David and Jenny Thickett have found a dog they hope will be able to sniff out truffles on their Strathbogie property.
The Thicketts have a plantation of oak trees and they are hoping to be able to grow the valuable fungus.
In France, pigs are often used to locate truffles around the roots of trees, but in more recent times, dogs have been favoured as the pigs tend to want to dig up the truffle and eat it.
The Thicketts’ dog, Arnold, at 10 months old, is just a large puppy. The couple favoured Arnold because the kelpie-harrier hound cross showed a keen sense of smell.
“We got him from an adoption group at four months old,” David said.
No doubt due to his breeding, Arnold loves to run at full stretch around the Thicketts’ 8ha property, a few kilometres out of Strathbogie.
“He will run all day,” David said.
Asked if he had any bad habits, David said Arnold had a tendency to chew things up.
“He destroys things. If we give him a $30 toy, it will be gone within a few minutes.
“He also likes to chew up plastic pot plants. I have to go around the property and collect up the small pieces.”
On a more positive note, Arnold is proving to be a faithful and loveable companion.
“He’s a lovely dog. Very friendly.”
Arnold accompanied David and Jenny to the Strathbogie Australia Day barbecue, where he greeted visitors with a damp nose and a doggy kiss.
He managed to score a sausage, although it may have been a little too spicy.