Bill Collins & Lynell Heatley

Bill and Lynell, based in Northern California, are a dynamic duo of truffle aficionados, dog lovers, and world travelers who bring an adventurous spirit to the hunt for “black diamonds.” Drawn together by their love of dogs, they entered the world of truffle dog training, hunting, and harvesting in 2010—and they, along with their remarkable dogs, have participated in every Napa Truffle Festival since its inception.

Lynell, O.D., R.N., has been a lifelong dog lover, growing up with Airedales, German Shepherds, and her “smartest guard dog of them all,” a tiny Dachshund named Ginger. Today, she and Bill hunt with their two truffle dogs: Zara, their second Lagotto Romagnolo, and Bodi, a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon puppy in training. She has traded her high-tech exam lane and medical setting for a low-tech shovel, daylight, and dirt—and fully embraces the thrill of the hunt.

Bill, PsyD, CPA (Ret.), brings a rare blend of financial rigor, military discipline as a USAF veteran, and behavioral science as a practicing psychologist. His background in behavioral health helps them design effective training programs by understanding motivation, reinforcement schedules, and the complex emotional dynamics between dogs and handlers.

Together, Bill and Lynell combine scientific insight, business acumen, and advanced learning theory to create a cohesive, highly successful truffle-hunting team. For them and their dogs, the hunt is on!