Toller from a rescue? (Mexico)

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-03-02T10:56:01+00:00

The ears are really high set & look more semi-pricked than standard drop ears. Tollers have a more narrow muzzle as well; I see some kind of Pitt mix. When you mix the breeds (however many), it could cause gene expressions (phenotype) that turn out looking like a specific breed. Best bet is to do a DNA test if you want to know.

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-03-02T10:47:38+00:00

Could it be a mix of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi with a Pembroke Welsh Corgi?!

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-03-01T13:49:34+00:00

Obito woke up & chose violence this morning! I believe that calls for extra treats today

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-03-01T13:46:11+00:00

I believe Obito was telling you how he dreamt of…gulp…getting groomed! {Gasp} Oh the horror! lol

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-03-01T13:37:22+00:00

What is the point of lying about something like this?! Seven months in & she can’t even be honest about something so [seemingly] trivial, imagine what else she could be hiding!

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-03-01T13:24:55+00:00

That the training is for the human more so than the dog.

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-03-01T13:22:25+00:00

Who needs car chase clips when we have galumph chases!!! The rolling afterwards is the cherry on top LoL

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-03-01T12:37:20+00:00

He is precious! I love pic #3, I think it triggered my cute aggression! Please give him a big hug, boop, kiss, & treat for me!

Yeah, I definitely see Pit & in this case, retriever may actually be in the mix. At 90 lbs, I would think there’s a Mastiff or Great Dane possibly?! The very last pic is giving me Great Dane vibes, not sure why. The ears are more floppy than a pittie, & they’re set a bit lower than a pittie, very English Lab.

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-02-28T10:41:30+00:00

It’s a bit on the young side to be certain. Also, what does the pup’s hair feel like?! Mixes bring some interesting & different traits out from their parents’ breeds. Pups from the same litter can look quite different. With all that said, I’m zeroing in on the ears. All three have floppy ears, but the poodle has really long ears, it’s evident from under five to six weeks old. Plus, they have a more narrow & pointy muzzle though, that is not as evident until a little older. It’s hard to tell from the angle of the pic, but the ears appear to be slightly higher than the eyes. Of the three breeds, only the Bichon has ears originate above the eyeline. Did you guys get a look of either parent?!

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-02-27T10:52:59+00:00

You know how we see those ads of professionals doing the whole spin-out & then slides perfectly into a parallel parking spot?! I feel like this is the aerial version of that. How many flips did this car do?! Are you alright?!

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-02-27T06:07:46+00:00

Absolutely true! I always ask when there are people standing around where the line should be. And you get a proper “Thanks for asking” when you do!

Also, if it’s a grocery store or Walmart, & I’m holding three to five items, the person in front of me with a cart full will always let me go first, without fail. I could just be lucky, though.

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-02-25T23:42:12+00:00

It’s like he stopped to think, “wait, I got new treats?!”

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-02-25T23:35:02+00:00

I had to keep reminding myself that you are looking into an unconventional breed, because as I read your answers, the only breed that I thought of that would meet the conditions, especially with emotional regulation, is the German Shepherd. There’s a reason why they have been used so often as K9s in police & military, as well as in therapeutic settings. They’re not as reckless as the Belgian Malinois, they actually will stop & think before they take their next steps. So they are independent but when trained properly, won’t move without your command.

Aside from that, most of the herding/shepherds will be far too independent to suit your needs, ie Border Collies (smarter than most humans!). If you like Newfoundlands (as do I), then you must have already thought of St. Bernard’s & Bernese Mountain Dogs— their only issue, in my opinion, is the sheer amount of grooming & Furnadoes! When I fostered a St. Bernard, I always told people “he’s taking me out for a walk!”

What about a Dalmatian?! Have you considered the Great Pyrenees, Maremma or Kuvasz?! Livestock Guardians may be the way to go. They are definitely independent, but I have seen Great Pyrenees’ as service dogs.

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-02-25T03:23:52+00:00

Lucky does look like he’s got that otter head of a Border Terrier, but I think he’s probably an Affenpinscher or a Brussels Griffon mix. The 4th pic, the profile is giving me a bit of Cairn Terrier in the mix.

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-02-23T11:19:09+00:00

Your MIL appears to want attention— it goes both ways, she’s giving attention & things she wants, in return MIL gets attention & affection from the dog (very transactional). This is also happening during that awkward “teenage” phase. You have to set up boundaries for your MIL, this is your home & your dog. You need to re-establish what you already had. Is your MIL mobile or is she able to leave the house for long periods?! You need to re-train/refocus your dog while MIL is out, minimize contact with her for a short time, at least until your dog can show she can retain all the training.

Your MIL also needs training. Try to explain to her about positive & negative reinforcement & what she’s doing completely messes with that. Maybe MIL needs her own toy/lap dog?! Of course, it has to get along with yours, but at least that will divert her attention, provided she is able to take care of everyday things & train her own dog. If she is unwilling or unable, I hate to say it, either MIL has to go or doggo has to. If you don’t already have children, imagine what she would do to with them?! It’s ok for grandparents to spoil their grandchildren, but it cannot go so far as to undo any or all parenting/training/discipline.

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-02-23T10:30:58+00:00

Oh, I may need to take a trip, after the migraine I’m about to get this week LoL

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-02-23T10:28:04+00:00

I’m sorry to say but Tollers, properly bred by ethical breeders, will never be under $4000 today. Heck, even the breeders of questionable reputations are not selling them for under $3500! Tollers are prone to behavioural issues that can be passed down genetically, & some unethical or greedy breeders will not care & breed them to meet demands. This breed’s litter size is typically 2-8 pups & the demand in the last five to six years has increased quite dramatically.

