Gil’s nine-month-old, red and white, Nova Scotia Duck Toller is the smallest of the Retriever family. Usually, the weight of a dog is not mentioned; but in this article, it is a must! Ziv weighs 40 pounds and as an adult will weigh an additional ten pounds.
“My friend’s Duck Toller, Ducky, melted my heart,” said Gil. “I’ve always had a soft spot for the breed because they are affectionate, alert, courageous, energetic, gentle, and playful. They are addicted to water, swimming, and balls! Be paw-pared to ice your arm once you begin throwing them a ball, they can’t stop at one toss!
I named my dog Ziv (pronounced Zeev), meaning aurora in Hebrew. It's also my uncle’s name, so I joke with my cousins not to confuse the two because they have the same goofy humor in the most unexpected situations.”
As a puppy, Ziv rode on Gil’s back in a small pack. Today, his new pack is larger to accommodate his teenage size. Gil knew it was time for a larger “portable dog carrier” after the growing dog became flustered at being dropped into the small bag.
“Originally, I started biking with the pup to run errands,” said Gil. “I did not want to leave him ‘home alone’ because we are deeply bonded. He absolutely loves the rides, the fresh air and sights. Everyone notices how he enjoys the wind on his face. I invite him to join me at every opportunity, and he enthusiastically smiles, ‘Yes’. If I attempt to leave him home, he gives me his best ‘puppy eyes’ saturating me in guilt. I take him everywhere, even grocery shopping. He's a backpack
pup!
Ziv has never fallen asleep in the pack. He’s too excited for our next beach, dog park or trail excursion to run and meet other dogs. On trails, he trots along behind me with a big smile on his face. He is well-mannered and never barks at dogs, cats, or squirrels. We've gone camping ten times and he only barks to alert me when he hears a noise in the dark.
People who suddenly see a Duck Toller in a backpack go nuts. Once, a group of young ladies screamed with excitement like we were the rock group, The Beatles!
