Episodes
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π ππ§ππ πππͺπππ: 7 Truffle Hacks To Turn Your Dog Into A Truffle Hunting Machine - π https://truffleforager.com
In this episode of the Truffle Forager podcast, host Ben Sweet interviews Chris Bate, owner of Black Diamond Truffle Trees. They discuss Chris's move to Perigord, France, and his truffle business. Topics include the discovery of a wild tuber melanosporum truffle in the UK (WOW!), truffle dog training, truffle tree cultivation, and different truffle species. Chris explains the symbiotic relationship between truffles and trees and how animals spread truffle spores. They also cover the rarity, value, and varieties of truffles, the French truffle scene, and fake truffle products. Chris concludes with stories about training his truffle-hunting dog, Dougie, highlighting the dog's sense of smell, genetics, and the role of truffle flies in locating truffles.
Visit Chris's website here: https://www.blackdiamondtruffletrees.com/
For any purchases on Chris's site, use 20% Discount Coupon: "SWEETTRUFFLES20"
TAKEAWAYS:
Truffles can be found in the UK, including the highly prized tuber melanosporum.
The cultivation of truffle trees involves creating a symbiotic relationship between the tree roots and truffle mycelium.
Truffle dogs play a crucial role in locating truffles by sniffing out their distinct aroma.
Wild truffles can be found in unexpected locations, and animals contribute to the spread of truffle spores. Truffles are highly valued due to their rarity, not necessarily their quality.
The truffle scene in France is characterized by a strong obsession with truffles and a belief in the superiority of the peregrine truffle.
Fake truffle products, such as truffle oil, are common and can be deceptive.
Truffle dogs are trained from a young age using various methods, including conditioning with truffle scents.
Early training and conditioning are crucial for the success of truffle dogs. Training a truffle-hunting dog involves teaching them the action and then introducing the word to associate with the action.
Dogs have an incredible sense of smell and can locate truffles underground.
The truffle fly can indicate the presence of truffles and is used by truffle hunters to find them.
Genetics and instinct play a significant role in a dog's ability to find truffles.
Truffle hunting is a fascinating and rewarding activity that combines nature, science, and culinary delights.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Introduction to Truffles and Chris Bates
01:54 - The Exciting Discovery of a Wild Tuber Melanosporum Truffle in the UK
03:48 - Chris's Journey into Truffle Cultivation
08:29 - The Process of Growing Truffle Trees
10:56 - The Natural Occurrence of Truffles on Chris's Land
33:35 - Confirmation of the Wild Tuber Melanosporum Truffle
41:20 - The Importance of Aroma in Truffles
42:19 - The Rarity and Value of Truffles
46:20 - The Truffle Scene in France
53:22 - The Issue of Fake Truffle Products
59:33 - The Importance of Protected Status for Truffles
01:13:18 - Training Truffle Dogs: Early Conditioning
01:25:30 - Training a Truffle-Hunting Dog
01:28:09 - The Incredible Sense of Smell in Dogs
01:43:56 - The Role of the Truffle Fly
01:46:18 - Genetics and Instinct in Truffle Hunting
01:59:18 - The Fascinating World of Truffle Hunting
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On this episode I chat with leading UK-based dog trainer, Nick Benger who recently decided to teach his new malinois, Onyx, how to hunt truffles. Nick is a highly regarded dog trainer and has been training dogs for nearly 20 years starting when he was just 15. He's become a bit of a celebrity after being called up to the Amazon Prime Hit TV Show The PACK, to be their lead trainer. He now resides in Bristol and has a successful pet dog training company called Hound Plus.
Nick and I connected over a shared interest, dogs and truffle hutning. On this episode we talk about a wide array of general dog training principles and reveal some top tips for any aspiring truffle dog handler.
π Download My Free Beginners Truffle Dog Training Guide π https://truffleforager.com -
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π ππ§ππ πππͺπππ: 7 Truffle Hacks To Turn Your Dog Into A Truffle Hunting Machine - π https://truffleforager.com In this episode, I sit down and chat with Louise Ferguson. She is a long-time Lagotto Romagnolo dog breeder based in the UK. She's also the Chairwoman of the UK Lagotto Society and has a tone of experience with the breed and with truffle hunting. We dive deep into the breed, why these dogs are perfect for truffle hunting, and what you should look out for if you're considering purchasing a Lagotto from a breeder. As well as dog training tips, we also learn about Louise's adventures competing with her Lagotto at THE premier Lagotto-focused Truffle Hunting competition in Italy.
