Train a Dog to Dig Truffles - An Experiment I Would Not Do Again - Fun To Watch (read notes below)

[@whitealliance9540]

I love real youtube vids like this. Im here to see how you do it... I lost my dog in feb. And have no plan on hunting for truffles. But this is so relaxing to watch.

[@raydijk7709]

I enjoyed your video, Im starting this today with my 10 year old stray dog. She did great, took her 15 minutes to learn how to find truffles!

[@invisibilianone6288]

She knew already, how to find them. It took 15min for her to understand that you were looking for truffles🎯😁☕

[@1963zinnia]

This is the most interesting video I've ever seen!!! Thank you !!

[@carlyblankevoort3856]

Lovely training, fun and reward as opposed to old school bullying and punishment. Thank you for sharing your training!

[@thehempmanstore6707]

Thanks for the video, my dog Molly is 2yo and I started training her, she is a staffy/lurcher so I expect to take a while to train

[@ozrallyguy]

I'm going to train my dog to find my car keys

[@recurf7492]

good idea haha

[@iamgroot4611]

Train it to make KZbin post, I'm betting it will do a better job than you....lol

[@bowls123]

Maybe i will make my puppy to find a millionaire for me.

[@elizabethblackwell6242]

I'm going to train my dog to find my youth.

[@vikzn1607]

@@bowls123 why would I millionaire want to be with you

[@tonybollinger3352]

Love ur info! Thank you. Got lucky the other day finding some trying to train my dog thanks 🙏

[@seabassnoyan7871]

dear Deb .. this video will help me a lot. thank you very much for your information

[@tonybollinger3352]

Love you the info. Thank you so much! Down here in grants pass found some blacks

[@JoseAlonsoCardenas]

Great vid Deb, thanks for posting this.

[@arifino4420]

Awesome video! Thank you for the tips. I live in Sutherlin, would love to visit yall with my pup : )

[@sallybennett7869]

Why did you praise the white dog before she found the buried truffle?

[@brisketsmom]

thank you deb!

[@simonedevries188]

Great video Deb. Love it. I like the peg idea!! I use small red string but pegs would be more subtle.

[@carlyblankevoort3856]

One more question, I have many pine trees (NOT indigenous) on my small holding but I've not heard of truffles from South Africa. I realise they like wet conditions in the forest and could one buy spores to get the party started?

[@anteconfig5391]

Dogs have a very good sense of smell. They can identify things by scent. Dogs can even be trained to detect cancer in humans. Some things that smell similar to us can possibly smell different to a dog. But that might not always be the case. Having a dog around is good to help you find and identify truffles and mushrooms much faster. But you should always double check that your dog has identified them correctly because some poisonous lookalikes grow right next to the good stuff.

[@MyEvilLaugh]

I have a German shepherd pup I'm looking to get into truffle hunting.. thanks for this vid

[@robinhood4640]

Have you had any success with your German shepherd?

[@TibiTips]

Congratulations! You have a great video! I subscribed at your chanels! i love truffles, I'm a truffle hunter , I have 3 dogs, olsow i have a channel about truffle and mushrooms!

[@Mcondon21]

Heck yes! I live in roseburg and I'm a chef I got a puppy and would like to learn more!

[@rcampbell2224]

Thanks for the video!

[@tonybollinger3352]

What type of dog is he? Can all dogs be trained to truffle hunters?

[@sarahstewart352]

Great video. I am interested in training my Bouvier X Standard Poo to hunt Truffles. My first Bouvie was very interested in what was under Douglas Firs, however she was a Medical Alert Dog and I was not able to work with her to hunt truffles. My new Medical Alert dog seems to be very interested in what is under Douglas Firs so I am thinking maybe he is a good candidate to hunt truffles.Thank you so much for the video

[@yepme6484]

Hi from Springfield Oregon,what time of the year to collect truffles

[@debwalker3422]

Hi Springfield! Oregon truffles start about mid-December (sometimes earlier) and run through mid- March, then there is a Spring season in June +/-

[@aminesalmi3559]

Thank you so much fo the info. I have a question if I trained the dog to hunt black truffle. Melanosporum. Will he hunt the other types of truffles?

[@debwalker7077]

Sure! Your dog's alert may be more subtle at first and you dog may just linger and leave it . . . but if you check it out and then reward your dog for that subtle alert, it will begin finding the new variety just fine. 😀

[@alirezalak404]

I'm iranian,thank you so much :-)

[@LetishaR09]

Can you post a video of the intermediate steps that you did with roger

[@alliedalinger3426]

I thought I was going to learn how to train my dog to search for truffles. Your dogs already know how to search for truffles.

