Cane Paratore

The Cane Paratore (pronounced "kahn-ay per-uh-tor-ee"), also known as the "Cane Toccatore", is an ancient breed that originated in southern Italy. Livestock farmers employed the dogs to move their herds from the Tavoliere delle Puglie, a plain in northwest southern Italy, to the montane Apennines pastures. "Paratore" roughly translates to the saying "to push forward". Cane Paratores are closely related to wolves and it has been reported that females will sometimes mate with wild wolves. They also have many wolf-like characteristics beyond their appearance, such as maturing quickly, being fiercely protective of their young, and having an immune system similar to that of wolves. The Cane Paratore was bred primarily for function and not so much looks, so there is a fair amount of variation between individuals. Today, they are extremely rare and mostly unknown everywhere except for Abruzzes, where they are relatively common.