"A heart warming family dedicated to a heart warming breed"
Our Story
At Tollchester, our journey began with a little red ball of fur named Blaze—the Toller who changed our lives forever. From the moment Blaze joined our family, we fell in love with the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever breed. Through him, we experienced both the joys and challenges of the dog world. Despite some difficult times, our passion for the breed never wavered. In 2003, we officially registered our kennel name with the Canadian Kennel Club, solidifying our commitment to preserving and promoting the Toller breed.
What started as a personal love story has grown into an international breeding program known for producing versatile, healthy, and well-tempered companions. Over the years, we’ve actively participated in conformation, obedience, agility, flyball, and even fieldwork—earning accolades and respect across many dog sports communities.
As life progressed, our family was faced with ongoing health challenges, which required us to reduce our direct involvement in the competitive circuit. However, our passion never faded. Through the support of our dedicated co-owners, mentees, and extended Tollchester community, our legacy continues to thrive.
Our Successes
Tollchester Tollers have found success in a wide range of venues, including:
• Best in Show, Reserve Best in Show, Best Puppy in Show (starting with Blaze himself)
• Swedish, Canadian, and American champions
• Winners and top placements at prestigious shows like Westminster, Crufts, and Eukanuba
• Recognized performance in dock diving, field, tracking, obedience, FAST CAT, and therapy work
Our dogs are not only titled champions but beloved companions around the world. Tollchester dogs are active in homes across Hawaii, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Belgium, England, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and more.
Online testimonials consistently praise our puppies for their stable temperaments, intelligence, and beauty. Here are just a few examples:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I’ve worked with several breeders, and Tollchester is one of the most thoughtful and knowledgeable. Their puppies are confident, well-socialized, and absolutely stunning.” – Longtime Owner & Dog Trainer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Our Tollchester pup came to us with the perfect mix of drive and relaxation. She’s great with our kids, gentle in the house, and a star in obedience.” – Family in the Pacific Northwest
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “From their mentorship to their honesty, Tollchester sets a high standard in ethical breeding. I’m so grateful to be part of their extended family.” – First-Time Breeder & Mentee
A Legacy of Dedication
Throughout our history, we’ve taken pride in contributing to the Toller community beyond breeding. Some highlights include:
• Serving as Show Chairman in the BC All Retriever Club and hosting a regional Toller specialty (2005)
• Acting as the BC Director for the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club of Canada (2005/06)
• Organized successful fundraising events (picnics, potlucks, walks, auctions)
• Designed the official logo for the 2007 National Specialty
• Helping organize the 2015 National Toller Specialty, including leading hospitality efforts and working alongside Tollchester clients in various volunteer roles
• Introducing the idea of a Register of Merit (ROM) program to recognize excellence within the breed
• Joining the Lab Club in 2012 to access field training opportunities, even without owning a Labrador
While our health concerns have required us to step back from some clubs, we remain committed to our breeding program, our clients, and the greater Toller community. We have proudly held a registered kennel name with the CKC for over 20 years and continue to uphold its values of excellence and integrity.
Breeding Philosophy
Breeding is our passion. Since our first litter in 2005, Tollchester has emphasized health, temperament, structure, and pedigree research in every generation. We invest countless hours into studying genetics and planning each breeding with long-term impact in mind.
Our puppies are raised with love, purpose, and proper early socialization. Many Tollchester Tollers go on to become:
• Beloved family companions
• Service and therapy dogs
• Performance competitors in rally, agility, and flyball
• Show champions on national and international stages
Perhaps most importantly, Tollchester Tollers are community members—living lives full of adventure, loyalty, and love.
The Tollchester Community
We are honored to have built a strong, global community of owners, co-owners, and mentees. Many Tollchester families remain in close contact for years, becoming extended family. We are proud of the mentorship relationships we’ve developed with both new breeders and first-time pet owners, guiding them through the joys and responsibilities of dog ownership.
Whether it’s welcoming a new family companion or helping someone achieve their first title in the ring, we are thrilled to be part of each milestone.
Looking Forward
While our path has had twists and turns, our focus has remained constant: to breed extraordinary Tollers who bring joy, companionship, and achievement into people’s lives. We remain steadfast in our mission to protect and promote this incredible breed, and we are humbled by the ongoing support of the Tollchester family.
In short, our lives have gone to the dogs—and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
📩 For inquiries or to learn more about our program, reach out at availabletoller@gmail.com