[@mordecaibe]

Love that dog! How long does it normally take to get a dog fully trained?

[@debwalker7077]

Hi! It all depends - usually it takes a few full days (say 16 hours or so) of training to get them started (can be spread out over time) and then several weeks throughout a season to get them really hunting well. Then the following season they really blossom and just get better if you continue guiding them to do the right things.

[@langhoch5307]

@@debwalker7077 what is your contact information so that we can have you to train our dog

[@debwalker7077]

Totally depends on the human and dog. It varies from 2 days to months

[@bobmonk388]

great vid thanks will help me a lot.

[@debwalker3422]

Glad you enjoyed it. Let me know how it goes! Have fun - that's the most important part! Cheers! Deb

[@Oituz1916]

Hello,i have a german pointer,3 months old,Which I'm trying to train, could you please give me some ideas on how to do it. What are the first steps? Thank you!

[@debwalker3422]

Hi Emanuel! I really should do a video on that very topic!!! I'll try to get one done. IN the meantime, I would teach your pup to 'Touch' the palm of your hand with a clicker and have the truffle scent in your hand (use a real truffle, or truffle oil on a Q-Tip). Here is a good video to do just that : kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnmugKWXaZyZqbM This one starts slow - but is good! I would NOT give a verbal cue for truffle hunting purposes - that will just muddy the waters. Notice that the handler later holds her hand further from the dog so the dog has to step forward to touch. That I would work up to gradually!!! Keep it a fun game!!! That's how to get started. Deb

[@mariusdora9872]

Deb Walker Hi Deb, I really enjoyed your video and I see that you’ve been responding to a lot of the comments here so I was hoping you could help me out with a few questions. :) I’m 20 years old and looking for some ways to make money during the pandemic and beyond. I found out about truffle hunting just searching for different methods here on KZbin. Would you recommend becoming a truffle hunter if the primary motivation is making money? How good is the money in this? I love dogs and I think I’d actually enjoy the whole process, but the main reason is ultimately the financial side of it. Also, how long does it really take for the dogs to get good enough at hunting these things? I see a lot of people saying it takes years but others say just a few months at most...not sure what to think. Lastly, what type of dog is needed? I’m not sure what type of dogs you have here in the video, though they are beautiful, lol! Thank you so much in advance, if you ever see this and respond!!! :)

[@Oituz1916]

Hi Deb,i want to thank you very much for the information, and for writing back to me.Unfortunately i did not have time to train my dog the way I wanted,he is 9 months now should i continue with same exercise.Thank you again and hope you have a great year!

[@karijacobson1]

I have a half border collie half pyrenise and he wants a job!

[@debwalker3422]

Will likely be a good truffle hunter . . . as long as he is not insanely driven by hunting mice or other underground critters! Stimulated by a visual chase is fine - its when they constantly hunt them with their nose that can be a problem. Go for it!

[@karijacobson1]

@@debwalker3422 he doesn't dig right now so hopefully he can be trained to ONLY dig for the truffles!

[@uvekbaby7419]

Thank you

[@TheObsidianAsh]

Excellent video, I tired this with my lab puppy and he's a natural the same as Dotty! I'm using some truffle oil I bought on Amazon, can I keep using this or is it better to buy real truffles? If so does it matter which type of truffle I use and how quickly do I need to replace them? Thanks!

[@debwalker7077]

Hi Harry! Super that your dog is a natural!!! About the oil & truffles . . .it depends on where you hunt truffles - well specifically - what species of truffles you hunt. If you are hunting Oregon Black or White Truffles, you will probably want to get some Oregon truffle oil. What you buy on Amazon is more likely a European variety which smells & tastes totally different than Oregon Truffles. And, when I say 'Oregon' that is part of the species name but all the truffles up & down the west coast are 'Oregon Truffles' of various kinds. You will want to use real truffles if you can, but when they are not in season, truffle oil that is naturally infused (rather than chemically infused) is best. The way to tell natural vs chemical is to look at the ingredients label on the bottle. If it names the species of the truffle, it is more likely it is naturally infused. (Eg Tuber oregonense = Oregon White Truffle or Lucangium carthusianum = Oregon Black Truffle and for example a popular European truffle is Tuber melanosporum =French Black Truffle). We sell Oregon Truffle Oils that are naturally infused at www.esty.com/shop/TuckersTruffleOil . Season is mostly over in Oregon, although you may be able to find some blacks and a few Spring Whites. It will start up again in December and run through March (and later for the Spring Whites). Its best to start your dog on the truffles that you be hunting for. Once they are more advanced, they will be able to find other truffles too - once you reward them for finding them. All truffles have some compounds that are similar so dogs eventually learn to find any of them they are rewarded for finding. Regarding replacing them, they last about a week when ripe and even less if you are handling them, burying them, etc. So the fresh ones are fragile from that perspective. Ok - sorry for long answer. Hope this helps! Happy Truffle Hunting! Deb

