Gatsby Truffle Dogs
Gatsby Truffle Dogs – French Excellence, Naturally
At Les Gatsby, we proudly offer Golden Retriever puppies specially selected and trained from their earliest days to detect morels, truffles, porcini mushrooms, and other fungi on request—under the guidance of a professional truffle dog trainer.
Imagine a loyal companion with a remarkable nose, capable of uncovering nature’s hidden treasures for you. Our mushroom-hunting and truffle-detecting Golden Retrievers are more than dogs—they’re passionate partners, perfect for food lovers, nature enthusiasts, and outdoor adventurers alike.
Experience French Craftsmanship in a Loyal Companion
Born in France and raised with purpose, your Gatsby Truffle Dog is a once-in-a-lifetime partner—blending noble heritage, sensory brilliance, and the joy of the hunt. This is not just a dog. This is a legacy.
A Nose Like No Other
With specialized training, our puppies learn to detect buried truffles and wild mushrooms—morels, porcini, chanterelles, and more—with impressive precision. No more guessing in the woods: your little Gatsby will lead you straight to the best spots.
A Versatile & Loving Companion
Unlike dogs trained only for truffle hunting, the Golden Retriever combines intelligence, gentleness, and adaptability. Whether in the woods or at home with your family, they offer the best of both worlds: a skilled worker and an exceptional companion.
A Unique Outdoor Experience
Whether you’re a seasoned truffle grower, a wild mushroom enthusiast, or simply a nature lover, this dog transforms every walk into a fun and flavorful adventure.
Why Choose a Gatsby Truffle Dog?
✔️ Exposed to scent work from birth, with early and thorough truffle and mushroom imprinting
✔️ Carefully selected from prestigious bloodlines to ensure excellence and the highest standards
✔️ Raised in a family environment with the utmost focus on animal well-being
✔️ Professionally trained by certified experts in olfactory work, specializing in real, fresh truffles and mushrooms only
✔️ Trained by a certified professional, your puppy knows all basic commands (sit, down, stay, recall…). A refined education, rooted in the elegance of French expertise.
✔️ Fully vaccinated, microchipped, dewormed, and provided with an international veterinary health certificate, including rabies vaccination
✔️ Official certification by a judicial officer confirming the dog’s competence in detection work
✔️ Individually transported by the breeder from Brittany, France, to anywhere in the USA, ensuring a personalized and secure journey
✔️ A loyal, emotionally balanced, and sociable companion, perfect for both work and family life
✔️ A partner of rare elegance, embodying the finest French craftsmanship in canine training and care
Give yourself the perfect partner to explore the hidden treasures of the forest, with a truly refined and exceptional Gatsby Truffle Dog.
Did You Know?
French truffle-hunting dogs are considered the gold standard worldwide. Gatsby Truffle Dogs are born in the very regions where the most prestigious mushrooms are found—trained on the same terroirs, under the mentorship of seasoned professionals.
How We Select Your Puppy ?
Our process is based on careful selection of puppies most suited for a full truffle/mushroom detection program and advanced sensory development.
Each truffle puppy is the result of a rigorous selection process: around 35 puppies are evaluated for just one to be deemed worthy of becoming a Gatsby Truffle Dog
Week 1 – Early Truffle & Morel Scent Imprinting
From day one, our puppies are introduced to the scent of real fresh truffles and morels—never synthetic aromas. We use natural olfactory immersion to create deep scent memory, just like traditional methods of the past.
We apply the Avidog Early Neurological Stimulation protocol, a science-backed method that exposes puppies to a new scent daily between day 3 and 16 of life. This sharpens their ability to track and recognize odors early on—a crucial trait for a future truffle dog.
Week 3 – Socialization & Emotional Resilience
We begin essential work to help the puppies stay focused despite distractions: desensitization to noises, new environments, and gentle stress exposure help build emotional resilience so they can remain calm and effective in real detection work.
Human Bonding
Our puppies are born in our living room and raised inside the home, in a calm and nurturing environment. A strong bond with humans is key: our truffle dogs are never forced—they work through play and the joy of pleasing their handler.
