Best dogs for finding truffles
Finding truffles — the prized fungi that grow underground — is a nose game. The Lagotto Romagnolo is the world's only breed developed for it, but any biddable, scent-driven dog can be trained.
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The ranked shortlist
Hand-picked by our editors using breed trait profiles — scores are out of 5.
1. Lagotto Romagnolo
5/5Italy's curly truffle hunter — a nose with a very good dog attached.
2. English Springer Spaniel
4/5A merry engine of a gundog — sprung tail, busy nose, heart entirely yours.
3. German Shorthaired Pointer
4/5The all-terrain athlete — pointer, retriever and devoted shadow in one sleek package.
4. Standard Poodle
4/5Brilliant, and quietly low-shedding.
5. Golden Retriever
4/5Gentle, patient, forever a puppy.
6. Portuguese Water Dog
4/5A fisherman's crewmate in a wetsuit of curls — happiest halfway into the water.
7. English Cocker Spaniel
3/5The merry cocker — a wagging tail with a bird dog attached.
8. Spanish Water Dog
3/5A woolly Andalusian farmhand who never learned the word 'off-duty'.
9. Labrador Retriever
3/5The world's favourite family dog.
What makes a good truffle dog
Truffle hunting rewards a fine nose, real biddability, and a love of the search game over raw prey drive — a dog that gets lost chasing a hare is no use over a truffle. Historically Italy's trifolau worked clever mongrels; the Lagotto Romagnolo is the only breed bred specifically to sniff out truffles and, helpfully, has little hunting drive to distract it. Train young with scent games, reward the find, and teach a soft dig that spares the truffle.