Truffle dogs are used to find hidden black diamonds beneath the soil. Truffles are know for the special aroma that adds flavor to foods. These highly trained dogs are valuable farm workers that help bring in the harvest, and are the key to success to for all Truffieres.

The Dogs we use

Currently we have been using an outside truffle dog that has helped us to determine how our truffle crop status. We are in the process of training our own dog named Auzzie.

Auzzie our Truffle Dog in training

You can follow Auzzie as she goes along in her training.

Auzzie’s First Truffiere Walk

Auzzie is 18 months old, and we have been training her to become our next truffle dog. She loves the smell of truffles and gets excited when we use truffle oil-scented toys on the farm, teaching her to seek out that amazing aroma.

This is the fifth growing season for the English oaks inoculated with Perigord Winter Black Truffles (Tuber melanosporum). Auzzie was excited for her first official truffle dog walk in blocks 1 and 2. Although she spends a lot of time with us and is familiar with the orchard, this was her first training walk, and she did great.

Our goal was for her to stay close to us, no more than one or two rows as her nose started working for the scent, including releasing from her work to come when called. One of the main focus was for her to focus on using her nose without getting distracted by other things. Towards the end of her walk, she began to lose focus, so we put her in her harness and used some correction to end on a positive note.

Ultimately, these truffle dog walks will enhance her ability to perform her farm job. Here is a short video of Auzzie’s first truffiere walk.

Short video of Auzzie’s first truffiere walk
Meet Auzzie

Auzzie is our upcoming truffle dog harvester. At 8 months old, she is in the process of training to find our Winter Black Diamonds.

Auzzie’s great nose is matched by her eagerness to learn and please. Her favorite thing to do is work on the farm. She is both present and engaged in everything that transpires on the farm.

Her favorite activity is going out to check trees, irrigation, and most importantly, riding in the gator with Mom. She is great around livestock and in general is a great listener. She is developing her nose and patience to become a top notch truffle dog. She has already started to discover the precious gems that lie beneath the trees.

Truffle Dogs

The Dogs we use

Auzzie our Truffle Dog in training

Short video of Auzzie’s first truffiere walk

Other Truffle Dog Post