The Truffle dog
Meet Snuffle, the truffle dog and my team mate.
Unless you have the highly trained truffle dog (or pig), you will not find the truffle.
The truffle dog will only respond effectively when working with it’s owner. The truffle dog is specifically trained to find the scent of the truffle, and is a necessary tool of the trade. The dog and it’s owner/trainer are a great team, and rely on each other. The dog finds the truffle, and the owner provides the reward.
The dog only works for 40 minutes. This is to avoid the dog becoming bored.
The handler and the dog are a team, and they work closely together in the trufferie, with the handler watching the dogs body language as it forages for the illusive scent of the truffle.
Some breeds used are the English Spaniel, Labrador, Border Collie, American Cocker Spaniel. Traditionally, for centuries the pig was used to find the truffle, but the dog is easier to train, and to work with.
The dog is rewarded with pats and praise, food treats and retrieval play. The dog becomes very excited when a find occurs, and it sits patiently, guarding the truffle until it is dug up out of the ground.