The Neapolitan Mastiff or Neapolitan Mastiff is a large, robust and muscular dog, which is recognizable by its many skin folds. In the past, these dogs were used for wars and as guard dogs for their great loy alty, strong temperament and physical strength. But these days, they're great pets, especially for people who have lots of space in their homes and plenty of time to spend with their dog.
In addition, the Neapolitan Mastiff must be socialized from an early age and it will be necessary to educate it by means of positive reinforcement, given its size it is rather advisable that they be adopted by people experienced in training canine.If you are thinking of adopting a pet and you are very interested in the Neapolitan Mastiff, take a look at this race sheet of the Neapolitan Mastiff and find out about its history, physical characteristics and the care it requires etc.
Origin
- Europe
- Italy
FCI Nomenclature
- Group II
Physical Characteristics
- Rustic
- Muscular
Size
- Large
Height
- 70-80
Adult Weight
- 45-100
Life expectancy
- 8-10
Recommended physical activity
- High
Character
- Society
- Very loyal
- Dominant
Ideal for
- Apartment
- Walking
- The guard
Recommendations
- Harness
Recommended climate
- Temperate
Hair type
- Short
- Hard
- Big
Origin of the Neapolitan Mastiff
When the Romans invaded the British Isles, they took with them their enormous hounds which they used as war dogs which did not hesitate for a second to attack the enemies.However, when they arrived, the Romans came up against even more ferocious dogs, who defended the British Isles with their mouths and fangs. The Romans were so impressed by these ancestors of the English Mastiff that they crossed them with their mastiffs and this is how the ancestors of the Neapolitan Mastiff that we know were born. These dogs were fierce, bloodthirsty and made for war.
Over time, these Mastiffs were relegated almost exclusively to the Naples area and were used primarily as guard dogs. In 1946 a dog show was held in Naples and a cynologist named Piere Scanziani recognized in this city the Neapolitan Mastiff, which despite its large size had gone unnoticed until that time. Then, with the help of other fans, he dedicated himself to increasing the population of this magnificent dog breed.
Today, the Neapolitan Mastiff is a well-known dog all over the world and has lost much of the aggressive and violent temperament of its ancestors.
Physical characteristics of the Neapolitan Mastiff
This heavy, strong, stocky dog has a curious appearance due to its loose, profuse skin and double chin. Its head is short and has many wrinkles and creases. The skull is wide and flat, while the naso-frontal depression (stop) is well marked. The color of the nose corresponds to the coat: black in black specimens, brown in brown dogs and dark brown in dogs of another color. His eyes are round, set well apart from each other and slightly sunken. Its ears are triangular, small and of high insertion. They used to be cut, but fortunately this practice has fallen into disuse and has even become illegal in many countries.
The body of the Neapolitan Mastiff is longer than it is tall, which gives it a rather rectangular profile. He is an incredibly robust and powerful dog. His chest is wide and open.Its tail is very thick at the base and gradually tapers towards its end. The cruel habit of amputating it by about two-thirds of its natural length still persists, but this custom is also falling into disuse and is being increasingly rejected.
The coat of the Neapolitan Mastiff is short, rough, hard and dense. It can be gray, lead gray, black, brown, brown and reddish in color. Each of these colors can also be brindle. Additionally, they may have small white spots on their chest and toe tips.
Character of the Neapolitan Mastiff
The Neapolitan Mastiff is a home dog with a firm, determined, independent, cautious and loyal temperament. He tends to be reserved and suspicious of strangers, but can become a very sociable dog if encouraged from a young age through good socialization. He is a quiet dog, who likes to live at home with his family and who likes all kinds of outdoor activities as he needs a good dose of daily physical activity.
The Neapolitan Mastiff does not usually bark for no reason and is not a very active dog for his size, but he can become destructive if he does not have the company and the affection he needs. Like all breeds, it is a very sociable dog that needs a family unit to be happy. He is excessively loyal to the person who takes care of him and loves him.
We must remember that, although the Neapolitan Mastiff is rather sociable and loyal to its family, it is unfortunately not always aware of its size, making games with children and strangers to be supervised as risky .
It is a dog that must be adopted by an experienced person who is aware of the type of behavior of the dog, its education, its training and the care it requires. This is not a breed recommended for those who know nothing about the care that dogs need.
Neapolitan Mastiff Care
Caring for the Neapolitan Mastiff's coat doesn't require much effort as you'll just have to brush it once in a while to remove dead hair. However, it is necessary to clean the skin folds frequently (especially those near the mouth as they may contain food debris) to prevent fungal growth and other skin problems. These dogs drool a lot, so they're not for people who are obsessed with housekeeping.
Although they are not among the most active dogs, Neapolitan Mastiffs need long daily walks and do not adapt very well to living in apartments. They need a medium to large space to be comfortable. If you want to adopt a Neapolitan Mastiff, you absolutely must have a garden. They do not tolerate high temperatures well, so they must have a place where they can find shade.With this dog you will have to be particularly attentive to heatstroke.
Education of the Neapolitan Mastiff
It is very important to socialize the Neapolitan mastiff from an early age with all kinds of people, animals and environments, in order to avoid having a fearful dog. It is fundamental to understand that socialization is the key to having a stable and he althy adult dog. On the other hand, we must also bear in mind that it is very important to avoid situations that the dog may associate as bad. A bad experience with a dog or a car, for example, could radically change his character.
Always use positive reinforcement and avoid punishment, choke collars and physical punishment. A dog like this should never be submissive or forced. Faced with any suspicion of the appearance of behavioral problems, contact a dog trainer or an ethologist and let yourself be guided by the experience of a professional.
To continue training your Neapolitan Mastiff, you will then have to start teaching him the basic orders, essential for a good relationship with you, his environment and others. It is strongly recommended that you spend between 5 and 10 minutes a day reviewing commands already learned and learning new ones. Encouraging intelligence games, new experiences and stimulating the physical and mental development of the dog will help us to make him happy and have a good attitude.
Neapolitan Mastiff He alth
This breed is prone to the following diseases:
- Hip Dysplasia
- Cardiomyopathies
- Demodicosis
- Heat stroke
- Elbow dysplasia
These dogs to breed usually need assistance due to their high weight.It is common for fertilization to take place by artificial insemination and for births to require a Caesarean section. To prevent and quickly detect any he alth problem, it will be optimal to visit the veterinarian every 6 months and carefully follow the vaccination schedule.
Photos of Neapolitan Mastiff or Neapolitan Mastiff
