Dog breeds / Medium breeds

What a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever really costs

Tollers are among the pricier sporting breeds to buy because US litters are few and waitlisted, typically $2,000 to $3,500. After that, the costs that stand out are chronic rather than surgical: Addison's and autoimmune thyroid disease each mean lifelong medication.

Size: Medium, 35–50 lb
Life expectancy: 12–14 years
Grooming: Moderate
Insurance risk: Average
Puppy price: $2,000–$3,500
Food a day: About 1,160 calories

Where the money goes each year

A typical adult year for a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever with mainstream food, a groomer, no insurance, in an average-cost area. That's $70 less than the median breed.

Illness and injury (average)$650
Food$601
Heartworm, flea and tick prevention$443
Checkups, vaccines and tests$330
Dental cleanings$283
Grooming$239
Toys, beds and everyday supplies$230
Treats and chews$120
License$20
Typical year$2,920

Most years land between $2,050 (budget food, home grooming, lower-cost area) and $4,080 (premium food, groomer, insurance, big city). Dogs over about 7 add about $180 a year for senior checkups.

The first year

Buying a puppy front-loads the bill: the price, gear, puppy shots and spay or neuter.

Bringing a puppy home

Breeder price$2,750
Crate, bed, leash, bowls and gear$550
Spay or neuter$490
Microchip$50
Puppy or basic obedience class$149
Upfront$3,990

Running costs in year one

Food$601
Treats and chews$120
Puppy vaccines and checkups$738
Heartworm, flea and tick prevention$443
Grooming$239
License$20
Illness and injury (average)$650
Year-one running costs$2,810

First-year total: $6,800. Adopting instead brings it to about $3,450.

Health costs to plan for

Tollers carry lifelong-medication conditions (Addison's, autoimmune thyroid disease) and a notable IVDD DNA risk, but their OFA hip (5.8%) and elbow (2.2%) rates are low, so we rate them average for a medium dog; no breed-specific claim data was found.

Condition	How it affects Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers	Typical treatment	Cost
Addison's disease (hypoadrenocorticism)	AKC names Addison's as a key Toller concern; OFA's juvenile Addison's DNA test shows 22.2% of 2,401 tested Tollers are carriers and 0.7% at risk. Source	Lifelong hormone replacement per year ($50-$200 a month); diagnosis adds $500-$1,500	$600–$2,400
Intervertebral disc disease	In OFA's CDDY/IVDD DNA results, 7.5% of 982 Tollers tested had two copies of the disc-risk variant and 50.3% had one. Source	Spinal surgery for disc herniation; advanced imaging adds $1,000-$3,000	$1,500–$4,000
Autoimmune hypothyroidism	AKC says Tollers are more prone than other breeds to autoimmune issues; OFA found 8.5% of 1,237 thyroid panels showed autoimmune thyroiditis. Source	Lifelong thyroid medication per year ($20-$50 a month)	$240–$600

The yearly estimate already includes an average allowance of $650 for illness and injury. A single surgery can cost several times that, which is the case for an emergency fund or insurance.

What drives the cost of a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Addison's treatment runs $50 to $200 a month for life once diagnosed, plus regular electrolyte bloodwork; ask breeders for juvenile Addison's (JADD) DNA results.
The double coat blows seasonally; AKC recommends daily brushing during shedding season, and many owners pay for a deshedding bath a few times a year.
Tollers are high-drive retrievers with a famous scream; plan on training classes and daily retrieving or dock-diving outlets.
At 35-50 lb, food costs about $45 to $70 a month per Lemonade, noticeably less than a Lab or Golden.
A 36-inch crate fits most Tollers, which helps with travel and vehicle costs.

Breeder or rescue

Reputable breeder: $2,000–$3,500
Rescue or shelter: $200–$500
Lifetime, from a breeder: $42,600
Lifetime, adopted: $39,200

Tollers are scarce in the US and breeders often keep waitlists: Lemonade and iHeartDogs both put prices at $1,500 to $3,500, with $2,000 to $2,500 most common. The NSDTRC (USA) rescue program's published adoption fee was $325; iHeartDogs reports $200-$500 for rescue Tollers.

Adopting vs buying: the full cost comparison

Similar-size breeds by yearly cost

Pembroke Welsh Corgi$2,880 a year
Siberian Husky$2,880 a year
Border Collie$2,920 a year
English Springer Spaniel$2,940 a year
Samoyed$3,010 a year
Lagotto Romagnolo$3,030 a year
Compare all breeds

Common questions

How much does a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever puppy cost?

A Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever puppy from a reputable US breeder typically costs $2,000–$3,500. Adopting one through a rescue usually costs $200–$500.

How much does a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever cost per year?

After the first year, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever costs about $2,920 a year, or $243 a month, for food, vet care, preventives, grooming, supplies and average illness costs. Depending on food, grooming, insurance and where you live, a typical year ranges from about $2,050 to $4,080.

How much does a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever cost over its lifetime?

About $42,600 over a 13-year life when bought from a breeder, or $39,200 if adopted, in 2026 dollars.

Sources

Prices are averages from the sources above and the cost baselines on our methodology page, in 2026 US dollars. Your vet, groomer and city will differ. Updated October 14, 2026.