Learn more about Louise here: https://louisemizenferguson.com/
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π ππ§ππ πππͺπππ: 7 Truffle Hacks To Turn Your Dog Into A Truffle Hunting Machine - π https://truffleforager.com
In this interview, Ben talks with friend and fellow truffle Nerd, Jon McGowan, who recently won 1st place at The UK Truffle Dog Championships 2023 with his Lagotto Romagnolo, Tembo. In this episode, we learn about how Jon did it, and what his experience was like and he reveals several bombshells of information when it comes to truffle hunting and dog training. Enjoy.
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Alana McGee is the founder of The Truffle Dog Company and is a world-renowned truffle consultant and truffle dog trainer.
Learn more about Alana here: https://truffledogcompany.comIn this episode, we cover:
00:02:26 - Alana McGeeβs story and how she got started training truffle dogs00:09:05 - What different truffle species do you find in North America - An Overview 00:18:14 - Alanaβs favourite truffles and what different truffles smell like?00:24:00 - Are there undiscovered areas where wild truffles might be growing?00:28:00 - Truffle oil vs. real truffles for dog training00:32:50 - How do you make your own truffle-scented oils?00:37:10 - Alana shares what science and truffle research projects sheβs excited about 00:41:00 - Alana talks about her dogs00:43:10 - What are the most common things new truffle dog handlers struggle with?00:46:50 - How to teach a dog to alert and stay at source00:50:20 - What is the ideal truffle dog sequence to train for00:58:00 - What do your advanced students commonly struggle with?01:04:20 - How much do we need to worry about scent contamination when training our dogs?01:08:50 - What is the best way to explore new truffle areas with your dog?01:16:00 - How to use your βqueβ when training your dog hunt truffles01:17:35 - Alana shares what she loves most about her work in the truffle industry01:20:45 - Alana talks about truffle hunting in Europe01:29:12 - Raking for truffles vs using dogs01:40:18 - Alanaβs favourite way to eat truffles
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In this captivating podcast episode, I interview UK wild food expert and foraging guide, Sam Webster for www.foragingforages.com.
Sam delves into the fascinating world of unconventional laundry techniques, intriguing facts about deadly fungi, mouthwatering recipes featuring fermented wild garlic, and the therapeutic benefits of foraging for your mental health. Join us as we explore innovative ways to wash your clothes using conkers, uncover the mysteries of poisonous mushrooms, discover delightful culinary creations, and delve into the healing power of nature. Get ready for an engaging and enlightening journey through the realms of truffles, nature, and unconventional living. Tune in to the Truffle Forager Podcast with Sam Webster and embrace a unique blend of knowledge, inspiration, and natural wonders.
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Join The Truffle Forager email newsletter community here π https://truffleforager.com
In this video podcast episode, I speak with one of the global leading experts on truffles and truffle cultivation, Professor Paul Thomas.
Timestampsπ
00:01:56 - Welcome and UK Truffle Festival Chat
00:03:24 - Paul's toy poodle future truffle dog
00:05:53 - Tuber Rufum truffle smells like bacon
00:06:57 - Paul Thomas on Dragon's Den
00:09:55 - First Successful Cultivation of Perigord Black Truffle (Tuber melanosporum) in UK
00:14:36 - Threats and opportunities for the truffle industry
00:16:40 - Climate change will cause truffle supply to collapse
00:22:00 - French truffle supply now 80 tonnes/year vs 1000 in 1970.
00:22:40 - How many truffle farmers are in the UK? 00:24:14 - What projects are exciting you right now? - Truffle Museum
00:25:16 - Truffle and insect home experiment for the kids during lockdown
00:29:23 - Truffles, Sex and DNA
00:34:42 - The process of truffle cultivation
00:36:50 - How to grow truffles at home in your garden
00:38:28 - How to correctly test your soil PH for truffle cultivation
00:42:05 - The Napa Truffle Festival
00:42:58 - Using a microscope to identify truffles
00:46:58 - How much do different truffle species vary under the microscope?
00:49:10 - What truffle dog training is Ben doing right now?
00:55:00 - How to develop drive in your truffle dog?
00:59:02 - How to you build a dogs drive toward a tennis ball?
