Cane Paratore

The Cane Paratore is an Italian alpine herding dog of Piedmont, named for the work of separating and gathering stock.

History

It worked cattle in the Piedmont Alps, and its name comes from parare, to gather or head off — the job of turning animals back rather than driving them forward. Like the Cane di Oropa and the Lessinia shepherd it survived with working herders while Italian cynology looked elsewhere, and was described formally only recently.

Temperament

The breed is known for being quick, attentive and biddable with its handler, watchful with strangers and confident with cattle much larger than itself.

Care and training

It needs a great deal of exercise and real work; without stock it will herd whatever is available. The medium coat needs regular brushing.

Health

Generally robust from working selection; nothing is widely documented as breed-specific. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.