![]() But Brosnan notes that sometimes they’re so eager to keep hunting that they move right on to the next spot without waiting. Truffle dogs are usually rewarded for each find with treats. If I miss it, I’ll ask her to show me, and she’ll paw the ground again with impatience.” “When she finds a truffle, she’ll indicate exactly where it is by gently pawing the ground. “She puts her nose down and sniffs so loud, you can hear her a few yards away,” says Brosnan. She proudly explains that Gnocchi knows just what to do once the pair gets into the woods. Born To Searchīrosnan’s dogs love the search for truffles. Some truffles get used in her own cooking, while others go to local chefs. Many of the truffles that Brosnan’s dogs find get used for teaching other dogs to find truffles. They usually drive about 20-30 miles to get to their truffle spots, and only hunt on private land with the permission of the landowners. Once she pulls her boots out, Brosnan’s dogs are ready to go. Brosnan describes a typical truffle search as “rainy and muddy, and the most fun you’ll ever have in the woods.” A truffle hunt usually involves a few hours of searching out in the field with playtime breaks for the dogs. On a good day, in a good spot, they’ll find about a pound in an hour, estimates Brosnan. Nowadays, Brosnan and her dogs not only search for truffles but also teach others the technique. “My Lagotto research led to my discovery of truffles in the Pacific Northwest, and everything fell into place.”Ī proud Cremini’s first wild truffle. “Through my research on breeds, I found the Lagotto Romagnolo, a dog of similar size and temperament as a Puli, but without the excessive hair,” says Brosnan. At the same time, Brosnan was considering her next breed after her smart and spunky Puli passed away. She’d been considering a job in a remote part of Washington State and was wondering what to do there on days off. She first became aware that truffles exist in the Pacific Northwest about eight years ago. Getting Started With Truffle Huntingīrosnan hasn’t always spent her time in the forest hunting truffles. “Truffle hunting brings together the three loves of my life: working with dogs, being in nature, and eating great food!” explains Brosnan. This unique, scent-driven activity can be a lot of fun for dogs and handlers alike. The Lagotto Romagnolo is a medium-sized, curly-coated dog from Italy specifically bred in part for truffle hunting. Lisa Brosnan is a dog trainer at The Truffle UnderGround and breeder of Lagotti Romagnoli. She and her two dogs, Gnocchi and Cremini, are regular truffle hunters. ![]() Truffle hunting is plentiful in the Pacific Northwest, and there’s even a truffle hunting dog competition during the annual two-day Oregon Truffle Festival. As hard as they are to find, some trained dogs are extremely skilled in detecting them. But did you know that dogs can be trained to hunt for them? Commonly found from Northern California up throughout Washington and into British Columbia, truffles are fungi that grow at the base of trees. Sometimes called “edible gold,” truffles are likely part of some of your favorite gourmet dishes.
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