01:06:25 - How truffle hunters can contribute to Paul's truffle research projects
01:07:30 - White truffles switching on and off their aroma within 24 hours
01:20:25 - White truffle cultivation progress update
π ABOUT PROFESSOR PAUL THOMAS
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After pitching his truffle cultivation business plan on Dragons Den back in 2005 (and winning), Professor Thomas founded Mycorrhizal Systems Ltd and 12 years later became the first successful cultivator of the famous Black Winter Truffle in the UK (Tuber Melanosporum). He has gone on to publish more than 30+ scientific articles and has contributed significantly to what we now know about truffles around the world. He was also kind enough to volunteer his time and be a headline speaker at our first UK Truffle Festival in Sussex in November 2022 β https://trufflefestival.co.uk/
You can contact Paul via Twitter @SummerTruffle or visit his website: https://plantationsystems.com/
π ππ§ππ πππͺπππ: 7 Truffle Hacks To Turn Your Dog Into A Truffle Hunting Machine - π https://truffleforager.comπ ABOUT TRUFFLE FORAGER
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Hi, my name is Ben Sweet (aka The Truffle Forager) I'm 33 and live in the UK with my partner Danni and my truffle dog, Buddy. I'm the co-founder of The UK Truffle Festival and The UK Truffle Dog Championships and I'm totally obsessed with foraging for truffles and mushrooms and dog scent training. I'm on a Quest to hunt and feast on truffles and document that journey with you on this channel. I also host the Truffle Forager Podcast where we interview real truffle hunters, dog training experts, and foraging enthusiasts. On the show, we talk all things truffles, dog training and foraging.
π FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA π
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πΈ INSTAGRAM: @TruffleForager
π¦ TWITTER: @TruffleForager
β° TIKTOK: @TruffleForager
π§ FACEBOOK: @TheTruffleForager
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LEARN MORE @ www.truffelforager.com -
In this video podcast episode, I talk to master dog trainer, Nate Schoemer about truffle dog training, scent detection training and many other foundational principles to do with dog training including; free shaping, obedience training tips, positive punishment, rewarding your dog and much more.
Please consider leaving a review of the podcast on iTunes if you're enjoying this content (it helps a lot, thanks).
Nate has a fantastic YouTube channel, which you should definitely check out. His dog scent training video series are amazing and I highly recommend them.
If you enjoy this episode, let me know in the comments and I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Join the Truffle Forager email community - π https://truffleforager.com
... PLUS when you join the newsletter you'll also receive a nice FREE Gift from me π
00:00:00 Introduction
00:03:09 Who is Nate Schoemer? - His dog training background
00:19:32 Nateβs decision to start YouTube
00:22:32 Benβs passion for truffles and dogs
00:27:22 Scent Detection
00:35:30 Positive Punishment and the Four Quadrants of Operant Conditioning
00:40:55 Correcting your dog the right way
00:49:15 Search and Rescue dog training
00:50:50 Rewarding your truffle dog
00:54:50 When to start scent detection work with puppies
01:02:29 What should you reward your dog when it finds truffles?
01:06:25 Physical cues and putting behaviors on command
01:09:16 Teaching the indication when truffle dog training
01:10:50 When should you move your dog training into the field?
01:12:39 Shadowing an experienced truffle dog
01:18:30 Rushing your dog training progress
01:24:00 What is free shaping in dog training?
01:38:00 Repeating the command multiple times
π ABOUT TRUFFLE FORAGER π
Hi, my name is Ben Sweet (aka The Truffle Forager)
I'm 33 and live in the UK with my partner Danni and my truffle dog, Buddy.
I'm the co-founder of The UK Truffle Festival and The UK Truffle Dog Championships.
I'm totally obsessed with foraging for truffles and mushrooms, dogs and self-improvement.
I'm on a Quest to hunt truffles and document the journey with you on this channel. -
In this podcast interview, I talk with mycologist and herbologist, Jesper Launder.
Jesper is a super knowledgeable guy and also shares a particular fascination with truffles. We cover a wide range of mushroom-related topics including, 90 species of truffles found in the UK, how to spot the signs of truffles in your local village or park, medicinal mushrooms and how to prepare your own, and a lot more besides.
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In this podcast interview, join me and the founder of Learn Your Land, Adam Haritan as we discuss his journey into foraging and mushrooms and a lot more besides. We dive into tree identification and its importance to the forager. We get his view on invasive species and how he views them... Maitake mushroom prep and also boiling your mushrooms instead of frying them... who knew!
I was very grateful to speak with Adam, and his knowledge and enthusiasm for wild foods is infectious.
I hope you enjoy watching and listening as much as I did talking to him.
