Best truffle dogs: which ones they are and how to train them

Truffle hunting is a passion like no other, with ancient origins, and it's not just about the pursuit of taste, but also the thrill of the hunt, because that's essentially what it is.

Truffle hunting is, in fact, a real treasure hunt: these precious tubers, depending on their type, color, and size, can cost thousands of dollars.

The most expensive one, weighing 900 grams, was sold for an astounding 263,000 dollars, equating to about 300,000 dollars per kilogram.

Seekers can't work alone. Truffles are not ordinary mushrooms, and finding them isn't so simple, unless one is assisted by an irreplaceable adventure companion: truffle dogs.

But how do you choose one, how do you train it, and how do you become a truffle hunter? And can we all do it, even if we don't have much experience?

The answer is yes! All it takes is the right place, the right dog, and a lot of good will. Plus a bit of luck!

Let's try to clarify the topic and give you some useful advice to keep Fido's ears in excellent health.

What is a Truffle?

A truffle is a tuber-shaped fungus that lives underground. It typically grows in woods, under oak, poplar, hazel, and linden trees.

It has an outer shell called the Perigeo, which can be either rough or smooth, while the inside is fleshy. Truffles can be various colors.

Once it reaches the stage of maturity, the truffle emits a classic scent that allows dogs to locate it.

It was already considered a precious commodity in the times of Pliny the Elder, who lived between 23 and 79 A.D., and was highly valued by the ancient Romans, during the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance.

There are 9 edible species, some are prized and others less so or not at all; some grow between December and March, others between June and August, and still others between September and November.

How to Choose a Truffle Dog?

Let's start by saying that although there are breeds particularly predisposed, all dogs can learn to find truffles. The breed is not a constraint.

Even a simple mutt with an absolutely unremarkable genealogy can become a good seeker if properly trained.

The talent is not in the breed, but in the individual. Not all Lagotto dogs are skilled hunters; it's somewhat a matter of luck.

However, obviously, if the passion is not just a hobby but a source of income, it's better to be safe and choose one of the breeds considered top for truffle hunting.

Ideal Characteristics of a Truffle Dog

Olfactory Capacity

A truffle dog must have a highly developed sense of smell. All dogs have this by nature, but some breeds have a truly extraordinary ability to sniff out scents.

Concentration

To find truffles, the dog must be focused solely on searching for the elusive fungus and not get distracted by other scents.

While many of the breeds favored by truffle hunters are also popular among hunters, truffle dogs must be able to resist being lured by moving prey or other distractions.

Endurance

This point explains why only hunting or working breeds are in the top 10 for truffle dogs: the truffle dog must be able to walk for long periods, often over rough or uphill terrain.

A delicate Yorkshire might have the nose for it but may not be able to accompany a truffle hunter on an 8-hour mountain hike.

Obedience and Training Predisposition

Like hunting dogs, truffle dogs must be obedient and respond promptly to their owner's commands.

Not only because they must remain focused and not run off at the first distraction, but also for a more practical reason.

Dogs like to eat truffles; many devour them as soon as they're found, and others run away with their prize.

Therefore, it is very important that the relationship between the dog and the truffle hunter is balanced, and that the dog promptly obeys the owner's orders.

This is the character profile of a good truffle dog, but as mentioned, while part of the talent is genetic, the other part comes from good training and depends entirely on how the dog is trained.

The Best Truffle Dogs: Breeds

There are various breeds, and we have listed 10 of the most highly regarded ones. We have selected 10, all beautiful and with great talent.

And they are listed in random order, not by ability and talent!

1) Lagotto Romagnolo

An entirely Italian breed, topping the charts as the best truffle dog: the Lagotto Romagnolo is the quintessential truffle hunting dog, already used for searching for this delicacy in ancient times.

It possesses all the ideal characteristics - temperament, endurance, focus, even the perfect coat for moving through forests and across waterways.

