Truffle Dog Competition Returning to Eugene

The only competition of its kind in North America, the Joriad™ will be held on Thursday, January 25, 2018. This one-day event offers spectators the opportunity to get a behind the scenes look at some of the world’s most talented truffle dogs as they compete in a qualifying trial to find truffle-scented targets. Named for the Jory soil in which so many of our truffles and wine grapes are found, the Joriad cannot be missed.

As part of this original event, winners of the qualifying round move on to a private field trial for an authentic head-to-head and nose-to-ground action in the wild where nature alone determines location, variety, and quantity of rare Oregon truffles. Holding these final rounds out in the wild is unique only to the Joriad. The winner will receive a $500 cash prize.

Spectators with tickets from the qualifying rounds are also invited to attend the Joriad Gala Awards Ceremony on Thursday evening at the Hilton Eugene. Additional information and tickets for the Joriad are available here.

The Joriad will also play host to Kristina Leipzig, Truffle Dog Trainer & Joriad Organizer. Leipzig has worked with dogs in various sports and training programs since 2002. She started truffle hunting by attending the Oregon Truffle Festival Dog training and has been Lead Organizer of the Joriad since it’s conception. Currently she teaches truffle classes, hosts training forays, and conducts land surveys.

This year the Oregon Truffle Festival will also host a Truffle Dog Training Seminar following the competition on January 26 & 27. The Truffle Dog Training Seminar is a unique opportunity to both observe the handling and training of skilled truffle dogs, and to teach your own dog to detect the scent of valuable ripe truffles in their natural habitat. This training is in its 11th year. Truffle Dog Training Seminar registration information and tickets are available here.

About Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports Commission: Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports Commission, under the corporate umbrella of Travel Lane County, markets and promotes the region as a destination for sports, while providing resources designed to help events and planners succeed. For more information, go to www.EugeneCascadesCoastSports.org.

Travel Lane County markets and promotes the Eugene, Cascades and Coast region as a destination for travel, conventions, sports, meetings and events. It serves as a private, nonprofit association dedicated to economic development through visitor spending, which pumped more than $672 million into Lane County, Oregon's economy in 2016.