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Neapolitan Mastiff Kubrat Dobri 2 years old with my son Simon.

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Neapolitan mastiffs are a large breed of dog, known for their massive build and loose skin, originating from Italy. Because of this, they may also be called Italian mastiffs. Bred from ancient war and guard dogs, these mastiffs are related to the English mastiff and other molossers. They can be traced back as far as a 168 BCE. They were used to guard property and homes, and are rumored to have been used in lion baiting in the Arenas.

All Neapolitan mastiffs are large dogs - nearly thirty inches high at the shoulder and as much as a hundred and fifty pounds. They have very large heads, sturdy bones, and very wrinkled skin, particularly on the face. Colors include mahogany, tawny, gray, and black, but white spotting on the feet and chest and reverse brindling also appear.

In show animals, white spotting in locations other than feet and chest is considered a fault. However, the amount of white on a Neapolitan mastiff doesn't affect its suitability as a pet or its health and temperament. That means that people who are just looking for a great pet or guard animal shouldn't worry too much about show standards. Neapolitan mastiffs may have their ears cropped or left natural, but the current law in Italy (and the rest of Europe) forbids cropping dogs' ears.

Neapolitan mastiffs are fearless and good at protecting their territory, though they're unlikely to bark. These dogs are more likely to creep up on a stranger than bark and cause alarm. Since they're so loyal and protective, these mastiffs can be very wary of strangers.

However, if you show that you're not worried or afraid, your dog will quickly accept a new person. Remember that you must show these animals who is boss when they're very young, as they can be stubborn. Males are particularly likely to see themselves as pack leader. However, you shouldn't be rough or cruel. A Neapolitan mastiff loves its family more than anything, and punishment will probably have a deeper effect than you've planned.

While the Neapolitan mastiff's ancestors were prized in ancient Rome, they fell out of favor for a number of centuries. It wasn't until the 1940s that they were rediscovered in Italy near Naples. After World War II, the breed was almost extinct, but it has been revived in recent years.

These mastiffs were introduced to the United States in the 1980s, and have slowly become more popular. They make excellent pets, but care should be taken to make certain they get enough attention, and have the medical care they need. Without routine grooming and careful exercise, their massive bodies and skin folds can cause health problems.

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Videos and Pictures of our Neapolitan Mastiff puppy, Centurian Mastini Legend of Zelda. This video runs from 8 weeks to 16 weeks. For more pictures of Zelda and other Neapolitan Mastiffs visit undergroundmastino.com, the best Neo Forum

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If you are considering looking for a Neapolitan Mastiff, there are definitely pros and cons that you should know about. Neapolitan Mastiffs are beautiful big dogs. They are very big, up to 170 pounds, with large flat heads, and a box-like body. They have wrinkled saggy skin around their face and neck. Some have cropped ears and tails, but more and more owners are opting to keep them in their natural state. They come in blue, black or brown and have short, dense coats. They shed more than you’d think for such a short haired dog. Neapolitan Mastiffs can be very good companions, but there are a lot of things to consider before you take on owning one.

The Neapolitan Mastiff needs to be trained very consistently from puppy hood. They are very smart and willful. Obedience and owner dominance need to be instilled from a very young age. You need to be non-wavering in your training approach and should probably seek professional advice. Neapolitan Mastiff’s need to be socialized early and often. They are generally intolerant of other dogs. Males are worse about tolerating other males than females are. Females tend to be a little bit more tolerant all around. Neapolitan Mastiffs are very good watch dogs. Their nature is to be protective and wary of strangers. Socialization is so important with these dogs. They need to be able to recognize who is being friendly. If they aren’t properly socialized they can become a huge biting liability.

If you have children in your home, then you need to research carefully before bringing in a Neapolitan Mastiff. If the dog has been brought up with children, then they can be good with them. This dog needs to be exposed to lots of children consistently to teach them to be tolerant. They do not tolerate teasing or roughhousing. Serious injury or death could occur. Remember that the Neapolitan Mastiff is very protective of its family. If you raise it with only your own kids, then it may try to protect your kids from their friends and relatives, resulting in a real tragedy. Neapolitan Mastiffs are generally not recommended for homes with children mostly because children can be unpredictable.

Neapolitan Mastiffs can be very calm in nature once they reach adulthood. They are mostly quiet indoors and may bark a lot outside. They have an instinct to chase and catch other animals, so proper inclusion is necessary. They need moderate exercise, such as regular walking and occasional running. Intense exercise can seriously damage this big dog’s joints.

Neapolitan Mastiffs are susceptible to hip and elbow displasia. This risk is increased if you over-exercise your dog or encourage it to jump from high places, especially as a puppy. Eye problems are also common and include progressive retinal atrophy and cherry eye. Cherry eye is very common. It occurs when the third eyelid, responsible for tear production, becomes prolapsed, visible, inflamed and red. The usual treatment for cherry eye is surgical removal of the gland. It will usually occur early on, during puppy hood. If your Neapolitan Mastiff has to have this gland removed, be prepared for a lifetime of administering eye drops.

Once all things have been considered, you should be able to decide if the Neapolitan Mastiff is the breed for you. When looking for dogs for sale or dog adoption, consider contacting My Dream Puppy with any questions.

