 |
Neapolitan Mastiff Dog BreedNicknames: Italian mastiff, Mastino, Mastini, Neo’s |
|
||
| Right Breed For You? | The Neapolitan Mastiff does need a minimal amount of exercise. A small fenced yard is sufficient. They are relatively inactive indoors and therefore a small living space is fine. However, they are large animals and the comfort of both the dog and the family should be taken into consideration. If there is no yard for the animal, they should be exercised daily. Another thing to consider with the Neapolitan Mastiff is that they do slobber excessively after eating and drinking and also just throughout the day. Like other Mastiff’s they will shake their heads and the slobber will go flying. This can make for an untidy living space where furniture, walls, and clothing are constantly being covered in drool.This dog can live outdoors in temperate climate, but does prefer to be indoors with the family. They do not do well in warm, hot, or humid climates. They prefer cooler weather. This makes them excellent dogs for locations that temperatures do not fluctuate much and remain moderately cool to warm. | Discount Pet Supply Recommendations |
| Shedding: |
Medium to Heavy Shed | |
| Height: | 26 to 31 inches | |
| Weight: | 110-150 pounds | |
| Life Span: | 7 and 11 years | |
| Litter Size: | 6 and 12 puppies | |
| Hair Length: | Short | |
| Group: | Working | |
| Color: | Solid coats of gray (blue), black, mahogany and tawny, and the lighter and darker shades of these colors. Some brindling allowable in all colors. | |
| Recognized By: | CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI |
An ancient breed, rediscovered in Italy in the 1940′s, the Neapolitan Mastiff is a heavy-boned, massive, awe inspiring dog bred for use as a guard and defender of owner and property. He is characterized by loose skin, over his entire body, abundant, hanging wrinkles and folds on the head and a voluminous dewlap. The essence of the Neapolitan is his bestial appearance, astounding head and imposing size and attitude. Due to his massive structure, his characteristic movement is rolling and lumbering, not elegant or showy.
The eyes are set wide apart and are of medium size. They are never to be too prominent. The ears are small, rounded, and v-shaped at the tip. The ears are proportionally small for the head. They should be set widely apart on the highest part of the head. The skull is to be broad and somewhat flattened between the ears. The forehead is slightly curved which shows off the marked wrinkles. These wrinkles become very distinct when the Neapolitan Mastiff is at attention. The muscles of the temples are well developed and the muscles of the cheeks are extremely powerful.
The muzzle should be half the length of the skull dividing the head in to three parts. There is one for the foreface and two for the skull. The nose is broad and is always dark in color. The nostrils should be spread flat and never be turned up or pointed. The lips should diverge at obtuse angles.
The gait of the Neapolitan Mastiff is one that demonstrates extreme power and strength. The forelegs should have smooth reach while the hind legs should have drive. The legs are to move straight forward. To maintain balance as the dog increases speed from a walk to a trot, the legs will converge in towards a centre line. This allows for the maintenance of proper balance.
Solid coats of gray (blue), black, mahogany and tawny, and the lighter and darker shades of these colors. Some brindling allowable in all colors. When present, brindling must be tan (reverse brindle). There may be solid white markings on the chest, throat area from chin to chest, underside of the body, penis sheath, backs of the pasterns, and on the toes. There may be white hairs at the back of the wrists. Disqualifications: White markings on any part of the body not mentioned as allowed.
The Neapolitan Mastiff is one of the Molosser type of dogs, which probably descend from a common stock; whether this was the Molossus attested in antiquity is controversial.Despite centuries of popularity throughout Europe, this type of dog was almost lost after World War II. Soon after the war, Italian painter Piero Scanziani established a breeding kennel to turn the Neapolitan Mastiff-type dogs of Italy into a formal breed which was then named the Neapolitan Mastiff and English Mastiff was used to help in this process
The Neapolitan Mastiff breed standards have changed from the original, as breeders have cross bred it with the Cane Corso. This resulted in a slightly smaller breed with less flabby cheeks and slightly more athletic build that resembles the French Mastiff. Some breeders have criticized these mixed breedings by calling them mutts, while other breeders have defended the changes to the breed saying that adding the Cane Corso has made it a healthier breed.
The Neapolitan Mastiff is fearless and extremely protective of its home and family. They prefer to be with their family and to remain in and around the home at all times. The Neapolitan Mastiff rarely barks unless under provocation, renowned for sneaking up on intruders as opposed to first alerting them of their presence.
Neos, as a breed, are extremely intelligent dogs with a tendency to be independent thinkers. They learn quickly, which is both good and bad, since this guardian breed needs extensive proper socialization to learn to accept strangers, especially within the home; without proper early socialization and training, these dogs are likely to become aggressive towards strangers and unfamiliar dogs. Like with other breeds, forceful training methods, “alpha rolls”, and a general “dominance” mentality will not work with these dogs, especially since it is difficult to try to physically dominate a dog that is so large as an adult; if you want a well mannered dog, prevent problems before they happen by using positive training methods, beginning socializing early, and continuing socializing throughout life.
