Tuber melanosporum better known as black truffles or French black truffles are a type of fungi that grows on the roots of trees. Because they grow underground, they are quite difficult to find and trained dogs are often used to find them.

Electronic nose/Olfactometer detection methods exist, but I cannot find if they are widely used.

I realize that this may be a somewhat gray area, hence I would be more interested in facts rather than opinions. For example, cite reports of cruelty towards these dogs.

Do you consider black trufflesAre there reports or studies on truffle farming that could shed some light on whether they are vegan? Why?