Black truffles, especially the Tuber melanosporum Vitt variety, are one of the most sought-after delicacies in the world of gourmet gastronomy. For this reason, this hypogeous mushroom, that is to say, that develops underground, is widely used in haute cuisine restaurants by prestigious chefs. It is a product that reaches a very high price in the market due to the incredible and unmistakable aroma and flavor that it is able to give to all the dishes to which it is added as an ingredient.
Among the most renowned dishes, we find some such as meat, fish, rice, pasta dishes, pizzas, vegetables, eggs, potatoes, etc. In fact, the presentation of black truffles is usually in slices, grated or ground on other foods, and they should be as fresh as possible to maintain their properties. But what really makes it a food that fetches such a high price in the market is, in addition to its quality as a food, the scarcity and difficulty of obtaining it.
This is due to the fact that these mushrooms grow under the ground when there are certain conditions of location, altitude and humidity of the soil. In the same way, they can be harvested only in certain months of the year, so their collection begins in November and ends around the end of March or early April. And speaking of their harvesting, we must emphasize that it is done in a very special way, with the help of truffle dogs to collect them in their optimum state of ripeness.
Can any dog search for truffles?
You may have heard that only certain breeds of dogs are capable of searching for and finding truffles. However, in this article we want to highlight that this is not true; in fact, any breed of dog can be trained to search for these famous and exquisite mushrooms.
However, the dog in question must meet a series of requirements in order to be trained to correctly detect the presence of truffles. For this reason, it is absolutely necessary that they have a good sense of smell. In addition, they must be quite active, obedient and with a docile and calm character.
Despite what we have just said, it is also true that certain dog breeds are more likely to meet these expectations to work as a truffle dog. Once you find a dog with the necessary skills to search for Tuber melanosporum Vitt black truffles, the most important thing is to provide it with the proper training. After the training period, the animal will be able to detect the characteristic smell of truffles from several meters away and indicate to the collector where they are.
As we indicated at the beginning of this article, we are talking about a fungus that grows underground, so we do not know where exactly it is found. To find truffles, we need the help of the acute sense of smell of dogs, which allows them to detect them by scent. Although it is true that other animals, such as pigs and wild boars, have an even keener sense of smell than dogs, their difficult domestication tips the balance towards the loyal and faithful canines when it comes to collecting truffles.
What are the preferred dog breeds for searching for black truffles?
As we have mentioned above, there are some dog breeds that are more likely to provide better results than others. For this reason, below we are going to show you some of the truffle dog breeds most in demand by collectors specialized in obtaining this type of fungus that has been so coveted throughout history.
The Lagotto Romagnolo is a perfect truffle dog
If we talk about one of the favorite breeds of truffle dogs, the Lagotto Romagnolo immediately comes to mind. This is a breed that is characterized by having a more developed sense of smell than the vast majority of dogs.
Thanks to this, it is able to detect the presence of Tuber melanosporum Vitt when it is at the optimum point of ripening. It can do so even at quite long distances and is able to find the exact location of the fungus. Also, this type of dog has hardly any hunting instinct, so it is not easily distracted by the presence of other animals.
In addition, the Lagotto Romagnolo is an ideal dog breed to perform this task because it usually has a great intelligence and learns much faster. Besides, they are calm, obedient, loyal dogs, with a good character, therefore they make this task much easier for the collectors during the working day.
The Labrador Retriever is another one of the most apt
Another of the most useful truffle dog breeds for the search of the well-known “Kitchen Diamond”. This is because they are large dogs with a highly developed sense of smell, high energy, vitality and endurance. For this reason, they can be entertained for hours looking for this type of mushroom, since they are able to detect when they are at the optimum moment to collect them.
We must also say that they are very obedient dogs, which quickly establish strong bonds of trust with their caregivers. This is of vital importance in the search for the black truffle. However, as they are dogs with a strong hunting instinct, they can be easily distracted by the presence of any kind of animals roaming nearby.
The Border Collie is a good truffle dog
This is another of the most appreciated dog breeds among black truffle professionals. They are medium-sized dogs characterized by a very active personality and endless energy. Traditionally, these dogs are accustomed to life in the countryside and love to run and run around in the natural environment.
Although they do not have a sense of smell as developed as the two previous ones, they are still one of the best performers in this field. They are also very intelligent, obedient, learn very quickly and are not easily distracted while searching for Tuber melanosporum Vitt, as they are not characterized by a great hunting instinct.
There are some other breeds that can be trained as truffle dogs due to their good sense of smell, vitality and energy, such as, for example, the Springer Spaniel, the Pointer, the Braco, the Gordon Setter or the Breton Spaniel. However, the Lagotto Romagnolo breed provides the best results in this regard.
What is the training of truffle dogs like?
If you are wondering how to train a truffle dog, the first thing you should know is that there is a wide range of places where you can train your dog. That is, there are clubs and associations, as well as schools and private trainers that specialize in teaching them how to find this type of mushroom. Training should start as early as possible, if possible, during the first months of life.
However, teaching a truffle dog not only involves teaching it the truffle areas and the different smells they give off, but goes beyond that. For example, it is vitally important to show them how to extract this type of mushroom from the ground so as not to damage them when taking them out. Likewise, to differentiate the smells, first, they are taught to relate the smell of truffles with a reward -such as dog treats- so that they receive it as something positive. To practice, pieces of poorer quality truffles or truffle oil are usually buried in the ground.
First, the tests are easy and are buried in easily accessible places. As they become familiar with the smell of truffles, they will be able to detect them even at a distance of several meters. Therefore, the difficulty of the search is progressively increased during training. Thus, at the end of the training period, a truffle dog should be able to dig up truffles about ten to twenty centimeters below the ground, i.e., the distance at which these mushrooms usually grow.
