The truffle hunt was traditionally carried out with pigs, but dogs have been used for this for many years. Their agility and sense of smell make them perfect for this task. In addition, field trips to look for truffles can be a perfect leisure time for you and your animal companion.
Any dog can be trained to look for these mushrooms, you just need to be patient and know the keys to train it correctly. So, if you want to know the basic steps to teach your dog to look for truffles and know how to recognize them, keep reading this article on our site and get down to the work.
The truffles
The truffle is a subterranean fungus that can be found up to 30 cm deep. It is highly valued in gastronomy and is the result of the symbiosis between a fungus and the roots of some trees. The hazel, oak or holm oak trees are known as truffle trees and the precious truffles grow at their bases.
The harvest usually covers the months of December to March, although there are varieties that also grow in summer. They measure approximately two to seven centimeters and their weight is variable. Its appearance and size varies throughout the year. The meat is scented, black or gray with white veins that run through and branch out all over the body.
The truffle dogs
It is known as truffle dogs those used in the search for truffles. While professionals have favorite breeds, any dog is capable of hunting these popular mushrooms. Naturally it is convenient that the dog is agile, young and can move easily through the forest for long days. Very small or delicate dogs would not do this job very well.
When a truffle-trained dog finds a it stops, sniffs and marks the spot by scratching with its paws and waits. The owner approaches, digs up the truffle, gives it to the animal to smell and rewards it. Once the truffle has been extracted, he has to cover the hole and never chop the truffle to extract the fungus
It is difficult to train a dog that has already been used for hunting, since they have a tendency to be distracted by tracks and stop searching. However, it is true that with patience and time everything is possible.
Steps to teach my dog to look for truffles
Teach to come when called
This step is very important and basic in the education of any dog. In order for them to respond to our call, we must teach them this order from an early age. We must establish eye contact with the dog and call him, once he comes he will be rewarded with prizes or caresses. It is a slow process but it is one of the easiest and most important commands when we go out with him to the forest. Call him by his name or with short words like "COME" or "GO"
Looking for truffles in the garden
Before going outside we must carry out training sessions in our own garden or in an area where we can dig and the dog can move freely.
On some pages you will read that to train a dog to search for truffles it must be hungry. This is completely wrong. That our dog goes hungry is completely unacceptable, we always have to think first of the welfare of the animal. We must train the dog so that it is a game for him and he enjoys each outing to the field to look for truffles.
The sessions will consist of the following:
- We give him a sniff of the truffle several times and reward him.
- We bury various pieces of truffle in different parts of the farm, without the dog being able to see how we do it.
- Instruct the dog to search. Use the word " SEARCH" or another word of your choice. It is important that you always use the same one.
- When it finds it, it will scratch the spot. We must teach him to wait quietly in place.
- We take out the truffle and give it to him to smell.
- We reward our dog.
We must repeat the process for several weeks. We have to be constant, we can't dedicate a week and then let two go by without training. It is best to do several sessions a week until the dog masters this phase.
As for the words we use, it is important to always use the same ones. Short words like "COME", "STILL", "NO" are the ones that work best. Your intonation should be loud and clear. Some trainers use English words or sounds to call and train your dog. No matter what words we use, the important thing is that they are always the same and always mean the same. This way we will not confuse our dog.
We should never get angry with the animal if it gets distracted or doesn't find anything. You have to be patient, be constant and always use positive reinforcement.
In the countryside
Teaching a dog to look for truffles in a delimited area is simple. What is more difficult is for your dog to endure the day in the mountains locating truffles. May be distracted by smells, other dogs, etc.
The technique is the same as in the garden. At first we will bring a truffle sample and ask you to search. We will reward each time you find one, but it is advisable to gradually remove the rewards. When your dog finds truffles with ease, reward him with petting.
It is important that you recognize the truffle trees for the search to be effective. Sending the dog to search in areas where there are no truffles and insisting on not finding any, can confuse the dog.
The time your dog is willing to search without getting tired depends on the character of the dog. Some prefer female dogs for their more docile character. We must make it a happy and fun moment for our partner, so he will be more motivated.
It is convenient that once we get the dog used to looking for truffles we go with him to the field from time to time. Even though it is not truffle season, he will keep his physical tone and will not forget his training
