Neapolitan Mastiff Dog Breed Guide

About the Neapolitan Mastiff

The Neapolitan Mastiff is a direct descendant of the ancient molosser war dog and can be traced back as far as 5000yrs.They fought along side the Romans in war and were left at home to protect family and property. They were used in the Roman arenas to be pitted against lions, bears, and gladiators for entertainment. When the Roman Empire broke up and countries formed the descendants of the Roman Molossian evolved into different mastiff breeds and took on new names and characteristics from the country it stayed in such as your English Mastiff, French Mastiff (Dogue de Bordeaux), Spanish Mastiff, the Swiss St. Bernard, the German Rottweiler. It is the Italian Molossian that remained the same since Roman times. It has survived in the Italian countryside practically unchanged in appearance and personality. In 1949 Piero Scanziani reintroduced this living relic with the help of Dr. Ruggero Soldati and a few others and it was named Mastino Napoletano in honor of those in Naples who were responsible for maintaining this ancient dog over the centuries.

      The standard many people today read has been written 50 years ago.The standard has been revised several times since then bringing us to the standard written in 1991. Height at the withers in males is 26-30 inches. In Females it is 24-27 inches. In show you are allowed a 2cm tolerance either way. Now the average weights in males today are 155lbs + and have been known to tip the scales at as much as 200 lbs. The females average weight today is 120 lbs.+ and have been known to tip the scales at 175 lbs, although the standard on weights is still written as it was 50 years ago. Today's Mastinos are much more massive than they were back then so the averages have become much greater.

         Neapolitans have very loose connective tissue on the body and forms wrinkles and folds on the head and a large dewlap under the neck. The coat is short, stiff, hard, and dense but smooth. No fringes. They should have long, copious lips and a wide flat skull. Muzzles should be wide and the length should be equal to 1/3 of the total length of the head. The length of the body is 10% greater than the height at the withers. Their bones are massive and their feet are tight and round and could span up to 6 inches across.1/3 of their tail is cropped and should not come over the back. Their ears are normally cropped close to the head although you have the choice to leave them natural. They have four colors which is blue, black, mahogany, and tawny. Brindling is allowed. They can have white on their chest and the tips of  their toes only. Nose and lip color matches the coat. Eye colors are different shades of green to grey or brown depending on the coat color. Absolutely no blue eyes are permitted. An important thing to remember is that they should be proportionate with their size (harmonious). It takes 3 yrs. for these dogs to mature. There is a huge difference between 2 and 3 yrs.

            Neapolitans are the only dog that walks like a cat and trots like a bear. They are completely devoted to their family and great with children when raised with them. The Neapolitan needs to be socialized. They will still do their job. You can't breed centuries of guarding out of them. As with all Neapolitans, they have a dominate nature and they need an owner that is firm. This breed is not for the novice dog owner. They are fiercely loyal and are content just to lay at your feet. Little exercise is needed; remember, these dogs aren't runners or joggers and they don't do well on long walks. A short walk a day is all that is needed to keep up their muscle tone. With that in mind they don't need acreage to live on. They are bred to stay put, as centenary guard dogs do. They were built that way. The Neapolitan Mastiff is an awesome breed and unlike any other breed of dog in character, looks and personality.