In Italy, it is also highly sought-after as a companion dog and adapts well to apartment living, but its primary purpose remains the same, the pursuit of truffles!

2) Setter

A versatile dog adept at both pointing and retrieving, highly skilled in hunting, extremely devoted to its owner, and very obedient.

Thanks to its characteristic as a pointing dog, it learns to wait after having dug, which makes it highly valued by searchers.

The Setter is an excellent searcher, suited for all terrains and tireless, weather-resistant, and perfect also as a companion dog.

3) Breton

With its highly developed sense of smell, this dog is ideal for truffle hunting. It's a versatile breed that moves well on any terrain and is very obedient.

It is easily trainable and truly tireless; no search area is too challenging for the Breton, which navigates well even through marshlands.

4) Jack Russell Terrier

A truffle dog breed not everyone is aware of, but one that earns a good position in the rankings.

It's the smallest size among the best truffle dogs, but this doesn't diminish its exceptional searching ability: the Jack Russell Terrier originated as a rat hunter and is capable of pursuing its goal tirelessly.

Its great intelligence, adaptable nature, and devotion to work make it perfect for those wanting a true truffle hunter that primarily lives indoors but possesses significant endurance.

5) Cocker Spaniel

The Cocker Spaniel may be misleading: with its noble appearance, silky fur, long ears, and status as a celebrity favorite, it hardly seems like a truffle dog.

However, surprise: Cockers are versatile hunting dogs, alert and full of energy, capable of walking for days without fear.

They are excellent at covering ground, able to comb through any terrain, and can detect truffles hundreds of meters away.

6) Spinone Italiano

Another marvel entirely Made in Italy, the Spinone Italiano finds its preferred terrain in wooded areas, where it truly excels.

It can detect the scent of truffles from any distance, and thanks to its tough and durable coat, it can move through brambles fearlessly for the entire duration of the hunt.

7) Pointer

A superb pointing dog, intelligent and tenacious, with an excellent aptitude for covering flat terrains. This dog is a great searcher, truly among the best.

It responds very well to training, but its strong hunting instinct can make it somewhat rebellious, requiring firm training by the handler.

8) Beagle

And here's another underrated truffle dog breed, yet one with an excellent nose for tracking down these tasty black treasures.

The Beagle is capable of staying on a trail for days and, when searching, can find it even from a great distance, a characteristic that potentially makes it an excellent truffle dog.

Unfortunately, its strong hunting instinct means it can get easily distracted, is rather stubborn, and tends to wander off.

It requires firm training. Additionally, it is also widely known as a food lover, often showing great interest in food, which is why it is frequently used in truffle hunting with a muzzle.

9) Bracco

Not only does it possess an unsurpassable sense of smell, but this elegantly built dog also has a balanced temperament and is a highly talented searcher.

It responds excellently to all types of training, and its extreme devotion to its owner makes it an ideal breed for establishing a perfect rapport with the handler.

10) Border Collie

Recognized as the most intelligent dog breed, the Border Collie is also the quintessential working dog.

Like all herding dogs, it is tireless and fully focused on the field. A dog capable of maneuvering an entire flock will have no problems performing any kind of work, including making a truffle hunter happy.

Mixed Breed Truffle Dogs – The Best Crossbreeds

Despite the list of preferred pure breeds, determining the best truffle dogs is somewhat limiting because, in reality, any dog can become a skilled hunter.

Truffle hunters know their craft and understand that optimizing the search for truffles requires a good selection from the most predisposed breeds.

Over time, they have begun to crossbreed the best truffle dogs to produce specimens increasingly suited for searching.

Among these, the Bracco Pointer stands out, a truffle dog breed that can be the most versatile ideal companion for those passionate about truffle hunting as well as hunting activities.

Then, of course, there are all the crosses with the Lagotto, which is always a guarantee and is also highly appreciated as a companion dog.

Bracco, Lagotto, and Pointer are not the only truffle dogs to be crossbred, but the combination of these breeds is certainly the most widespread, as well as the most successful.

