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Sand87
Stranger
Registered: 09/01/13
Posts: 147
Last seen: 6 years, 10 months
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Training dogs to sniff out Libs
#18785136 - 09/01/13 12:39 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Dogs can be trained to sniff out most things and we know they're used, or were used, to find truffles.
Would it be possible to get a Spinone to find Libs? They're excellent tracking dogs and have great stamina and most don't even need to be trained to search back and forth in a logical fashion, it comes naturally.
So, what do you think? I'm confident I could train her myself if it's a good idea, training dogs is my background.
Getting her to catch their scent shouldn't be too difficult but because of the nature of the beast you can go a long time/distance without seeing anything so keeping her motivated would be the hardest part IMO.
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Hashfinger
Nippy Wiffle



Registered: 07/10/12
Posts: 4,775
Loc: Georgia
Last seen: 5 years, 7 months
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Re: Training dogs to sniff out Libs [Re: Sand87]
#18785261 - 09/01/13 01:16 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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I think my dog naturally figured out what I was looking for (weilii), and now she can sniff them out. If I watch her carefully, sometimes she kind of digs her nose around a cluster. She never eats them though. My sisters dog on the other hand will just step over them as i try and pick. Lol. He's not to helpful. I guarantee if you really work with your dog and you guys have a solid connection you won't have a problem at all.
-------------------- Species List (Georgia): Psilocybe caerulescens/weilii, Psilocybe atlantis/galindoi, Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata, Psilocybe caerulipes, Psilocybe semilanceata, Psilocybe fagicola, Copelandia cyanescens, Panaeolus cinctulus, Panaeolus fimicola, Panaeolus olivaceus, Gymnopilus luteofolius, Gymnopilus aeruginosus, Gymnopilus junonius, Pluteus salicinus (Ohio): Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata, Psilocybe caerulipes, Pluteus cyanopus, Pluteus salicinus sensu lato..., Panaeolus cinctulus, Gymnopilus luteus, Gymnopilus luteofolius, Gymnopilus junonius, Gymnopilus aeruginosus
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MidnightCity
Apache Rose Peacock


Registered: 08/12/12
Posts: 4,053
Loc: Florida
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Re: Training dogs to sniff out Libs [Re: Sand87]
#18785266 - 09/01/13 01:17 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Most dogs can definitely be trained to sniff out mushrooms. The best method I've heard of is practically the same for drug/bomb dogs and involves putting your target substance (in this case Psilocybe semilanceata)in a tennis ball and having him/her find it when it's mixed with empty tennis balls and later hidden in random spots. The dog would be rewarded for sitting and/or barking when it finds the correct one/location.
However, I wonder if they can differentiate between species? I would assume yes, given they are trained correctly.
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Hashfinger
Nippy Wiffle



Registered: 07/10/12
Posts: 4,775
Loc: Georgia
Last seen: 5 years, 7 months
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Re: Training dogs to sniff out Libs [Re: MidnightCity]
#18785282 - 09/01/13 01:22 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
MidnightCity said: Most dogs can definitely be trained to sniff out mushrooms. The best method I've heard of is practically the same for drug/bomb dogs and involves putting your target substance (in this case Psilocybe semilanceata)in a tennis ball and having him/her find it when it's mixed with empty tennis balls and later hidden in random spots. The dog would be rewarded for sitting and/or barking when it finds the correct one/location.
However, I wonder if they can differentiate between species? I would assume yes, given they are trained correctly. 
I was going to mention the species thing. libs are quite small and may not put out much of a scent, but then again, dogs noses are ridiculous.
-------------------- Species List (Georgia): Psilocybe caerulescens/weilii, Psilocybe atlantis/galindoi, Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata, Psilocybe caerulipes, Psilocybe semilanceata, Psilocybe fagicola, Copelandia cyanescens, Panaeolus cinctulus, Panaeolus fimicola, Panaeolus olivaceus, Gymnopilus luteofolius, Gymnopilus aeruginosus, Gymnopilus junonius, Pluteus salicinus (Ohio): Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata, Psilocybe caerulipes, Pluteus cyanopus, Pluteus salicinus sensu lato..., Panaeolus cinctulus, Gymnopilus luteus, Gymnopilus luteofolius, Gymnopilus junonius, Gymnopilus aeruginosus
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Sand87
Stranger
Registered: 09/01/13
Posts: 147
Last seen: 6 years, 10 months
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Re: Training dogs to sniff out Libs [Re: Hashfinger]
#18785334 - 09/01/13 01:31 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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This is why I asked here. I have no doubt in my mind that if the scent from mushroom to mushroom is molecularly different then the dogs will know. No doubt about it. To us a mushroom smells like a mushroom but I've no doubt given guidance they could differentiate. The question is do some Lib look alikes have similar a very similar chemical make up?
Toys are great for a reward, most drug dogs are rewarded with toys because they are taught from a young age that that is the reward.
Unfortunately my dog is totally indifferent to toys, she is 100% food or praise orientated. No big deal either way.
I worked with a guy a few years ago who wanted to train his Jack Russell to find frogs, believe it or not. A Jack Russell is much lower to the ground and has a much more pointed nose to get in to all the nooks and crannies but their sense of smell is *NOTHING* compared to a Spinone so this gives me a lot of confidence that it may be worthwhile.
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MidnightCity
Apache Rose Peacock


