Anyone doing it?
Truffle hunting?
- Thread starter Yale
- Start date
haulmblower
Member
- Location
- Staffordshire
From the little I know I think they keep the locations secret.
This could be a 'Not Truffle Hunting' thread.
How do you train a dog to find truffles?
The best our old dog could do was newly planted Daffodil bulbs
Hayho
This could be a 'Not Truffle Hunting' thread.
How do you train a dog to find truffles?
The best our old dog could do was newly planted Daffodil bulbs
Hayho
Woolgatherer
Member
- Location
- Angus
I used to keep horses in a wood. When they first went in there, they used to go galloping down to the bottom of the wood and dig. At first I thought they were just looking for a place to roll but after a day or two it was obvious they were looking for something. In hindsight I've often thought I should go and see if there's anything there, they've been out a while now and the "treasure" might be back! It just didn't occur to me that it could be truffles until it was too late and they'd stopped looking (ie eaten it). What made me wonder was I heard a radio programme on truffles and how they're found mainly in beech woods. And yes, the nags were in a beech wood. I think I'll have to go for a walk......
Be interesting to know how you get on.
Are you rewarding the dog with a hide and find training method?
Keep us updated.
Yes, basically been hiding a very small plastic pot with small holes in that has truffle oil in it under football cones. Then reward when he finds the right one. June onwards is normally when the truffles start to appearBe interesting to know how you get on.
Are you rewarding the dog with a hide and find training method?
Keep us updated.
Danllan
Member
- Location
- Sir Gar / Carms
When I was about thirteen I saw a documentary on TV about this and thought it was a wonderful idea, my father told me there used to be an old chap in a nearby village who hunted them with dogs as a side-line after the war. I had a very good, clever little terrier bitch and, since we were on the edge of the Chilterns then, had a go.
No luck at all, just what you would expect, general terrier interests such as partly rotted crap from various species. Kept trying in between my other 'occupations' and one day found one, about the size of a small walnut. Wasn't entirely sure that it was a truffle at first, but my father identified it and a neighbour too, my parents were keen on it but I thought it was foul then; I don't mind them now, but think they are overrated.
I think there is fellow near Newbury who still goes out for them, I have friends over there and we met him in their local. He uses a couple of dogs; he tried sows before, but they can have them up and eaten too quickly, so he sticks to dogs. I guess it is a very, very difficult thing to do economically - but for a bit of fun it's fine.
No luck at all, just what you would expect, general terrier interests such as partly rotted crap from various species. Kept trying in between my other 'occupations' and one day found one, about the size of a small walnut. Wasn't entirely sure that it was a truffle at first, but my father identified it and a neighbour too, my parents were keen on it but I thought it was foul then; I don't mind them now, but think they are overrated.
I think there is fellow near Newbury who still goes out for them, I have friends over there and we met him in their local. He uses a couple of dogs; he tried sows before, but they can have them up and eaten too quickly, so he sticks to dogs. I guess it is a very, very difficult thing to do economically - but for a bit of fun it's fine.
I completely agree, I don't think you can make a living off foraging them alone. However, some of the more commercial plantations that are currently in place are set to, potentially, make a lot of money for the owner. Land owners with unproductive marginal land or woodland could actually make a bit of money by planting the impregnated truffle trees, although it does take several years for the trees to start producing truffles.
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
You can get artificial scents for most things for dog training these days. Explosives, drugs, cadavers, etc. Anyone come up with artificial truffle scent yet? Or is it a case of 'first find your truffle'?
(Might be fun to try importing a couple of kilos of artificial heroin scent from the USA....).
(Might be fun to try importing a couple of kilos of artificial heroin scent from the USA....
).I have just been using truffle oil for training, but the real thing is probably better. There is a product called 'Canitruf' which is made especially for dog training, but incredibly hard to get hold of.You can get artificial scents for most things for dog training these days. Explosives, drugs, cadavers, etc. Anyone come up with artificial truffle scent yet? Or is it a case of 'first find your truffle'?
(Might be fun to try importing a couple of kilos of artificial heroin scent from the USA....
Marion Dean
New Member
- Location
- Martock, Somerset
Sorry, haven't been keeping up with this thread recently. Can answer most of your questions. Re truffle oil, there is no need to buy Canitruf. Most, (that's the legal bit) probably all, truffle oils are artificial, ie they have chemical aromas added. There is enough aroma 'overlap' between the different kind of truffles for oil to be effective for dog training. Be careful, some truffle oils are pretty disgusting and will actually back dogs off - you can't blame the dogs.
Currently the only useful sources of truffles in Britain are our indigenous ones. I have found truffles in over fifteen counties in Britain. They do have specific growing requirements (like any other crop), and even though you might find the odd one outside these boundaries, it could be a serious waste of money to think they will grow anywhere.
The cultivated sector (trying to grow truffles from impregnated trees) is still in its infancy in Britain. I know many of the sites and often get called out the check the trees. I do not know how many trees in total have been sold but the positive results are extremely low - well, you might need two hands now - but that is only to count individual truffles not successful plantations. I bought 650 trees and regularly check root samples with a microscope to see how strong the truffle mycorrhiza is, it's pretty depressing, in some trees I have not yet detected any.
