About Mishka

Mishka is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever living in Oxfordshire, in the English countryside, a long way from where her breed calls home.

Tollers, as they're affectionately known, were developed in Nova Scotia, Canada, in the early 19th century. They were bred for a very specific and rather clever job: tolling. A Toller would run and play along the shoreline, drawing the curiosity of ducks out on the water. Once the birds were lured within range, the hunter would take the shot, and the dog would then retrieve the fallen birds from the water. It's a breed built on energy, intelligence, and an irresistible urge to fetch absolutely everything.

Mishka's parents waited almost three years to bring her home. Good things take time, especially when the thing in question has four paws, a fox-red coat, and an opinion about everything.

She currently splits her time between muddy field walks, ambushing squirrels that will never be caught, and aggressively supervising mealtimes. Her greatest love, above fetch and swimming and rolling in things she shouldn't, is cheese. Any kind. All of it. Immediately.