Week 4 – Early Olfactory Sensitivity Testing
Scent attraction tests measure each puppy’s natural interest in different smells and their preference for specific scent stimuli.
Week 6 – Applied Olfactory Discrimination
Search tests assess the puppy’s ability to locate a target odor and analyze their problem-solving strategies.
Weeks 7–8 – Advanced Scent Evaluation
Airborne Scent Detection: Can the puppy locate a scent carried by the wind?
Directed Scent Preference: Will the puppy choose the correct scent from multiple options?
Resilience & Olfactory Problem Solving: How motivated is the puppy to overcome obstacles and persist in a scent-based task?
At 10 Weeks
We deliver the puppy to our trusted scent work trainer, who specializes in real truffle and mushroom detection (never synthetic). Based on the season, training takes place in either Périgord or Côte-d’Or—rich natural environments ideal for real-world experience.
The puppy also receives essential obedience training, ensuring a smooth transition into advanced scent work. They live in the trainer’s home, never in kennels, maintaining the warmth and continuity of our home-based approach.
Throughout the training, you’ll receive video updates and progress reports.
By the End of Training
Your puppy will:
Successfully locate and alert on real truffles
Identify and mark target mushrooms on request
An official court officer (bailiff) will be present to certify that the dog is indeed performing the work it was trained for.
A certificate of completion is issued by the trainer at the end of the course.
After Training
After the training, we remain at your disposal for any questions or advice, with lifetime support
Truffle Dogs Transportation process :
Transportation of our truffle dogs to the United States is a bespoke, exclusive service, personally handled by us with no intermediaries. From our distinguished breeding facility in France to the heart of their new home, we ensure that every step of the journey reflects the rare and exceptional nature of our dogs. We oversee all the intricate details, including customs, IATA approved travel crate, veterinary procedures, vaccinations, microchipping, deworming, and the issuance of the international health certificate. Our clients need not concern themselves with any of these formalities; we manage every aspect of the process, ensuring a seamless and unparalleled experience for their future companion. This is a VIP service, designed for those who expect nothing less than the best.
An investment in excellence, which includes:
• An exceptional puppy, carefully selected from among 35 candidate puppies, raised in a family environment, and exposed to the noble scents of truffles from the 3rd day of life following traditional French methods
- Trained by a certified professional, familiar with basic commands (sit, down, stay…), in keeping with the elegance of French expertise.
- Personalized follow-up from birth to arrival – Receive regular updates with exclusive videos capturing precious milestones: eyes opening, first meals, outdoor exploration, first and more – a front-row seat to your future companion’s early life.
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Videos of early scent tests – Watch the very first olfactory evaluations as your puppy undergoes advanced sensory testing, helping us select the most promising truffle-hunting talents.
- Progress reports during training – Follow your Gatsby’s evolution through curated video updates as they master each stage of truffle and mushroom detection under the care of our expert trainer.
• Prestigious training, supervised by expert trainers, blending ancestral know-how and cutting-edge olfactory detection techniques, ensuring flawless mastery in truffle and mushroom hunting.
• An official certification issued at the end of training, confirming that your companion is fully operational and ready to perform its detection role with unmatched precision.
• The involvement of a judicial officer, ensuring that the puppy has been fully trained and is fully capable of performing the task it was trained for.
• Exclusive transportation, personally handled by us, with no intermediaries, offering a tailored experience and safe arrival, wherever you may be.
Each Gatsby Truffle Dog is a true work of canine haute couture, born in the most prestigious regions of France, trained with rigor and passion. Our commitment to animal well-being is at the core of everything we do – it is our priority. We ensure that every step of the process is carried out with the utmost care, guaranteeing a healthy and happy companion.
Give yourself a partner of rare elegance, a symbol of French excellence, and let the adventure begin.
Pre-Reservation Required
To guarantee the best possible match, puppies must be reserved before birth. This allows us to select the right breeding combination for your future Gatsby.
Special Note for 2026
We will exceptionally offer a limited number of Truffle Labradors, bred from world-champion bloodlines.