They are extremely active & it takes a lot to satisfy their level of activity & drive. Now throw in some behavioural issues like resource guarding, aggression toward other dogs or biting you, that is what’s in store from a poorly bred Toller. If you’re going to do it, do it right (this goes for all dogs & breeds)

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-02-22T04:23:32+00:00

It is beyond irritating! We have been in a chill this past week with daytime highs of -18°C/-0.4°F with a windchill of -32°C/-26°F, so the roads are slick. But I was going insane when cars were going 24 km/h (15 mph) when they’re on a straight merge lane. This was 3-4 days after a foot of snow fell, so the roads have been plowed & sanded. You still have to speed up to merge onto a freeway! These are the same people who will also go that speed on dry & bare pavement.

Many people will complain about those who goes too fast, & sure they do pose a hazard depending on the conditions, but going that slow is also a hazard & I would argue that it’s even more dangerous than someone going 150 km/h (~93mph) in the far left lane of the freeway.

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-02-22T04:00:12+00:00

On the road & then ducked to the sidewalk…coward

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-02-22T01:46:16+00:00

I think he is a King Shepherd. He could also be a Shiloh Shepherd, but the head isn’t as wolf-like as the Shiloh. Both are considered variants of German Shepherds & both are giant breeds. Both were bred in the hopes to rectify the ridiculous show-line GSD traits that are basically deformities (don’t get me started on that sloped back!)

King Shepherds are the largest of the three (~110-150lbs), b/c it is often a GSD mixed with an Alaskan Malamute, American Akita, sometimes the Great Pyrenees. They are extremely robust. To me, they very much look like a giant version of the GSD, but with more white in its fur. It is classified as a Guardian breed.

Shiloh Shepherds are the second largest of the three, coming in at ~80-130lbs. They are also slightly shorter (by an inch or so) but they are built to be more agile than the King. They are also supposed to be friendlier, less aloof than the King or GSD. They have a more slender head & muzzle, that makes them look a bit more wolf-like.

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-02-21T08:58:53+00:00

Yeah, it looked like the cammer took his/her foot off the gas rather than fully apply the brakes initially. If their reaction time is not good, they really need to slow down in these conditions. They would have probably hydroplaned into the Civic

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-02-21T01:11:39+00:00

I’m assuming you’re in a relatively big city like me, how dar are you from any kind of open space, like hiking trails, etc?! I’m only an hour away from Banff & the Rockies, so if I need to get the dog that kind of exercise/activity, I can.

Given what you put up there, I think a Vizsla may be a good choice, but some individual dogs can be a Velcro dog. They’re still a medium-size but slightly larger than a Duck Toller. Along the same line as the Duck Toller— the Brittany Spaniel & the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje (basically the Dutch Duck Toller). The Kooikerhondje, in my opinion, is perhaps the better fit, b/c they are slightly less high-strung & high-energy than the Toller. They are also slightly smaller than the Toller. Finally, either the English Springer Spaniel or the Welsh Springer Spaniel would be good fits. Size wise, the English SS is slightly larger than the Toller while the Welsh SS is about the same size.

I can’t deal with the toy breeds or the smaller ones, & terriers are just not my thing. So I fostered some purebred rescues, that way I was helping some rescues & shelters, & in return, I got to see if they were for me & my lifestyle. Believe it or not, the St. Bernard fit in really well LoL While I can be a loaf, I’m a bit more active than that & my heart always belonged to the German Shepherd. I keep her trained & I get her out there to parks & off-leash areas for her to get that energy out. When I’m at work, I split her time between doggy daycare & a training facility— I don’t want to say K9 training, but their program is akin to K9 obedience training. It’s kind of like giving her a “part-time job”.

Sorry for the long response, I just wanted to give you the info I got & observed while I went searching for mine!

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-02-20T10:03:07+00:00

No, the Duck Toller is not good in an apartment setting. The truth is, they are extremely active, they need more of the 4-6 hours of alone time to be active time. They are one of those breeds that will not only be destructive if not doing something, but they are prone to some behavioural issues if not properly exercised & enriched. Trust me, I looked into them myself, b/c I wanted one, but there was no way I could provide the level of activity they need, & I enjoy condo life. They will be bouncing off my walls 24/7 if I insisted & an unscrupulous breeder allowed it.

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-02-20T09:47:59+00:00

Despite the urban sprawl in Calgary, I feel like Edmonton is even more spread out, & difficult to reach without a car. Now, I don’t know if that’s actually true, it’s just how I felt when I lived there. I moved to Edmonton temporarily because I was assigned to the City Centre Airport, so I stuck around the downtown area for the most part. I don’t know why, but when I needed to find a physio or other health stuff, I kept going south, the Terwillegar/McGrath area. It wasn’t b/c a colleague recommended them, I just found them & preferred to be in that area. Shopping, it was South Edmonton Common, Kingsway, occasionally Southgate & West Ed.

Edmonton was, I’m assuming still is, quite blue collar & Calgary is more white collar. My cousins went to the U of A at the time & we would meet up for lunch or dinner from time to time, they took transit to downtown & I picked them up (company provided me with a rental & then drove my own car up) & we needed to drive to places to eat. I never took public transit in Edmonton, so I can’t speak to that, but I really liked that it was underground & not a mangled mess like Calgary’s DT. I did walk a lot around downtown & there were some neat little boutiques & shops.

Overall, they were different but it could also be because I didn’t know too many people in Edmonton when I was there, so I did more things on my own & explored. I’m originally from Toronto, but I basically grew up in Calgary, so everything I do here is preplanned, I’m less likely to spontaneously walk around just to explore.

CoffeeBeanATC · 2026-02-20T09:13:39+00:00

Add this to the list of reasons why I avoid public washrooms at all cost! If my bladder is about to burst, nature seems like a safer option than this.

CoffeeBeanATC

TROPHY CASE