Originally published in Corgi Post magazine. Translation by Martina Aufrecht. Special thanks to Susanne Boesche, Corgi Post publisher and owner of Paula, a former Dog of the Day on The Daily Corgi. (And a relation of Meryl!)
Joy Transfer Meryl is a charming young Cardigan bitch born in Germany in December, 2012. She’s quite an active dog who needs and enjoys challenges! Meryl lives now in France at the loving home of Geraldine Gireaux and her husband, Laurent Gibbon. Geraldine and Laurent have tried a lot with Meryl since her early childhood; this girl takes on every challenge with great enthusiasm, instinct and good progress, including herding sheep.
In 2014, they had the opportunity to enter a seminar for special dogs that dig for truffles, also known as “black diamonds“. The search for truffles has been an emerging canine discipline for many years. The activity is safer with a dog rather than a pig, who can be too fond of the black diamond. The pigs love to eat the truffles themselves.
The first test with Meryl was very promising. She found, she scratched, she got a reward. It was as simple as that. “By the second training, we were enjoying the sound of her nose noisily sniffing the ground to flush out the truffles!“ says Geraldine. “Of course, Corgis are alert and have the ability to absorb things very quickly.”
“So after nine months of training (about one session per month on average), with the rules of the discipline in mind, we dared to participate in our first competition of truffle dogs. Just to see! We traveled to an event at Ham-sous-Varsberg (57) near the German border, under the judgment of Miss Estelle Ferrari.”
“Excited by her first experience, a month later Meryl went to her second contest on digging Piedmont Vosges in Val-et-Châtillon (54) near Offenburg, under the judgment of Mr. Guy Meunier. She achieved a new result in class A LOF: 182.30 / 200 EXCELLENT with a great 2nd place on the podium.”
Finally, Meryl concluded her breakout season in style, again finishing second in the EXCELLENT beginners standings, for the third and final competition in this category at Pierre-de-Bresse (71).
“Going forward, the challenge will be different, as we will be competing among the best truffle dogs for selection of the Championship of France. For the 2015 season, this winter will be our period of preparation for the class of “big dogs”!
The moral of the story? Short legs, large ambition!
To be continued …
To learn more about the beautiful Joy Transfer Meryl at The Cardigan Archives, visit her page HERE.
What a neat story! Who knew there were truffle competitions for dogs!