"Missing the Maritimes"

PROUD NEW MOM: qathet Living publisher Isabelle Southcott welcomed four grand-puppies in July, the first litter of Scotiapride’s Acadian Jig. They are Digby Clams, Lennie Gallant, Evangeline, and Schubendorf.

Eastwest Duck Tollers presents: The Scotiapride’s Acadian Jig and Blue Ridge Mountain Ranger litter

BY ISABELLE SOUTHCOTT

Jigs, my Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, gave birth to four beautiful puppies on the evening of July 10. It was a first for both Jigs and me, but all went well thanks to the help of puppy doula Tayler Dixon.

Raising duck tollers has been something I’ve wanted to do for a long time but like anything in life, you have to plan and prepare. In 2019, I purchased Jigs from Scotiapride Duck Tollers in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

Then Panagiotia Rounis showed Jigs so she could get her Canadian Kennel Club conformation title. I competed with Jigs in dock diving and rally obedience and she has her Dock Diving Senior and Rally Intermediate titles.

Jigs had a series of genetic health tests done to ensure that she was suitable breeding stock. When she was two years old she had her hips and elbows x-rayed and sent to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals to have them assessed by three separate veterinarians.

Only then was she ready to breed. In May, Jigs and I flew back to Nova Scotia so Jigs could spend time with Ranger. The result of their time together is this beautiful litter of puppies!

In honor of their parents, the puppies were given names to reflect their heritage.

There’s the handsome male pup Digby Clams, named after the best deepfried clams in the universe that come from Digby, Nova Scotia.

There’s Lennie Gallant, a charismatic male who was named after Acadian singer-songwriter of the same name who hails from Prince Edward Island who has won numerous music awards and is my favourite musician.

We have the beautiful Evangeline, named after poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous poem about a young Acadian woman who was separated from her beloved Gabriel during the expulsion of the Acadians from Nova Scotia.

And last but not least is the feisty Schubendorf “Shubie” named after early Toller breeder Eldon Pace’s famous kennel of the same name in Schubenacadie, Nova Scotia. This is where my family got our first Toller from back in the sixties.

All the puppies have amazing homes to go to when they are older, but in the meantime, I have the great privilege of watching them grow and develop.

Nurturing these gorgeous creatures, keeping them safe and healthy, and helping them develop into confident canine citizens has been a blessing and a gift for which I am truly grateful.