Check out more from Adam here π https://learnyourland.com
Join the Truffle Forager community here π https://truffleforager.com
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Welcome to this Episode of the Truffle Forager Podcast, where itβs my job to chat with Truffle Hunters, Mushroom Experts and Enthusiasts from around the world and tease out their stories of Inspiration and Wisdom with you... helping you to deepen your connection with mother nature.
Special guest: Julie Stopforth
Since 2015, Julie and her family have been hunting for white truffles professionally in an undisclosed location in southern Europe. A retired truffle hunter took them under their wing and was able to give them the key information to get started truffling. Now they sell the white truffles they find direct to the consumer in 24 hours from ground to table to maximise freshness and quality.
Julie's website: https://pelagaggia.com/
YouTube: Pelagaggia Truffles - The Ultimate Truffle Guide
Like this type of content - let me know in the comments?
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Join the Truffle Forager community & stay updated with the latest π https://truffleforager.com
Follow @TruffleForager
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Welcome to this Episode of the Truffle Forager Podcast, where itβs my job to chat with Truffle Hunters, Mushroom Experts and Enthusiasts from around the world and tease out their stories of Inspiration and Wisdom with you... helping you to deepen your connection with mother nature and your dog.
Special guest: Melissa Waddingham
Since 2011, Melissa has been a professional truffle hunter in the UK. Together with her dogs, she respectfully and sustainably hunts for truffle mushrooms. She's a student of forestry and woodland management, which has, along with her quest for truffles, developed a profound respect in her for the associations between truffles, mushrooms and the woodlands they can be found in. 10 years ago, she later turned this passion into a career, launching her mushroom foraging business; Truffle and Mushroom Hunter. For anyone interested in truffles, Melissa does it all... from leading truffle foraging courses, training truffle dogs, carrying out woodland surveys and collaborating with landowners to nurture environments for truffle cultivation. She's a member of the British Mycology Society and sat on the board of the Professional Foragers Association for several years.
You can visit here website http://truffleandmushroomhunter.com/
Instagram and Facebook @TruffleAndMushroomHunter
Like this type of content - let me know in the comments?
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πβ Support the channel:
Join the Truffle Forager community & stay updated with the latest π https://truffleforager.com/
Follow @TruffleForager
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Welcome to this Episode of the Truffle Forager Podcast, where itβs my job to chat with Truffle Hunters, Mushroom Experts and Enthusiasts from around the world and tease out their stories of Inspiration and Wisdom with you... helping you to deepen your connection with mother nature.
Special guest: Gareth Renowden
Despite being a photographer, writer, magazine editor and publisher, over the last 25 years Gareth Renowden has turned himself into a truffle grower. Born and raised in the UK, Gareth now lives in New Zealand on his farm, Limestone Hills, based in the Waipara Valley (near Christchurch on the South Island). His truffle farm is unique in that, they are the only farm in New Zealand to produce four different speicies of truffle. His award winning book on truffles, The Truffle Book, is a perfect introduction into the pleasurable and mysterious world of truffles. Heβs a truffle grower because he likes eating them, and perhaps heβll explain whyβ¦ ;-)
You can learn more about Gareth by visiting https://limestonehills.co.nz/
Also please follow him on Twitter and on Instagram @grenow
Like this type of content - let me know in the comments?
πβ Support the channel:
Join the Truffle Forager community & stay updated with the latest π https://truffleforager.com/
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Welcome to this Episode of the Truffle Forager Podcast, where itβs my job to chat with Truffle Hunters, Mushroom Experts and Enthusiasts from around the world and tease out their stories of Inspiration and Wisdom with you... helping you to deepen your connection with mother nature.
In this first episode, James Feaver is our special guest, where he talks about finding massive english truffles and shares some great tips for training your truffle dog, and much more.
More about James:
Since 2012, James has been the owner of The English Truffle Company - where he not only sells truffles to Michelin star chefs, private individuals and truffle dealers but he also sells truffle inoculated trees, unique truffle hunting experience days and much more. James and his truffles have been featured on Radio 4, BBC News, ITV, a host of newspapers & magazines including The Guardian, Financial Times, CountryFile and the Great British Food magazine (just to name a few)... He's also been featured on an "Insider" video series titled "21 Jobs You Probably Never New Existed" as well as a "Business Insider" video all about Truffles, which went viral and now has more than 14M views. Also, James and his truffles have been used on a number of special occasions over the years, including a dinner cooked at the 2020 BAFTA awards.
Learn more about James at: www.englishtruffles.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter @EnglishTruffles
Like this type of content - let me know in the comments?
πβ Support the channel:
Join the Truffle Forager community & stay updated with the latest π https://truffleforager.com/