[@TheObsidianAsh]

Thank you so much for your reply, that's cleared up lots of things! I'm actually from the UK and the truffle oil says it contains English summer truffles and black truffle flavour in extra virgin cold pressed rapeseed oil so I presume that is both naturally and artificially infused. I will have to wait until August to use some real ones, perhaps even ones he may find! I didn't realise how fas they went bad, I was under the impression you just used the same ones over and over. Thanks again for the info, really appreciated. Can't wait to take him out and see his hard work in action!

[@debwalker7077]

Hi Again Harry! With that description . . . missing the scientific names of the truffles . . . the oil is probably chemically infused. See if you can find another product from the truffles that grow where you & your dog will be hunting. Find out what the scientific name of the truffles is and be sure to buy an oil that lists it in its ingredients. I was not aware that the UK had truffles???? We always hear about French & Italian but not about truffles from the Isles. Greetings across the pond! Deb in Oregon

[@TheObsidianAsh]

Hey, the scientific name is actually on the back and I see two small lumps of truffle at the bottom so maybe it is natural and they are the ones we will be hunting. Yes I didn't realise until recently either! In the summer Tuber aestivum grow (the name on my training oil) and in autumn Tuber uncinatum grow :)

[@debwalker3422]

Deb Walker Harry! That's great! Thanks for that info. Its always great to learn more about truffles in different regions!

[@yepme6484]

Short hair Jack Russells do they make good hunters for mushrooms and truffles

[@debwalker3422]

Well most any dog can find truffles . . . but a JRT would not be my first choice. JRTs are wonderful raters & mousers. Some of them are so very distracted by the mice and voles in the truffle patches that they will only focus on hunting mice. Truffles are the main food source for mice & voles in the winter time, so there are lots of them in the truffle patches. So, if your JRT does not seem interested in varmints, then it would be fine, BUT if your JRT is already very focused on them, its an uphill battle. In fact - the black poodle in this video is a huge mouse hunter - and while early in his career he did find truffles, he is now so distracted by mice, he is a poor truffle hunter. We use him to 'keep the mice away' from our real truffle hunting dog, a little white poodle/bichon mix.

[@storminnormansgunworks824]

Is the Skipperke breed able to be trained to seek out truffles

[@debwalker7077]

Why not????? Of course! Any dog can do it! You just need a 'hook' i.e something to reward them with that they love! Treats, a toy are the typical rewards. Treats are easier if they love treats. Toys like a ball or small toy they they love AND WILL GIVE BACK TO YOU right away so you can reward the REPEATEDLY. IF they keep it and its hard to get it back, its more difficult with toys.

[@storminnormansgunworks824]

@@debwalker7077 Cool. Many thanks!

[@poplix2704]

Bassets have good noses, does a dog that is good at smelling scents faster/better...?

[@debwalker7077]

Digs that like to use their nose are good, but even better is a dog that also loves treats. That way you have a great reward for the dog for finding the truffle. Food motivated dogs are the easiest to train. There are many dogs that love to snif & hunt but don't give a darn about treats, toys or praise from their owners, they just want to go sniff. These dogs, and ones that are over-the-top into mouse hunting are difficult to train. Easier to choose a different dog. Not saying other dogs won't find them, it's just a matter of controlling the motivation so you can reward the dog for hunting & finding. Hope that helps.

[@poplix2704]

So dogs that like treats are easy to train. But if u have a dog that is used to find like drugs and smell things from far away have a advantage?

[@debwalker7077]

@@poplix2704 If your dog already does scent work, that's a plus, they know the game in general & you just have to teach them the new aroma and what to do when they find it. Typically a drug dog will sit or lay when it finds a target odor. You want a truffle dog to dig a little, then stop digging so as not to damage the truffle. If the dog works off leash and far away from the handler, that needs to be retrained for truffle hunting. The easiest way to do that is put the dog in a harness & train it on a 6 ft leash attached to the harness. Truffles are small and you want to be close to them, not 50 yards away. The dog needs to work more slowly and closer to you.