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MASTIFF BREEDS, Neapolitan Mastiff Puppies, Whippet Lab Mix, american bulldog mastiff mix, weimaraner greyhound mix, feeding mix lab dog, weimaraner bulldog mix

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Neapolitan Mastiff

This is one dog that is extremely heavy-bodied and has a strong, powerful grip. These types of dogs have been traced back to the Middle East and Asia where they functioned as war dogs. Their jobs were to guard homes, control livestock, and even fight men and large animals in battle, such as elephants and lions.

The modern day Neapolitan Mastiff is said to be connected to giant Macedonian war dogs that Alexander the great mixed with short-haired dogs of India. The time was approximately 330 BC. The resulting bloodline was called the Molossus, which is considered to be the progenitor to many large dog breeds of today.

The history then becomes a bit more interesting.  The Romans took over Greece and at the same time took all of their Molossus dogs. Then in 55 BC the Romans invaded and conquered Britain.  The British had large and imposing Mastiff dogs that the Romans admired. These dogs fought valiantly during war.

As you can probably guess these two dogs were bred together and created a super breed of giant war dogs that were called “Mastini” which is the Italian word for Mastiff. The breed continued to expand its members and were perfected over centuries of well functioning guard dogs. However, they were quite isolated and remained unknown to much of the rest of the world.

In 1946 they were introduced to the world at a Naples dog show.  A man named Piere Scanziani saw the dog and immediately recognized what type of breed it was.  He started a campaign to influence other dog fanciers to help bring out the breed from obscurity.  They went as far as drawing up a petition so that the Italian Kennel Club would recognize them under the name of “Mastino Napoletano”.

It was not until the 1970s when this dog breed was documented in the United States.  There were of course a few of these dogs that were already in the U.S. from Italian immigrants, but nothing was official until the 70's.  It did not take long for the breed to become popular and gain interest from dog enthusiasts.  They were recognized by the AKC in 1996 and were official numbers of the AKC working group by the year 2004.

Personality

The Neapolitan Mastiff is duly noted for its loyalty and devotion to its family.  As a result of being bred for centuries as a family guard dog, it is extremely reserved and suspicious of strangers. Needless to say, it is one of the highest rating watchdogs that can equally protect its family due to its size and fighting ability. The Neapolitan Mastiff is affectionate towards children but may be dominant towards other dogs and house pets.

Taking Care Of Your Neapolitan Mastiff

Neapolitan Mastiff dogs will need a lot of space.  This is one dog that is literally huge in size and must have enough room to roam around without being squeezed in.  As far as exercise and physical requirements to, they do not need much.  A simple walk on the leash will do just fine. Consider also that the large size of the Neapolitan Mastiff will require higher expenses in terms of food and veterinarian visits. They also tend to drool a lot and can be quite messy with its food and water.

Health Information

The average lifespan of a healthy Neapolitan Mastiff is approximately 9 to 10 years. Larger dogs tend to have shorter life spans than smaller ones.  Major health concerns that could arise are demodicosis, CHD, and cardiomyopathy. Minor issues include elbow dysplasia and cherry eye.

History

Neapolitan Mastiffs come from ancient dogs with this basic body structure: heavy body, gargantuan heads, short muzzles, dewlaps, furrowed foreheads, cropped ears, and beefy legs. The progenitors of this breed were called Tibetan Mastiff, Macedonian Dog, Assyrian Dog, Sumerian Molossan, and the Roman Molossus.

Many of the Mastiff kind of dogs have become extinct. Experts speculate that Alexander the Great brought these dogs to the countries he conquered. The Roman soldiers took them to other lands. Others say that the Phoenicians transported this breed to England in 500 B.C. Today's Neapolitan Mastiff is native to Italy. Some other names for this breed are Italian Mastiff, Mastino Neapoletano, Neo, and Mastin Napolitano.

The Neapolitan Mastiff had become obscure, when Piere Scanziani recognized one at a dog exhibition in Naples, Italy in 1946. He was a famous journalist and became a fancier and breeder and aided this breeds come back. Standards were prepared for this breed in 1949. The AKC gave them
recognition in 2004.

General Looks

The Neapolitan Mastiff is huge, very muscular with a rugged build. The face is big and the jowls droop.

Is This Your Breed?

They require abundant regular, though moderate exercise, not strenuous. They need a lot space and aren't apartment dogs. They need a spacious fenced yard. These dogs drool and snore. This breed is low maintenance for grooming and shed little. Brush with a rubber brush occasionally.

Coat

The coat stays close to the body and is short and dense.

Color

The colors are gray, blue, mahogany, tawny, and black. Any brindling should be tan. White markings are allowed on the chest, throat, underside, toes, and pastern's back.

Locomotion

The movement is slow and bovine. Even so, his gait is powerful, lengthy, and elastic. The usual movements are walking trotting, pacing, and galloping.

Personality

This breed is devoted, faithful, and protective. They are brave and determined making great guard dogs that defend their home and people without reserve. They get close to their family and might be closer to one in particular. They require plenty of affection and attention. To make this breed stable, the dog needs early socialization, and it decreases the chance of being timid or aggressive.

Being independent, the Neapolitan Mastiff  may be hard to train. The owner should be self-assured and assertive. People that have already owned and trained dogs are the best candidates to own a dog of this breed.

They are leery of strangers. When the dog is socialized from a pup, they get along with other pets. If they are raised with kids, they are good with them.

They are very smart and learn easily. They are usually quiet and bark if something different gets their attention. They should be walked each day to maintain their physical and mental health.

Neapolitan Mastiff video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCNdnuj9rjk

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