I have spent the last nine years working with dogs and studying truffles. I am a truffle addict through and through and spend all my time promoting British truffles. It is one of my strongest desires to grow my own truffle but I think there are two great stumbling blocks for newcomers. First, price, the perception of profits is unrealistically high. Second, the 'veil of secrecy' allows a lot of false information to exist.
Marion Dean. Truffle Hunters Dog School.
Currently the only useful sources of truffles in Britain are our indigenous ones. I have found truffles in over fifteen counties in Britain. They do have specific growing requirements (like any other crop), and even though you might find the odd one outside these boundaries, it could be a serious waste of money to think they will grow anywhere.
The cultivated sector (trying to grow truffles from impregnated trees) is still in its infancy in Britain. I know many of the sites and often get called out the check the trees. I do not know how many trees in total have been sold but the positive results are extremely low - well, you might need two hands now - but that is only to count individual truffles not successful plantations. I bought 650 trees and regularly check root samples with a microscope to see how strong the truffle mycorrhiza is, it's pretty depressing, in some trees I have not yet detected any.
I have spent the last nine years working with dogs and studying truffles. I am a truffle addict through and through and spend all my time promoting British truffles. It is one of my strongest desires to grow my own truffle but I think there are two great stumbling blocks for newcomers. First, price, the perception of profits is unrealistically high. Second, the 'veil of secrecy' allows a lot of false information to exist.
Marion Dean. Truffle Hunters Dog School.
Well without giving away too many secrets can you name the counties please?
Marion Dean
New Member
- Location
- Martock, Somerset
No problem at all, I keep a record of all my finds:-
Berks, Bucks, Cambs, Devon, Dorset, Glos, Hants, Hereford, Kent, Lincs, Norfolk, Oxon, Somerset, Surrey, Wilts, Yorks.
I know of more counties where dogs that I have trained have found truffles, but I cannot claim those finds mine.
Berks, Bucks, Cambs, Devon, Dorset, Glos, Hants, Hereford, Kent, Lincs, Norfolk, Oxon, Somerset, Surrey, Wilts, Yorks.
I know of more counties where dogs that I have trained have found truffles, but I cannot claim those finds mine.
IH 684
Member
- Location
- durham dales/cumbria border
Can truffles in this country be found with a rake? There is a programme on sky called truffle hunters which is made in America, the hillbillies just rake the ground around trees and pull the truffles out
Marion Dean
New Member
- Location
- Martock, Somerset
Raking is dreadfully wasteful because you take out under ripe truffles along with those ready to be harvested. If you think you can smell truffles, there's no reason why you shouldn't literally feel the ground for hard lumps or look out for cracks in the soil or truffle flies - but there again - life is too short!
Can cats be trained to hunt truffles ?
Marion Dean
New Member
- Location
- Martock, Somerset
Truffles give off an aroma so that animals can find and eat them to disperse their spores.
My last 2 cats would always disrupt dog training just because they hated the dog and yes they knew where the truffles were, but I don't think they would ever do it on command. Let's face it, Truffle Hunters Cat School just doesn't sound right.
My last 2 cats would always disrupt dog training just because they hated the dog and yes they knew where the truffles were, but I don't think they would ever do it on command. Let's face it, Truffle Hunters Cat School just doesn't sound right.
Danllan
Member
- Location
- Sir Gar / Carms
Hi, Marion, I had forgotten about this thread. We used to be in West Hertfordshire - near the Bucks border - and so Hertfordshire can be added to the list of definite sites too. The 'one', and it was just one that I ever found, was on the Herts side of the Chess Valley, I can't be more specific that that because of a promise.
We are in West Carms now, so I think the chances of ever seeing my children find one are close to zero... If you know otherwise please let me know.
We are in West Carms now, so I think the chances of ever seeing my children find one are close to zero... If you know otherwise please let me know.
Marion Dean
New Member
- Location
- Martock, Somerset
Hi Danllan, thanks for your input. I do have several 'finds' recorded by other people for Herts, the list I wrote a couple of messages ago was for truffles I had found personally.
Just been back to my records, I have seven 'finds' marked in Wales, interestingly enough, all in recent history. The bad news is that they are about as spread out as they possibly could be - or let's look on the bright side - truffles have been found all over Wales !
Last year I had a lovely dog from Wales in for training and I felt certain he would do well, sadly he had not found any truffles at all by our last contact. As far as your children are concerned I think I am a smidge more optimistic than you. I'd be delighted to be able to send more positive news.
Just been back to my records, I have seven 'finds' marked in Wales, interestingly enough, all in recent history. The bad news is that they are about as spread out as they possibly could be - or let's look on the bright side - truffles have been found all over Wales !
Last year I had a lovely dog from Wales in for training and I felt certain he would do well, sadly he had not found any truffles at all by our last contact. As far as your children are concerned I think I am a smidge more optimistic than you. I'd be delighted to be able to send more positive news.