The University of Truffle Hunting Dogs

It's that time of year again when strange men saunter furtively through Italian woodlands, often late at night, checking that they are not being followed, always accompagnied by their faithful dog. They're not taking the dog for a walk or enjoying a spot of exercise in the fresh Alba evening air, they're the region's truffle hunters seeking out the incredibly expensive white truffle to thrill the tastebuds of rich gourmets the world over.
But while the masters get the accolades and the riches it's the dogs who are the real hunters and no self respecting truffle hound could be successful in this business without a college degree, so any dog who shows promise, i.e a good nose, is sent off to the Barot University of Truffle Hunting Dogs. It hasn't got quite the same ambiance as most well established universities since it is run out of the garage and two storey house of Giovanni Monchiero, perched on the hilltop overlooking the Piedmont village of Rodi but since being founded by his great grandfather in 1880, it has an extensive roll call of honour of successful graduates.
Monchiero is the only faculty member, going by the name of Barot IV, but his intensive two to three week university course can graduate a dog with all the basic skills for truffle hunting although a really good hound will require anything up to 4 years to achieve perfection. At that stage they are very valuable creatures sometimes being kidnapped or even poisoned by rival truffle hunters jealous of too much success in this secretive business. Obviously Monchiero's methods do work because last season he unearthed a massive 400 gram white truffle, impressive by any standards.