How to Train Your Dog to Find Truffles
Introduction
Truffles only grow in certain areas and can be a very lucrative business if you decide to be a truffle hunter. Though fungi may be easy to find in your area, truffles are sometimes elusive, hidden underground, near certain trees, and in areas that are not enticing to explore. Truffles have a powerful, distinct scent and are delicious for both dogs and people. Truffle hunting is something you can do with your dog and create an exciting business venture together. Imagine the bond you will have when your dog finds such an exciting product and helps you to make money! Truffles do not always grow in the same area twice so they can be challenging to find. However, teaching your dog to find truffles is not an incredibly difficult thing to do. And it is something the two of you can do together to grow, bond, and build a profitable business.
Defining Tasks
If you are looking to train a truffle dog, consider starting early when your dog is a puppy. If you can include the puppy’s nursing mother in your truffle training, all the better for your pup. Truffle hunting becomes a lifetime training for most dogs who work hard to find truffles. You could potentially train any dog to find a truffle, but it might be easier to train a puppy and to train a hound who likes to have his nose to the ground. While your dog is training, you will need to have access to truffle oil so he can get used to the strong scent of truffles. It is extremely common for truffle hunt dogs to have nursed with truffle oil on their mother's teats as newborns. Be prepared with patience, time to hunt with your dog, and energy to put into training your dog to find truffles. This will require persistence as your puppy grows into a truffle-hunting dog.
Getting Started
To get started you are going to need some treats, truffles or at least truffle oil, cotton balls, and a ball, stuffed toy, or sock you can cut into and re-stitch to hide bread or cotton balls soaked in truffle oil to entice your dog. You will also need time and patience to allow your puppy to grow into a dog who is familiar with the scent of truffles and the journey of the hunt.
The Puppy Method
The Find Method
The Sock Method
Success Stories and Training Questions
Training Questions and Answers
Hi, about the article I should start training at an early age, when my dog is a puppy. Is it possible to success with the training if I start it now when she’s almost 10 months old?Thanks
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Hello Gabriella, If your dog has been well socialized so that she is not afraid of being in the terrain you will be searching for. If she has a good nose and has displayed an ability to detect things by smell well already, then you can very likely begin training at an older age without issues. You will just need to take the extra time to teach her how to use her nose through things like scent games. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
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I have a very intelligent puppy that’s always looking for action.
How should I train him to search for truffles, he loves to dig up grass in the yard..
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So i use truffle oil that doesn't contain truffle. Is that oil good for training? Greetings from Serbia.
662 Dog owners recommended
Hello Stefani, As long as it was actually extracted from a real truffle (and not some imitation flavor) it will likely work. The scent may just not be as strong, making the training a bit harder at first. If you sniff it and it has a scent at all your dog should certainly be able to detect the scent even better. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
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Training Success Stories
I have been training Cesamo with Truffle oil, it was quite hard moving to real truffles but we managed. Still difficult to keep him concentrated, prefers rabbit droppings to truffles unfortunately.
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