The
Neapolitan Mastiff is a serious, powerful,
looking dog. It is muscular with a rather
rectangular body, massive head, and wrinkled
face. The facial wrinkles continue under
the chin and down the neck to form a prominent
dewlap. The skull is broad and flat on
top, and the nose is large. The teeth
meet in a scissors or level bite. A tradition
was established when the dogs were used
in combat to crop the ears short and dock
the very thick tail by one third. Many
owners opt out of docking and cropping,
preferring the natural look, as it is
painful for the dog. The short, harsh
coat is dense and smooth. The most common
coat color is blue, though black is the
next most common color. Chocolate dogs
are rare. The Neo can be either solid
or brindle. The dark colors and brindles
help the Neo blend into the night shadows
as he waits for the unsuspecting prowler.
A little white is permitted on the chest
and toes. No white should be on the face.
Puppies begin life with blue eyes, which
later darken. Adult Neo eyes vary with
the color of their coat. Dewclaws should
be removed. The Neapolitan Mastiff has
a loose, rolling, cat-like gait.
Temperament
Despite
the beastly and even vicious appearance,
the Neapolitan Mastiff is a peaceful and
steady dog. It was developed to look and
act fearsome when needed, but is affectionate
with his family and the family's friends.
Highly protective and fearless. It is
extremely intelligent and somewhat willful.
It does not require repetitious training.
Neo's are very attuned to his master's
wishes. This breed rarely gives trouble
by excessive barking. They are serious,
calm and quiet unless provoked. The breed
is very wary of strangers. Males can be
much more aggressive and dominant than
females. The Female makes a better family
pet, as she is more submissive to her
master and better with children. These
dogs are, however, usually very loving
with children, provided they do not tease
them. Males do not get along with other
males, but the Neo can get along well
with non-canine pets if raised with them
from puppyhood. The Neapolitan Mastiff
is not a breed for everyone. They must
have a dominant owner capable of controlling
him properly. Owner dominance should be
firmly established while the dog is young.
Children should be taught to respect these
dogs. Neapolitan Mastiffs should be well
socialized at an early age to avoid over-protectiveness.
They will be quite protective even with
extensive socialization. Additional protection
training is unnecessary because they are
naturally guard dogs. Thorough obedience
training is highly recommended. Be sure
you are consistent in approach and do
not keep repeating commands it has failed
to obey. These are not dogs for beginners
but it is an exaggeration to describe
them as difficult in their association
with others. A calm handler with natural
leadership will achieve the best results.
With thorough training and an experienced,
dominant owner, the Neapolitan Mastiff
can be a good family dog. The Neo is generally
very tolerant of pain due to the breed's
early fighting background. Males often
drool quite heavily. They tend to drool
more in hot weather or after drinking
water. Adult Neo's eat about 8-10 cups
of dog food a day. If you are planing
on showing your dog, be sure to select
a puppy that has a good temperament so
he can accept handling by strangers.
Height,
Weight
Height:
Dogs 26-30 inches (65-75 cm.) Bitches
24-28 inches (60-70 cm.)
Weight: Up to 165 pounds (74 kg.)
The largest male Neapolitans may be nearly
200 pounds (90 kg.)
Health
Problems
Prone
to hip dysplasia, pano-ostiosis (growing
pains), a condition which may occur when
the dog is 4-18 months old and generally
disappears on its own. Also prone to "cherry
eye." The eye tissue protrudes more than
normal and becomes red and inflamed. This
condition is completely cured with minor
surgery.
Living
Conditions
The
Neo will do okay in an apartment if it
is sufficiently exercised. They are relatively
inactive indoors and a small yard will
do. A solid doghouse with lots of bedding
is usually enough to ensure winter comfort.
Neos need a dry place to sleep, which
must be soft to prevent pressure markings.
In warm weather this breed needs plenty
of shade and fresh water.
Exercise
Do
not let the young, Neapolitan Mastiff
run and play too much. Although
it does need to be taken on a daily walk,
limit its exercise, because it must on
no account be over-tired. Avoid rough
games in the growing stage and ensure
that all its energy is available to make
healthy bones and muscles. Adult Neapolitan
Mastiffs need a great deal of exercise.
He should be taken on daily, long walks twice daily.
Life
Expectancy
Short,
up to 10 years.
Grooming
These
giant, short-haired dogs are easy to groom.
Remove loose, dead hair with a rubber
brush. This breed is an average shedder.
Origin
All
European mastiffs are descended from the
Tibetan Mastiff, the most ancient member
of the canine species. The first Asian
mastiffs were probably brought to Greece
from India by Alexander the Great around
300 B.C. The Greeks introduced the dogs
to the Romans, who adopted them enthusiastically
and used them in circus combats. The word
"Mastiff" derives from the Latin word:
masssivus, meaning massive. English experts,
however, have another theory. They
contend that the mastiff was brought to
Britain by the Phoenicians in about 500
B.C. and spread from there to the rest
of Europe. In any case the Neapolitan
Mastiff is a direct descendant of the
Roman Molossus. While the breed became
extinct throughout the rest of Europe,
it continued to survive in Campania despite
the perils of weather and war. One can
therefore say that the Neapolitan Mastiff
has existed in Campania for two thousand
years, even though it was not officially
recognized until 1946, and its standard
was not set until 1949. The Neapolitan
Mastiff was bred for use in war and in
bloody Roman arena spectacles. Today this
powerful breed has a well-deserved reputation
as a formidable guard dog. Neos have been
used by the Italian police and army and
by that country's farmers, business establishment,
and estate owners to protect people and
property. Though the Neapolitan Mastiff
was first shown in Italy in 1946, the
breed is still quite rare in the United
States.
