About

Welcome to The Great British Truffle Hound Competition, a celebration of the incredible partnership between truffle hunters and their canine companions. This competition not only showcases the remarkable skills of truffle-hunting dogs but also honors the legacy of pioneers like Marion Dean, who founded the first truffle hound competition in the UK. As you explore the details of this year’s event, we invite you to learn more about the inspiration behind it by reading our blog post and Marion Dean's story here. Whether you’re here to compete or simply to enjoy the event, we’re thrilled to have you join our community of passionate truffle enthusiasts.


Meet The Judges

Our judges are an incredible group of experts with a wealth of experience and expterise and are dedicated to ensuring a fair and exciting competition.

Meet The Judges


“Today’s event has been fantastic. It’s been really well organised. The food’s been fantastic. It’s been great meeting all the truffle dogs and the handlers, it’s been really really good.”

- Prof. Paul Thomas

“Just landing and reflecting on an incredible day of truffly goodness at the Truffle Festival yesterday in Plumpton. Truffles were the enticer, but it was definitely the human connections that made the day for me.”

- Jesper Launder

“Some really lovely teams and what a fantastic day at The Great British Truffle Festival.”

- Stef Roulett

“Amazing Day yesterday at the Truffle Hound Competition and a very proud Dad moment with our boy Tembo coming 1st in the Gold Competition! We’ve had a great couple of weeks hunting and then competing & we have truffle supplies to last a lifetime!”

- Jonathan McGowan



2023 Winners

Gold

Jon
JonJon Trophy
Julie and Flori
Julie and FloriJulie and Flori Trophy
Cresta and Henry
Cresta and HenryCresta and Henry Trophy

Silver

Steve and Mac
Steve and MacSteve and Mac Trophy
Beverly and Enzo
Beverly and EnzoBeverly and Enzo Trophy
Nina and Oscar
Nina and OscarNina and Oscar Trophy

Bronze

Dan and Winnie
Dan and WinnieDan and Winnie Trophy
Susan and Kara
Susan and KaraSusan and Kara Trophy
Emily and Penny
Emily and PennyEmily and Penny Trophy

Frequently Asked Questions

Our judges are an incredible group of experts with years of experience in the truffle industry. They bring a wealth of knowledge and are dedicated to ensuring a fair and exciting competition. Find out more about them here.

Anyone with some experience or training in truffle hunting is welcome to enter.

Dogs are judged based on the number of truffle baits they find, their behavior, and the time taken compared to other competitors. Points can be deducted for undesirable behaviors such as lack of control, persistent digging, and marking territory. For full competition rules, click here to see the latest competition rules or here for the junior competition rules.

This unique truffle hound competition is designed to celebrate the skills and partnership between truffle hunters and their dogs. It offers participants the chance to gain valuable industry recognition, judged by an esteemed panel of experts, which can further their truffle hunting ambitions.
Competing or spectating offers a chance to see various breeds in action and connect with like-minded enthusiasts. It's a celebration of the truffle hunting community, making it less solitary and more collaborative.
Join us to be part of a vibrant and supportive community. Competing is not just about winning but about learning, sharing, and growing together.

This year we'll also be running a Juniors competition for age ranges 7-17, check out the Juniors rules here.

Gold First Place: Certificate recognized within the industry, a rosette, score sheet, truffle products from Truffle Hunter, and a mushroom foray with Melissa for 2 people.
Silver First Place: Certificate, rosette, score sheet, truffle products from Truffle Hunter, and a mushroom foray with Melissa for 1 person.
Bronze First Place: Certificate, rosette, score sheet, a bottle of truffle oil from Truffle Hunter, and a mushroom foray with Melissa for 1 person.
Second Place in All Categories: Certificate, rosette, score sheet, and truffle products from Truffle Hunter.
Third Place in All Categories: Certificate, rosette, score sheet, and a bottle of truffle oil from Truffle Hunter.
All winners will be announced on the website and recognized for their achievements unless they object. Remaining competitors receive a packet of Truffle Hunter Crisps, a certificate, and their score sheet.

Truffle Hunter has been a generous sponsor for three years. Their truffle oil is recommended for both culinary use and dog training due to its effectiveness in mimicking the aromatic compounds found in truffles.
Check out their website here.

Purchase your competitor ticket and complete the two forms we’ll send you. Hey presto - you’ve entered!

We determine which category you should be in as follows: Firstly, read the competition rules and judge for yourself how realistic it is that your dog will be able to find the hides of different types above ground/ below or both. After you’ve bought your ticket, we'll ask you to fill out two forms. One is a small awareness test on sustainable truffle hunting and the other is designed to help us place you. We will let you know our decision based on your confidence level and the answers you provide to our questionnaire.
  • Bronze for beginners-intermediate
  • Silver for intermediates-advanced
  • Gold for advanced-pro

Reserve Your Spot In The Competition

Enter the competition with a 'Competition Entry' ticket and compete with the same dog in a different category, or enter a different dog in the same category by selecting the 'Extra Entry' ticket.