The Neapolitan Mastiff is not a breed for most people, and certainly not a dog for beginners. As a general rule, Neapolitan Mastiffs are not appropriate for homes with small children, as Neos are large, powerful dogs and don’t always know their own strength. Additionally, young children have young friends, and even with extensive socialization and training, Neapolitans will be wary of strangers and protective of their family, which can be disastrous for small children.
Additional protection training is unnecessary because they are natural guard dogs and always have been. As with every breed, obedience training is very important. The Mastino is very tolerant of pain due to the breed’s early fighting background and the fact the skin is loose on the body, so it is important to routinely check for health problems, as a Neo may not behave differently when injured or ill. They also are renowned for drooling especially after drinking or if they get excited.
The Neo is generally hardy, but like all breeds, has some specific health concerns. The most common is Cherry eye. Others include:
- Hip dysplasia
- Ectropion
- Entropion
- Elbow dysplasia
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Hypothyroidism
- Cardiomyopathy
- Bloat
- Skin infections between skin folds
- Anesthetic Sensitivity
Additionally, Neos do not do well in hot weather, and are prone to heatstroke. Like most giant breeds, the Neapolitan Mastiff is not particularly long-lived, averaging 7 to 9 years, however, with a proper biologically appropriate diet, safe exercise, and proper weight maintenance, there is no reason that the average Neo cannot live beyond that.
Grooming for the Neapolitan Mastiff is quite minimal, however can be somewhat difficult due to its large size. Frequent brushing and occasional wiping down with a towel is recommended. Daily grooming with a dog brush is necessary because the Neapolitan Mastiff is a very heavy shedder. Their hair is coarse and short and often will come off in your hands as you are petting the dog. The hair also sticks to carpet, upholstery, and clothing.
The dog should be bathed only when necessary. When bathing a specialty dog shampoo should be used. Human shampoo or liquid soap can cause skin irritation. It is also essential that the soap is rinsed thoroughly to reduce the chances of dryness and irritation. The Neapolitan Mastiff is a large dog and may be very difficult to bathe at home depending on how large the living space is. There are a couple of solutions for this. The dog can either be taken to a professional and they can be groomed and bathed there. The other option is that a waterless shampoo can be used to wash the dog and therefore you do not have to struggle with trying to get the dog into a small bath tub or shower.
It is also essential that the dog’s ears, eyes, and nails are also maintained. The ears should be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent ear mites and other infections. The eyes should be cleaned as well. The nails should be clipped when necessary using a dog nail clipper equipped with a safety guard. Be careful to not cut the quick as this can cause bleeding and is somewhat painful. To make grooming easier for this massive breed it is important to start getting them used to it as young puppies. Make the dog stand while you brush and clip the nails. It may be a challenge to begin with but the dog should adjust to the grooming becoming a natural thing. It is important not to use force with this dog, but be patient. It may take longer, but it is important that the dog does not view these things as scary. Do no rush, it is alright to let the dog take some time to get used to things.
The Neapolitan Mastiff is generally a lazy animal, but will be happier and healthier when exercised regularly. They should always be kept on a leash. They are not a very playful breed and this combined with the breed’s laziness can make it difficult to find activities for the owner and dog to do together. This is a great dog for a relatively inactive person as a walk through the park or neighborhood is considered sufficient exercise. They do not do well in the heat and so it is important that the dog is not over exercised when the weather is warmer.
Exercise for young puppies is important. It is hard to find the right balance though. It is essential that they are exercised to keep their weight down and develop a lean and health dog. However, if they are over exercised it can be very damaging to their soft growing joints, ligaments, and joints. As adults they require a little more exercise and the concern for the joints and ligaments will have been reduced or eliminated. Larger breeds are always more difficult to balance the proper amount of exercise.
One of the most important parts of training is constantly taking the time to reinforce that YOU are the pack leader. Training begins the moment you bring your Neapolitan Mastiff home. Do not give into your new friend. Remember that you love your Neapolitan Mastiff and want only what is best for him. You must socialize the Neapolitan Mastiff from an early age. Take your puppy to as many places as you can where there are people and other pets. This is referred to as ‘socializing’.
Also, placing your Neapolitan Mastiff puppy on a leash for the first time can be quite upsetting to him. This is due to the fact that the leash prevents the natural behavior of dogs, which is running. Dogs can demonstrate their lack of acceptance of humans by fighting the leash or running as far as the tether will allow in an attempt to escape human control. Waiting too long before starting socialization may prove to be harmful. Ideally, socialization should begin before 12 weeks of age.
How much socialization is necessary? During the socialization period, the puppy must experience different varieties of human beings and/or situations. Your Neapolitan Mastiff puppy needs to experience sharing his space with children and adults of various ages. He must become acclimated to seeing people who wear hats, sunglasses, umbrellas, scarves, ties, individuals of different races or even people who wear perfume. Each of these experiences will provide a new socialization opportunity for your puppy. This can be time-consuming, but in the end it is time well-spent. Your Neapolitan Mastiff puppy should get as much socialization as possible through contact with people. Just be careful not to overwhelm the puppy with too many puppy play dates.
Obedience classes are always a must for any breed of canine. Keep in mind when a canine is removed from the regular presence of humans and other dogs during the juvenile period, they can lose their socialization; so again, enroll your Neapolitan Mastiff puppy into obedience class as soon as appropriate.
