In Roddi, a few kilometers from Barolo, there is even the University of Truffle Dogs "Barot" (which in Piedmontese dialect indicates the truffle hunter’s stick), where these special helpers have been trained since 1880. The Monchiero family is now fourth generation, and it is Gianni Monchiero ("Barot IV") who manages the whole "school". Everything started in the late nineteenth century from an idea by Antonio Monchiero nicknamed "Barot", as it was said to be very strict with their truffle dogs so much to use the stick when it was necessary. On the other hand, he obtained excellent results in terms of collection: his dog Zurin was a real prodigy. At the beginning the school was designed to train the family dogs and those of friends, then with the son Battista Monchiero called "Barot II", it turned into a real university. It was Battista who met Giacomo Morra and together created a real business of white truffles and more. In fact, he brought almost every day the truffles collected to the Savona Hotel in Alba owned by the Morra family. Battista also took part in the Alba Truffle Fair and every year he presented himself with a fenced wagon with some specimens of truffle dogs on it and the sign "Dog University - prof. Barot". Pasquale Monchiero was "Barot III" and during his mandate, so to speak, a terrier dog arrived at the university ... from Canada! The curious event made news, as you can imagine. In the '70s and' 80s the school remained closed, but in 1989 Gianni Monchiero reopened it, achieving success and even today he is the one that directs it.