Name: Kingston
Breed: Black Labrador
Age: 2 years old (2023)
Reward: Food
Location: Yass, NSW
Previous Training:
Kingston and his owner are a professional scent detection team working on wind farms to identify animal carcasses. They were wanting to learn more about the specifics of truffle hunting and searching.
Main areas to work on:
Learning about truffles
Searching for truffles
Truffle Oil vs Real truffles hides
Practical aspect of truffle digging
Course:
Kingston and his owner were provided a combination of the beginner, intermediate and advanced course work. She trained Kingston to the new truffle odour using the training methods which Kingston understood from his previous scent training. Due to Kingston’s previous scent detection work I was able to condense the 12-week (Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced) course into a 6 weeks customized course.
Due to distance, we opted to go through the course work via video chat and had our first video chat on 22nd May 2023 where we went through Beginner/Intermediate and I explained how I did my training with Kovu. Our second video chat on 28th June 2023 we went through the truffle specific aspect of the course and the advanced session. In between the video chats I would receive videos and then send back detailed comments and feedback.
We had our practical session on 2nd July at Toolleen Truffles where we searched for truffle oil and real truffle hides. To increase searching/diggi
ng confidence, I used a 3D printed rubber truffle hide with truffle scent inside which I dug into the ground to practice with Kingston and his owner. This stimulated a real truffle searching and digging scenario giving her increased confidence to dig up a real truffle. I had searched the farm prior to this practical so I was able to mark a location of ripe truffle and left it in the ground to cross check Kingston. He found it extremely easily and accurately due to his extensive training by his owner. I then helped explain and instruct when to know when to dig and also the digging process.
Future:
Kingston and his owner have become a proficient truffle dog team and have been practicing searching multiple farms over the 2023 season. I believe next season they will be working as a part time truffle hunting team servicing parts of NSW.
2024 Update:
King and co Detection have been going to multiple truffle farms in NSW during the 2024 season aiding truffiere owners find there truffles.