Registered: 08/12/12
Posts: 4,053
Loc: Florida
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Re: Training dogs to sniff out Libs [Re: Hashfinger]
#18785356 - 09/01/13 01:36 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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I'm going to try this with my Aussie soon, using P.cinctulus as a starting point.
I think there may be a learning curve depending on how rewarding is done when the dog finds other mushrooms rather than the specific species. This depends more on the human being a good teacher imo.
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Sand87
Stranger
Registered: 09/01/13
Posts: 147
Last seen: 6 years, 10 months
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Re: Training dogs to sniff out Libs [Re: MidnightCity]
#18785366 - 09/01/13 01:40 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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I reckon if you have Libs to train with there shouldn't be an issue with the dog confusing them with other mushrooms unless someone says there are indeed others that have an extremely similar chemical makeup.
I'd start in a totally sterile environment i.e one in which I know there are no other mushrooms other than the ones I'm using to work with. Once that initial connection is made in her brain, as far as she is concerned, no other mushroom should exist and I wouldn't be trying it outside around other mushrooms until we had really cracked it in a sterile environment, otherwise, like you pretict, she would be confused quite quickly if we just jumped right in to it outside.
Edited by Sand87 (09/01/13 01:43 PM)
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maynardjameskeenan
The white stipes



Registered: 11/11/10
Posts: 16,391
Loc: 'Merica
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Re: Training dogs to sniff out Libs [Re: Hashfinger]
#18785456 - 09/01/13 02:02 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Hashfinger said: I think my dog naturally figured out what I was looking for (weilii), and now she can sniff them out. If I watch her carefully, sometimes she kind of digs her nose around a cluster. She never eats them though. My sisters dog on the other hand will just step over them as i try and pick. Lol. He's not to helpful. I guarantee if you really work with your dog and you guys have a solid connection you won't have a problem at all.
I've noticed my dog also does something similar. After taking him with me when I look for mushrooms he's caught on to what I'm doing and sometimes leads me to them now. I bet if you always took your dog with you while hunting liberty caps he'd/she'd understand what you are doing there and would probably be eager to help, dog's always seem to want to please their maters, they can be very smart sometimes.
-------------------- May you be filled with loving kindness. May you be well. May you be peaceful and at ease. May you be happy. AMU Q&A
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Hashfinger
Nippy Wiffle



Registered: 07/10/12
Posts: 4,775
Loc: Georgia
Last seen: 5 years, 7 months
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I've actually also heard stories about cows directing pickers to the gold (tops). They know ALLLLL about those little round things growing in their poop. I know some cows eat cubes when they graze also.
-------------------- Species List (Georgia): Psilocybe caerulescens/weilii, Psilocybe atlantis/galindoi, Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata, Psilocybe caerulipes, Psilocybe semilanceata, Psilocybe fagicola, Copelandia cyanescens, Panaeolus cinctulus, Panaeolus fimicola, Panaeolus olivaceus, Gymnopilus luteofolius, Gymnopilus aeruginosus, Gymnopilus junonius, Pluteus salicinus (Ohio): Psilocybe ovoideocystidiata, Psilocybe caerulipes, Pluteus cyanopus, Pluteus salicinus sensu lato..., Panaeolus cinctulus, Gymnopilus luteus, Gymnopilus luteofolius, Gymnopilus junonius, Gymnopilus aeruginosus
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knarkkorven
Entheoholic


Registered: 06/22/05
Posts: 1,707
Loc: Sweden
Last seen: 1 month, 15 days
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Re: Training dogs to sniff out Libs [Re: Hashfinger]
#18786017 - 09/01/13 04:22 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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If one can train a dog to find cantharellus (which is possible), I think it could be done with liberty caps.
Quote:
I've actually also heard stories about cows directing pickers to the gold
They are tougher when it comes to libs, not even giving directions when I show them what I'm looking for...
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Blazer420
ŦøжїϿ ÐȐȜȧƜƐȓ

Registered: 06/13/09
Posts: 4,825
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Re: Training dogs to sniff out Libs [Re: knarkkorven]
#18786049 - 09/01/13 04:29 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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you can deff train a dog to sniff out anything you train it too sniff out. Just takes time
-------------------- ~ I used to get high on life, until I realized life was cut with morons ~ * You need 2 wake up and smell the music! * -We are all computer data in a materialistic world- |Sometimes you have to lose yourself, to find anything|
 
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Ganzig
It's for the street cred


Registered: 11/29/06
Posts: 8,206
Loc: Oregon
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Re: Training dogs to sniff out Libs [Re: knarkkorven]
#18786202 - 09/01/13 05:32 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
knarkkorven said:

Hahahahaha! That is great.
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I must keep reminding myself of this. I must keep reminding myself of this. I must keep reminding myself of this. I must keep reminding myself of this.
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infected_2

Registered: 08/09/11
Posts: 844
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Re: Training dogs to sniff out Libs [Re: Ganzig]
#18795448 - 09/03/13 05:28 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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If you can teach em to hunt truffles, drugs etc there should be no reason why not.
This is a site for a professional truffle hunting dog training school so i'd say shrooms would be no different.
You should definitely give it a go and report back
http://www.trufflehuntersdogschool.com/
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