[@debwalker7077]

Also - I have seen some really nice bassethound truffle hunting dogs!!!!! :)

[@poplix2704]

Hey, thanks for the reply, Do u know if truffles grow in the Netherlands?

[@williamsprain8883]

Will you train a dog to do this with me if I buy a dog?

[@cherylfox2463]

If Roger ate the first truffle, is it toxic to him? What are the symptoms if he did?

[@debwalker5086]

Hi Cheryl! Actually Roger did not eat the truffle in the video, I found it later, I had pushed it over with my rake, that happens a lot and its good to have a dog that will 're-find' it when that happens. Most truffles are not toxic. There is one that is and it is purple in color. Many mushrooms, on the other hand, can be very toxic. I never let my dogs eat or even get interested in mushrooms. They are above ground & can be seen so I don't use my dog for that. Some very innocent-looking mushrooms are toxic and the big problem is that they don't show signs of illness until they have passed into the intestines so inducing vomiting at that point will not help. If your dog eats a mushroom it is a medical emergency - go to the vet - and don't let your dog eat mushrooms. Here's an article with lots of detailed information: www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/digestive/c_dg_mushroom_poisoning

[@RealMycoNation]

He tripped

[@fixingtogofishing]

Where can I get the truffle (since I'm not sure if I have any on my property) to teach my dog?

[@debwalker3422]

Nice fish in your photo!!! In the off season you can use truffle oil. Just be sure to get oil that is made from the kind of truffle that you will be hunting. In Oregon that would be Oregon White and/or Oregon Black Truffles. We make truffle oil and if you like you can buy some at www.Etsy.com/shop/TuckersTruffleOil

[@fixingtogofishing]

Thank you. Im in Washington. thank you for the link. still called oregon white/black truffles here in washington?

[@debwalker3422]

Yes! The culinary white & black truffles in California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia etc are called Oregon White and Oregon Black truffles. There are also brown truffles. Best, Deb

[@Ufos4dahoes]

So the hardest part to training Truffle dogs is being able to afford the truffles? Because I am really good at working with animals, especially ones I know.. Most people's pets listen to me better then their owner lol

[@debwalker7077]

No! The hardest part about truffle hunting is to find land that has truffle patches and to get permission to hunt for them!

[@Ufos4dahoes]

Deb Walker Ohh okay, well yeah now that makes sense cause truffles are hard to find and expensive so not every one would want dogs on there farm.

[@simonedevries188]

Hi Thot Bot. Truffle Oil is a great cheaper and easier to come by alternative to start with. I trained my dog Kovu on first started training with truffle oil from December 2017 through to March 2018 and the first time we went to a truffle farm, June 2018, he found 3 kilograms or truffle (largest one he found was 715grams) Have a look at www.kovuandsim.com to see how his journey.

[@hashemandabraham7434]

👍

[@laurahirt6731]

What kind of dog is Dottie?

[@debwalker3422]

Hi Laura! Dotty is a poodle/bichon mix - as best we can guess. She was a dumped in the desert ,puppy-mill rescue. Can you believe someone dumped her?! Took her a month to learn to humt truffles commercially - but a year to be fully house-trained - go figure! She's a survivor and a go-getter!

[@rustinstardust2094]

Deb Walker Nice. Gotta love the rags-to-riches, homeless-to-expensive-truffle-hunter story. What a lucky dog!

[@sgarcata]

Is Roger a Poodle?

[@debwalker3422]

sgarcata Yes, Roger is a Klein Poodle. It's a German breed that is sized between a Standard and a Miniature poodle. Dotty is a rescue and best we can figure, she is a Miniature Poodle Bichon mix.

[@sgarcata]

Nice to see one doesn't have to have a special expensive breed. I love the eagerness and focus that Dotty displays.

[@clownchecked8155]

4:38 lol

[@k9hunter358]

Your scent is on the truffle, use gloves.

[@debwalker3422]

Yes - technically this could be a problem, but there are so many human scents using training aids, it does not really matter at first. The bigger issue is 'disturbed ground scent' which is huge for a dog. You can see how I deal with that in the video. You transition from training aids to realy truffles pretty quickly so it becomes moot after a short transition.