching the hock. Carried below level of back at rest; when alert, curves over, not touching back.

GAIT/MOVEMENT. Impression of power, springy, jaunty with good reach of forelegs and strong rear drive; parallel movement fore and aft. Single tracks at speed; head carried almost level with back.

COAT. Straight, repellent, double coat of medium length and softness with a softer, dense undercoat. Slight wave on back allowed. Feathering at throat, behind ears and at back of thighs. Forelegs moderately feathered.

COLOUR. All shades of red or orange with lighter featherings and underside of tail. White markings usual in at least one of the following places: tip of tail, feet not extending beyond the pasterns, chest and blaze. Lack of white not to be penalised. Any black in coat highly undesirable.

SIZE. Ideal height: dogs: 48-51 cm (19-20 in); bitches: 45-48 cm (18-19 in).

This is chester