What you Will Learn - 

The goal of this courses is to teach you about truffle hunting, give the foundations of training dogs to find odor, and work on skills your dog will need to find truffles in the wild. Every dog is unique and responds to new environments and distractions in different ways. A dog with a background in nose work, or one who has built of the skill of focus around distractions, will be more likely to be reliably finding truffles by the end of class than those for whom those skills are newer or less developed. 

The Portland location classes will focus on teaching your dog about truffle odor (you will be provided a portion of real truffle or truffle oil) and the fun of the hunt as well as teaching the human handling skills and the basics of truffle hunting. In the truffle patch classes you will get to participate in a truffle hunt demonstration by a trained truffle dog, start working with your dog on more complicated searching skills in a new and interesting environment, and try your own hand at finding truffles with your dog! We will also have some time to discuss truffle preparation and recipe ideas for once you start bringing in the truffles.

Private truffle hunting lessons will also be available to those who have completed this course if you want to continue to build skills after the course is over!

Who is this class for?

• Dogs of all breeds and 6 months or older. Dogs would benefit from having some basic training prior to class since they will be working in distracting environments full of smells, squirrels and lots of new sights and sounds. No nose work foundation required, but class can be adjusted for those dogs and humans that have done some introductory nose work. Dogs will be working near each other so this class is not a fit for dogs reactive to people or other dogs.

• Humans who don’t mind getting a bit dirty and are excited about winter treasure hunts in the forest with their dog.

If you are curious if your dog would be a good fit, I am happy to connect to assess!

Schedule - 

This course will happen in two parts: 2 classes held at North Portland Club K9 and 2 classes at the truffle patch. Please note that the classroom portions and the truffle patch sessions are held at different times of day due to sunlight and space availability.

January session (Session 1) - Skipping Sunday 1/19

• Sundays 1/5/25 and 1/12/25 in North Portland 7:25 pm-8:25 pm

• Sundays 1/26 and 2/2/25 at the truffle patch 10:00 am-12:00 pm

February session (Session 2) - 

• Sundays 2/2 and 2/9  in North Portland 7:25pm-8:25 pm

• Sundays 2/16 and 2/23 at the truffle patch 1 pm -3:00 pm

Important Details-

• During the truffle patch days you will be outdoors in all types of weather as long as the roads to the property are safe . Be prepared to work outdoors in our  traditional Oregon winter weather - with rain pants and rain jackets.

• If the truffle patch is not accessible due to winter snow, a makeup day will be scheduled in March

• At the truffle patch, dogs will need to be able to be calm and safe alone in the car while not actively working - including during the truffle hunt demo.

• Limit of two adult humans per dog at the truffle patch

Equipment -

(This will be will discuss in more detail before the first class)

• Harness with a back attachment point - preferably y-shaped

• 15-20 foot leash

• Small trowel or other digging tool

• Lots of yummy treats