How to Train a Truffle Dog

What we're about to explain is, of course, the basic technique, but as mentioned earlier, besides the characteristics we've described, what makes a truffle dog is the training.

And when we talk about training, we're mainly talking about a lot of patience, and patience takes time.

Firstly, remember that for the dog, truffle hunting should be fun, so train it as if it were a game, and reward it to provide gratification. But let's first see what you need!

Equipment for Truffle Dog Training

The equipment needed for training truffle dogs is relatively simple to obtain. You will need:

A truffle, preferably fresh
A clean rag (better if washed only with water and not detergent), with a weave loose enough to let the aroma of the tuber permeate

Alternatively, you can buy a Truffle Dog Training Kit, with a fake truffle and truffle oil, or a practical Single Container for Truffle Dog Training, which is a truffle-shaped box to hide a real truffle inside so the dog learns to find them but can’t eat them.

How to Train a Truffle Dog at Home

Once you have the necessary tools, you can proceed with training a truffle dog at home like this:

Start by wrapping a truffle in a rag and let the dog sniff it, then let it play with it to become familiar with the scent and texture of these precious fungi.
Next, hide the rag with the truffle and encourage the dog to find it. When it finds it, don’t let it eat the truffle, hide it again and give the dog a small treat.
Once your four-legged friend has learned these first steps, start burying the rag underground, so it gets used to digging.

This way, it will learn not to eat the truffles it finds and to wait for a snack in exchange for returning the precious treasure.

If you don’t like the idea of the handkerchief or rag, or don’t want to spend too much by giving the dog many truffles, you can buy a truffle dog training kit and a pack of truffles for dogs.

Usually, the kit consists of a small box or metal egg in which to insert the truffle. Being hard, the dog won’t be able to chew it, and in this way, it will get used to waiting for the snack.

As for the truffles, it’s better to use fresh ones, but if not possible, frozen ones are also fine.

The goal of truffle dog training is obviously to train the dog's sense of smell, we agree on that, but it must still remain a playful activity for your puppy.

The game should last a maximum of half an hour so as not to lose the level of attention, and it should be fun for both our furry friends and us.

The duration of the session should be limited, and the lesson repeated daily.

Is it Better to Train Puppy or Adult Truffle Dogs?

Definitely better to train a puppy, because training an adult dog is always more difficult.

Not that it’s impossible, and if you are an amateur who wants to dedicate yourself to truffle hunting in your free time, feel free to train the adult dog.

But professional truffle hunters generally train dogs at a young age.

Truffle Dogs, Better to Train or Already Trained?

Obviously, it would be better to personally train the truffle dog, especially with the aim of maintaining the closest possible human-dog relationship, but you can buy truffle dogs that already have the right characteristics for searching.

Is it Better to Train a Male or Female Truffle Dog?

Experienced truffle hunters prefer to train female truffle dogs, simply because they get less distracted in the hunting ground.

It’s also true that if not sterilized, the female goes into heat twice a year, and on those days cannot go out truffle hunting.

How to Choose a Truffle Dog Puppy

Puppies are divided into two categories, dominant and submissive.

Dominant ones are those that in the puppy pack go ahead first, overlap with their siblings, attack them, and try to attract attention.

Submissive ones, on the contrary, are shyer and quieter, and tend to be less confident when examined.

If you are a first-timer, a submissive puppy will be easier to train, while a dominant one will be more rebellious and tend to get more distracted.

But the best long-term results are obtained with the dominant puppy.

What is the Cost of a Truffle Dog?

The prices of a truffle dog can vary depending on the breed, the training, or the pedigree of the dog. A Bracco, Pointer, or Lagotto with good lineage and already trained can cost several thousand Euros.

Author's Note

I invite all readers to share their experiences on this topic in the comments section.

Any information you wish to share about health, temperament, products, and advice on training or diet will help us create a large community of owners who not only love dogs but also know how to manage them in the best way.

From the Staff of Khani.co.uk

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