Puppy Classes!
Puppy Classes!
Puppy Classes!
Specializing in Truffle Dog Training and Dog Bite Prevention
Puppy Classes
Truffle Dog Training
What Is Truffle Dog Training?
Dogs already know how to find things with their noses.
We teach them what to find . . . Truffles . . . and to say, "I Found them!"
Easy, right?!
What Are Truffles Anyway??????
Click Here to find out more about truffles >>>
What Will My Dog Learn?
Your dog will learn to find truffles in a fool-proof systematic way. Your dog will find ripe truffles, let you know where they are, dig and stop, without damaging the truffle.
What Are the Basic Dog Skills?
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Recognizing Truffle Scent
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Learning that Finding Truffle Scent is Rewarding
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Using Dog's Nose (not eyes) to find Truffles
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Pinpointing the Truffle
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Digging the Truffle
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Stop Digging the Truffle - BEFORE the dog damages it!
What Are the Basic Handler Skills for Truffle Hunting?
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Choosing a Dog Likely to Succeed at Truffle Hunting
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Choosing the right equipment for you & your dog for truffle hunting
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Selecting & Delivering Rewards for Found Truffles in a Motivating Way
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Recognizing Your Dog's Various Behaviors : Looking for scent, In Scent, Trying to Pinpoint Scent and also when your dog is goofing off.
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Helping Your Dog Get Back to Hunting
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Transitioning from Training Truffles to Real Truffles in the Forrest
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Acquiring, Cleaning, Handling & Storing Truffles & Training Aids
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Infusing Truffle Aroma Into Foods
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Characteristics of Good Truffle Territory
Fun Videos to Watch
Will My Dog Be a Good Truffle Dog?
There are no guarantees . . . but a good truffle dog typically is one that is highly motivated by cookies & treats
or a small toy or ball . . .
or one that LOVES digging (not just casual digging but the way terriers love digging)
. . . and likes to find things using its nose. A treat or toy reward is the easiest way to quickly and repeatedly reward the dog for exactly what you want it to do.
Dogs that are highly aroused by mice, moles or voles . . .
. . . are often not good candidates for truffle hunting because they get too easily distracted by these critters and rewarded by chasing them. There are a lot of mice in the truffle patches. A dog distracted by squirrels, birds or deer can still be a great truffle hunter . . . but it may take a while for them to learn that there are fun things underground. A dog with formal bird-hunting training may have a very hard time.
What's the Hardest Thing About Truffle Dog Training?
Finding good truffle patches to hunt in is the hardest part. A target rich environment with lots of truffles is best for training and improving a dog's truffle hunting skills. Please respect private property and always ask for & get permission from private land owners. Acquire the proper permits for public lands.
What Truffle Dog Training Options are Available?
Four-Hour Private Intro Training Session (not in a truffle patch) - $450
Four-Hour Group (2-Dogs Max) Intro Training Session (not in a truffle patch) - $300
One-Day Group (4-Dogs Max) Intro Training (not in a truffle patch)
$400 per person($450 for 2-person Dog Team)
Additional 2-Hour Session - $200 Each
(most dogs don't need this - typically only if the dog has fear issues)
One-Day In-Season Truffle Training Hunt (For Dogs that have Intro Training)
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Private - One Dog/Handler Team - $600
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Group 4-Dogs Max - 2-Handlers per Dog-Team - $350 Each
Complete 2-Day Packages In Truffle Season
Learn/Train Day 1(6 hours) Hunt/Train in Truffle Patch Day 2 (6 hours)
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Private - One Dog/Handler Team - $1200
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Group 4-Dogs Max/2-Handlers max per dog - $600 Each
Free Email or Phone Support Throughout & After
Call or email for custom private training packages & schedules if you travel from out of the area or for custom group training.
For inquiries and appointments email or call Deb Walker
Happy Truffle Dogs & Handlers Trained by K9-Behavior Company
The Oregon Truffle Festival is held annually in Eugene, Oregon in late January and early February with this same objective in mind - to increase knowledge & value of Oregon truffles. For information about the Oregon Truffle Festival click on the OTF Logo >>>>>>>>
What Are Truffles?
Like mushrooms, truffles are the fruit of underground fungus called mycelium, much like strawberries are the fruit of strawberry plants. However, truffles grow totally underground and therefore can be difficult to find!
Truffles multiply & spread naturally as forest animals like mice, voles, birds, etc. eat, digest & excrete the unharmed spores to other locations.
When truffles ripen, they become aromatic and release aroma the forest creatures can smell and then find & eat. Truffles that are not yet ripe, do not put off aroma and therefore are not found by mice or dogs.
Europeans have used pigs initially and now dogs for centuries to harvest what has become a culinary delicacy. European truffles sell from $1000 to $3500 per pound primarily because they are harvested with the aid of dogs at the peak of ripeness.
Chinese & US Truffles sell for a mere $100 to $500 per pound, primarily because they are raked predominantly in their unripe state and therefore have poor aromatic quality and poor shelf-life. We truffle dog trainers are helping to change all that and improve the 'reputation' of US truffles which are among the finest culinary quality.
Dog trainers and harvesters are working to change the US truffle industry by promoting dog-harvested truffles to improve the quality, crop yields, reputation, demand for and therefore market price of US truffles.
