Breed comparison
Miniature American Shepherd vs Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
How the two breeds compare on the American Kennel Club's 1 to 5 trait ratings, and which one suits which home.
Miniature American Shepherd
5Affection with family5
5Good with young children5
5Good with other dogs4
3Openness to strangers3
4Playfulness5
5Energy level5
5Trainability5
5Mental stimulation needs4
4Adaptability4
3Watchdog / protective3
3Barking2
3Shedding3
3Coat grooming2
2Drooling2
The biggest differences
These two breeds are close on every trait: no score differs by more than one point.
They score the same on affection with family, good with young children, openness to strangers, energy level, trainability, adaptability.
Which one should you choose?
Pick the Miniature American Shepherd if you have other dogs. Pick the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever if you want a quieter dog.
Ratings are general breed tendencies from the AKC. Every dog is an individual, so meet the dog, and its parents if you can, before you decide. Not sure? Try the breed selector.
Source: American Kennel Club breed ratings (compiled February 2022). How we check.