There is some debate within the truffling community over whether it is preferable to have the dog indicate on the truffle scent or to actually dig for the truffle.
Truffle hunting hauled our family out of the recession In 2008, when my husband John found himself out of work, truffles allowed us to keep our heads above water, truffles paid our bills. This was a time when entire families like ours in the rural areas of south Europe were forced to pack up and […]
Even though Betty, our German Wirehaired Pointer, has been hunting truffles for a couple of years now, I still get excited every time I see this dog in action. It’s not just that she is a great truffle dog capable of finding a couple of kilos of black truffle in an afternoon – the amazing […]
I Dont Think My Dog Can Learn Some dogs take to truffle training straight away but these very good boys are the exception rather than the rule. The majority of dogs will run into one or more problems while they are in the learning stage. These issues will cause many would-be hunters to consider throwing […]
Once your dog can find the truffles that you hide around the house, you can move the game outdoors. Find an enclosed area where the dog will be safe – your garden will do fine (provided there is soil as you will be burying the truffles). Before you start, give the dog a chance […]
Although you can certainly teach older dogs to find truffles, the early you begin training the better. I always try to get the young dog used to the smell of truffles very quickly. More importantly I want the connection between that smell and the reward of delicious food imprinted on the dog’s developing brain. This […]
The white winter truffle cannot be cultivated. The only way to get one is to hunt it in the wild. This video looks at how to go about finding the tuber magnatum pico, the most precious truffle of all.
Here in Europe, new hunters tend to start out looking for black truffles. Once they achieve this, after their initial delight, their thoughts then quickly turn to the prize amongst truffle – the precious white winter or tuber magnatum. Novices are anxious to learn if their dog can locate the valuable white truffles given that […]
Every sector has its secrets but none more so than the truffle industry which is entirely founded on secrecy. This video, the first in a two part series, looks at the very secret life of the truffle hunter.
It can often take a while for the dog to make the transition from finding the truffles you have buried to finding truffles in the wild. Following these tips will help you speed up the process.