The ducks are coming, swimming directly toward the blind as if drawn by some mystical force. The beach is bare, devoid of decoys, the usual lure for these waterfowl. Only a little red dog boldly capering after a stick is visible, and he should be more of a deterrent than an attraction for these wily birds. But, then, this dog is a Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever, the Pied Piper of the Marsh.

My husband Ron and I first became interested in these dogs after reading an article in an outdoor magazine 15 years ago.

have to know something of the dogs' past. Where had they originated? How had their talents (if indeed they did possess any) been developed? We soon discovered we weren't the first, of course, to undertake the quest.

For centuries people have tried to understand and explain the amazing ability of these dogs to lure waterfowl. And for centuries nobody has been able to come with a definitive answer.

Wallace’s Molly MacMillan completes the Job.

Old time hunters will tell you it's because these dogs resemble the red fox. Many have actually seen fox lure ducks almost into their jaws by prancing about on a beach. But it's the why that stumps them. Are the ducks simply curious? Or are they drawn by some deep, mysterious kind of magic that no one will ever understand until someone comes up with a way to decipher the deductions of a duck?Tolling, as this method of duck decoying is known, is nothing hew to human beings either. It was documented centuries ago in Japan where hunters used small red dogs in conjunction with falconry to lure birds within the hawk's realm. In the 16th Century, similar canines were used along the canals of Holland to draw ducks up these waterways and into nets. This method of hunting provided a reliable source of game-birds for the table.

The first mention of tolling dogs on this continent comes with an interesting twist from 17th Century explorer and colonizer Nicholas Denys. In his history of the coasts of North America, Denys mentions using fox-like dogs to lure game. But here comes the fact that has forever set these dogs apart from their Old Worid counterparts: Denys says these dogs also retrieved game, a feat not found in any European or Asian account of the dogs' skills.

The fame of tolling retrievers, however, did not spread wildly. Instead, the dogs became mostly limited to southwestern Nova Scotia, the area that would later become Yarmouth County. And there they remained to become one of Nova Scotia's best-kept secrets for over 200 years.

Then, in the 1930s, celebrities such as Babe Ruth discovered the wonderful hunting and fishing that was to be had in Yarmouth County. He and his entourage became frequent visitors to the area and were introduced to the astonishing skills of these Singular little dogs. The International Tuna Cup Competition, which was held in this area during that aera, also attracted others among the rich and famous. Some of these personalities, like the Babe, soon discovered the amazing red canines known then as Little River duck dogs.

As a result, the dogs received a smattering of interest outside their ancestral home county at the time. Stories about them appeared in Time Magazine and Ripley's Believe It or Not. However, the Publicity was short-lived and not enough to bring a rush of puppy Orders pouring into the region. Yarmouthstonians weren't sorry - they knew they had a good thing and weren't in any hurry to share it with a world they felt might not be ready to properly appreciate their unique little dogs.

Over the following years, tollers, as they're commonly called, have met with rave reviews from some, put-downs from others. Ron and I are convinced, however, any negative

Publicity these dogs may have received is largely due to a lack of understanding of the breed's unique Personality. It takes a much lighter hand to train one of

In 1945, through the efforts of Col. Cyril Colwell of Halifax, these dogs were recognized as a distinct breed by the Canadian Kennel Club and renamed Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers. Although this event did again briefly boost the dog's popularity, it wasn't until two Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers were named Best in Show in the early 1980s that the dogs began to experience widespread popularity.

these clever, eager-to-please little critters than it does to handle a Chesapeake or a Lab. Some trainers have declared them to be even more sensitive than goldens.

"Try using the same training methods you'd use on one of the larger retriever breeds on a toller, and you'll end up thinking a Missouri mule isn't halfway stubborn," one well-known retriever trainer remarked. "These dogs are sensitive and clever. But best of all, they're naturals. They come out of the wrapper, ready to retrieve. It takes only a light hand and voice control to get through to them. And if you use play and their natural desire to retrieve as the basis for their instruction, you'll soon have the most willing little dog you could wish for working by your side."

Actually, training one of these dogs to toll (lure) is a relatively simple process. All that is needed is to hone the dog's natural delight in retrieving, making sure he'll return the fetch consistently. Then, from your blind, throw a stick for the dog to retrieve in sight of ducks rafting far-out on the water. Sometimes it takes only a couple of throws to catch the birds' attention, sometimes several. When the ducks start to move shoreward, keep the dog in the blind until they hesitate. Then show the dog again. Shortly, the ducks will be well within gun or, as is often the case with Ron and me, camera range.

If you plan to harvest the ducks, get your dog safely back in the ambush before you Jump the flock and fire. Then, if you're successful, your lure will do double duty as he retrieves your birds.

Some people have argued that tolling is unfair to water-fowl, that it sounds too deadly. But there are extenuating

circumstances that vastly reduce what seems like its fail-safe ability. For example, tolling only works on some species of ducks (notably, black ducks). Then, too, the process works best along quiet lakes and shorelines. These days, with the increasing number of vacation homes, ATV's, and motorized boats, such a location is getting harder and harder to find. Wind, weather, and just plain old luck also come into play so as to make tolling difficult.

On the plus side, you don't have to carry a tolling dog to your hunting site in a sack like you do with decoys. And furthermore, in spite of modern technology, they still haven't designed a rubber ducky that can retrieve or keep you Com­pany during those often-long hours of waiting for a flock.

And companions they definitely are: Andy Wallace of Yarmouth County, who has owned and hunted with Little River duck dogs for over 30 years, tells the following story of his devotion to one beloved toller named Blu.

"Blu and I were hunting alone over eel grass decoys on the mud flats. Finally, a lone black duck headed in, and I shot it. It fell on the ice a long way out. I sent Blu to retrieve it, but just as she picked up the bird, she broke through the ice.

"After she'd struggled to get out of the water for four or five minutes, it became obvious she wasn't going to make it. I couldn't leave her to drown or freeze - I didn't know which would come first.

"There was only thing I could do for her now. I raised my shotgun to my shoulder, pushed off the safety, and put my fingers on both triggers. I tried to aim but I was blinded by tears. Blu had started to cry like a baby.

"The three-mile walk home that followed left both of us nearly frozen stiff. But we didn't mind - too much. We were glad to be alive. And I still had Blu."

That's the kind of devotion these little red dogs inspire in their owners. Their willingness to please and unflagging joie de vivre have made them not only excellent hunting companions but also prized therapy dogs. Their happiness has proven infectious in hospital rooms and seniors' homes. Last year, Ron took one of our tollers named Chance to visit a veterans' home. After Chance had exhausted her bag of tricks, she sat down beside a silent man who'd made no indication he'd enjoyed her performance or, in fact, that he'd even noticed the prancing little dog. Then, slowly, he reached a hand and patted her head. "Nice dog," he said softly. The nurses were amazed. The gentleman hadn't spoken in over a year.

We lost Chance shortly after that visit to a sudden heart attack. To say we were devastated would be a gross Under­statement. Ron, who thought he'd never find a dog to equal his beloved Labs, was hardest hit. He'd hunted with her, showed her to High in Trial in Obedience, taken her with him wherever he went.

"There's only one bad thing those dogs can do," one old-time hunter told us at the time. "That's die and leave you."

After 15 years of sharing our lives with Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers, Ron and I haven't found a single reason to disbelieve him. And no reason whatsoever to doubt the astonishing abilities of this  little red Pied Piper of the Marsh.