Dog
Neapolitan Mastiff Champions
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Pronunciation:
nee-uh-pol-i-tn mas-tif
Breed Description:
The Neapolitan Mastiff breed of dog is a giant dog that should be massive in proportions. In fact, no appearance of thinness or weakness is allowed in the breed standard and the dog should have an overall appearance of a bestial dog. The head should be large and the shoulders should be in proportion to the hips, but the dog should have a top heavy appearance. The dog should have large folds around and on the head and there should be dewlaps on the neck. The dog should be slightly longer than it is tall and the breed should have a stocky look. The gait of the Neapolitan Mastiff should be lumbering and there should not be anything elegant about the dog.
The coat of the Neapolitan Mastiff is straight and short and it should never measure longer than one inch. There should be no feathering or fringing of the hair and it should cover the dog fully. The color of the Neapolitan Mastiff can be mahogany, black, gray, tawny or brindle.
Temperament:
The Neapolitan Mastiff breed of dog is an affectionate and loyal dog that can be a wonderful addition to any family. They are usually very good with children, patient and gentle, but their large size may make them inappropriate for younger children. They tend to be very protective of their family and can become aggressive to both people and other dogs. Socialization is a must with this breed and it should continue throughout life. In addition, training is also important and a Neapolitan Mastiff needs an owner who can give firm rules. They are not recommended for new or timid owners since they can be very dominant and will quickly take over the house if they are allowed to. In general though, the Neapolitan Mastiff, with proper training, can be an affectionate and dedicated couch potato.
Height:
The average height for a Neapolitan Mastiff is 26 to 31 inches for a male and 24 to 29 inches for a female.
Weight:
The average weight for a Neapolitan Mastiff is 150 to 200 pounds for a male and 120 to 175 pounds for a female.
Health Problems:
The Neapolitan Mastiff breed of dog has a number of health problems but it is important to note that many Neapolitan Mastiff lines are free of these health problems. It is important to research the breeder thoroughly to ensure that your puppy comes from one of these lines. The health problems that are prevalent in the Neapolitan Mastiff are: Hip Dysplasia, allergies, osteochondrosis dissencan or OCD, cardiomyopathy, eye problems such as cherry eye, ectropion, and entropion; cleft palate, hypothyroidism, seborrhea, demodetic mange, fold dermatitis and gastric torsion, commonly known as bloat.
Living Conditions:
The Neapolitan Mastiff breed of dog is a very large breed and they do require a bit of room, however, if you aren't worried about a dog taking up your apartment and you exercise them enough, the Neapolitan Mastiff can do well in apartments. The ideal home is one with a small fenced yard at the least. It is important to note that the Neapolitan Mastiff is not recommended for new or timid owners. This is a big dog with a strong temperament and they require an owner that can give firm and consistent rules and training.
Exercise:
The Neapolitan Mastiff breed of dog, despite being so large, is actually very easy to exercise. They tend to be very lazy and can do well with one or two long walks per day. However, this breed will gain weight very easily and can become obese so it is important to exercise them about 30 to 45 minutes per day.
Life Expectancy:
9 to 10 years
Grooming:
The Neapolitan breed of dog can be an easy breed to groom if you are looking at just brushing. Generally, the breed only needs to be brushed once per week to remove dead hairs but the wrinkles and skin flaps will require daily grooming. In fact, you should expect a large amount of work and you should wash the folds with soap and water on a regular basis. In addition, the wrinkles should be dried thoroughly and baby powder should be applied to them. If the skin becomes inflamed or dry, it is recommended that you apply diaper rash cream and you should remove any foreign objects from the folds to prevent infections.
Bathing should be done once or twice a month to keep the skin clean and the nails should be kept trimmed. Lastly, care should be given to the eyes and it is important to check them for infection or any debris. Eye drops may be needed but it should be at the recommendation of your veterinarian.
Origin:
The Neapolitan Mastiff is an old breed and is believed to be developed from the Molossus breed of Mastiff that was used nearly 5000 years ago. The breed was developed in Neapolitan in Southern Italy from the Molossus, which were adopted by the Romans when they conquered Greece. The Neopolitan Mastiff was developed to be guard dogs and family companions.
Despite this long history, the Neapolitan Mastiff was not an accepted breed until 1946, when the first Neapolitan Mastiff was shown in a dog exhibition in Naples. The breed standard was written in 1948 and the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FC) recognized the breed in 1949. By 1973, the breed was imported into the United States by Ms. Jane Pampalone, but it is believed that the breed was already present in the US, and may have arrived as early as 1880's, although in an unofficial capacity.
The breed has continued to gain popularity in the United States and the rest of the world and it is a truly a marvel of genetics since the breed is developed with an accumulation of recessive genes. The breed was officially recognized by the AKC in 2004. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
