Things You'll Need:
- Patience
- Dog toys
- Leash
- Big yard or area to play in
- A pool is a bonus
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Step 1
Before you welcome a Toller into your home, ensure that you have puppy-proofed the house. Remove any items you don't want chewed or broken. Toller puppies get into EVERYthing!
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Step 2
Ensure that you have toys that will stimulate this rather intelligent animal. For example, purchase a Kong toy and stuff it with peanut butter or cheese. The act of trying to get out the yummy stuff will keep your Toller engaged for a long time.
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Step 3
Enroll your Toller in obedience classes. Because Tollers are so intelligent, they can and will manipulate any situation to their advantage.
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Step 4
Once your Toller has basic obedience, enroll them in agility or flyball classes. They will learn quickly and get some much-needed exercise.
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Step 5
Play with your Toller as often as possible. You may want to purchase a Chuck-It...a long arm-like thing that allows you to pick up a ball without bending over time and again. Most Tollers will play ball until they simply cannot do so anymore. After resting for 5 minutes, they'll be up and begging to play yet again.
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Step 6
Expose your Toller to water...be it a pool or a pond. A Toller's natural instinct for hunting makes them great swimmers. They have webbed feet which aids in their aquatic abilities. You can even play a game of fetch in the pool!
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Step 7
Understand that Tollers are, by nature, somewhat aloof towards strangers. Even though they resemble a Golden Retriever in their coloring and retrieving abilities, they do not accept any and every one into their "circle."
