Do I need any dog training experience to start?

No. The Foundations Cohort is open to dogs and handlers of all levels, with no previous dog training or truffle hunting experience required. If you’ve done nosework or tracking, you’ll find this a natural next step with edible dividends.

What happens in week one?

Week one is Trailhead, on Wednesday September 2 at 5:00 pm Pacific. The whole cohort meets live, Victoria walks through how class nights run, how to build your targets, and the first ready games — and no dogs are worked. Leave your dog out of it and just listen. It’s recorded, but we strongly encourage you to attend live, because it’s where you meet your instructor and the handlers you’ll spend the next twelve weeks with. It also means class nights stay focused on your dog instead of on equipment questions.

Which section should I pick?

Whichever night you can commit to for all nine class weeks. Wednesday 8:00 am works well if you’re in Europe or on an early schedule; Wednesday 4:00 pm and Thursday 6:00 pm suit most North American handlers, and the Thursday evening slot is the easiest one if you work a standard day. The curriculum, the instructor and the price are identical.

How large are the sections?

Eight handlers, maximum — and that includes anyone enrolled in a single level. That’s the whole point: with eight dogs on screen, Victoria can actually watch each one work and give you feedback in the moment. It also means there are only twenty-four seats across all three sections for the season, and cohort enrollments are seated first.

Can I take just Foundations 1 to try it out?

Yes. Individual levels are available at $399 each, taught on the same nights by the same instructor. Two caveats worth reading before you choose that route. First, single seats are only released where the cohort hasn’t filled them, so a level can be full when your dog is ready for it — and Foundations 2 and 3 have prerequisites. Second, it costs more: three levels bought one at a time comes to $1,197 against $987 for the cohort.

If you want an even lower-commitment way to test the water, our self-paced DIY course is $497 for all three levels, or book a single private Zoom lesson and we’ll tell you honestly whether you and your dog are ready and what format suits you best.

What if I start with one level and then want the rest?

Email us before your level ends and we’ll tell you what’s open. We’ll do what we can, but we can’t hold a seat you haven’t bought — single-level enrollments don’t reserve space in the next level, and the September cohort is the only live run before January. If you already know you want all three, the cohort is both cheaper and the only way to guarantee the seat.

Is this the same as buying Foundations 1, 2 and 3 separately?

Same three levels, $210 less. Bought one at a time the three come to $1,197; the cohort is $987. What’s also different is everything around them: Trailhead in week one, a seat reserved through all thirteen weeks with no waiting between levels, the same classmates start to finish, Fireside Chats including the three no-class weeks, and entry into the alumni community and Field & Forest classes on completion.

What breed of dog can hunt truffles?

Any breed. Truffle hunting is a scent sport, not a breed sport. We’ve trained Lagotto Romagnolos and we’ve trained chihuahuas, shepherds, terriers, hounds and mixed-breed rescues. What matters is that your dog enjoys using its nose.

How old does my dog need to be?

Dogs of most ages can start. Puppies, seniors, dogs recovering from injury and dogs with limited mobility all do well — truffle work is low-impact at the foundation stage, mentally demanding and especially good for building confidence in shy or sensitive dogs. If you have a very young puppy, ask us about our Puppy class first.

Can I take this if I don’t live near truffles?

Yes. Every skill in the thirteen weeks is taught with training odor and can be practiced anywhere. Culinary truffles grow across much of North America, Europe and Australia, and many students discover species growing closer to home than they expected. You can also use this course — and many have — to teach your dog to hunt for mushrooms like morels, chanterelles and chaga.

What happens if I miss a class?

Every class and every Fireside Chat is recorded and stays available to you. Weeks 5, 9 and 13 have no class at all, which also means anyone who fell behind has a built-in week to catch up before the next level begins.

How much practice time does this take between classes?

Short sessions, done often, beat long ones. Most students practice ten to fifteen minutes a day, a few days a week, and film some of it for feedback.

Can I work two dogs?

Please purchase two spots. One dog and one handler per registration keeps sections small enough that everyone gets real attention. Spouses and children are welcome. We’ll walk you through the logistics of this, but to start there will be one primary handler.

How is this different from a self-paced online truffle course?

A recorded course teaches you the material. It cannot see your dog. In this live class, Victoria (and our other instructors) watch you work live on Zoom and on video and tell you what your dog actually did — which is usually different from what you thought it did. You also get homework video review, Fireside Chats, and classmates at your exact stage. If you want the material without the schedule, our DIY course is on pre-sale now and opens in October.

What comes after the cohort?

Completing all three levels brings you into our alumni Fireside Chats and online forum, and makes you eligible for in-person Field & Forest classes. We’ll walk you through what’s next.