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The Neapolitan Mastiff is a large, ancient breed of dog that can be traced back to about 100 BC. This dog is a massive, awe-inspiring breed often used as a guard and defender of owner and property.
The Neapolitan Mastiff, Italian Mastiff, or Mastino is a large, ancient dog breed. This massive breed is often used as a guard and defender of family and property due to the protective instincts and their fearsome appearance. The breed is reported to have been used for fighting against Lions in the Colosseum and other ancient Roman arenas.
Appearance: Neapolitan Mastiffs are characterised by
loose skin over their entire bodies; abundant, hanging
wrinkles and folds on the head; and a voluminous dewlap. Coats
can be Gray (Blue), Black, tawny and mahogany, each color may
also come with reverse brindling . They can sometimes also
have white on the chest or feet. Ears usually are half pricked
and can be cropped. It has a large blocky head and a rolling
gait.
Size and Proportion: According to the AKC standards,
male Neapolitan Mastiffs should measure 26-31 in. at the
withers, weighing approximately 150 lbs, whilst females should
be 24-29 in. and weigh around 110 lbs. Body length should be
10-15% more than that of the height. As long as proportion is
maintained, larger weights are preferred, and smaller dogs may
be heavily penalized, even disqualified.
Temperament: The Neapolitan Mastiff is a fearless
protector when it needs to be but is affectionate with its
family and the family's friends; as a guarding breed it is
quite wary around strangers but relaxes once it gets to know
the person. It does not bark excessively and indeed only barks
when something provokes it. As a breed the Neapolitan Mastiff
can be stubborn, but it does not require repetitious
training--once it understands what its master wants, it obeys.
It has a dominant attitude and must be taught from
puppyhood that its master is the boss, not the other way
around. Males can be much more aggressive and dominant than
females. A female works best in a home with a family, as she
is a bit more docile and better with children. These dogs are,
however, usually very loving with children, provided the
children do not tease them. Males do not get along with other
males, but the Neopolitan can get along well with noncanine
pets if raised with them from puppyhood.
The Neapolitan Mastiff is not a breed for everyone and not
a dog for beginners. Children should be taught to respect
these dogs. Neapolitan Mastiffs should be well socialised at
an early age to avoid over-protectiveness. They will be quite
protective even with extensive socialisation. Additional
protection training is unnecessary because they are natural
guard dogs and have been for ages. Obedience training is very
important in this breed. The Mastino 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.
History: The Neapolitan Mastiff is a descendant of
the Molossus, the mammoth war dogs of the Middle East, and was
frequently used in the Roman arenas pitted against lions,
bears, and gladiators for entertainment. As dogs of war, they
fought alongside the Roman legions, and in this way they were
spread throughout Europe. Eventually the descendants of the
Roman Molossian splintered into several different Mastiff
breeds known across Europe.
The ancestral form of the Mastino was a favourite breed of
Alexander the Great, who was given a pair by the defeated
Asian king, King Porus, in northern India in the year 326BC.
In the 1940s, this breed was rediscovered near Naples in
Italy, and is now beginning to make a comeback. A Neapolitan
Mastiff was featured in the Harry Potter movies as Hagrid's
dog Fang.
Health: Like most giant breeds of dogs, the
Neopolitan Mastiff is not particularly long-lived, averaging 9
to 11 years. 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 called Demodex
Anesthetic Sensitivity
Additionally, Neos do not do well in hot weather, and are prone to heatstroke. Like most giant breeds of dogs, the Neapolitan Mastiff is not particularly long-lived, averaging 7 to 9 years. But some very healthy neos have lived up to 11-12 years.
Famous Mastiffs:
Alan from the film Babe: Pig in the City.
Fang from the Harry Potter films (in the books, Fang is a Boarhound, an old, outdated term for a Great Dane).
Pansy from the Burke series of novels by Andrew Vachss.
Sweetie from Robert K. Tanenbaum's Butch Karp novels.
A Neapolitan was recently featured in the movie American Gangster as a domestic pet belonging to an Italian Mafia Boss.
Spencer Chamberlain, lead vocalist of Underoath, owns a purebred Neapolitan Mastiff named Leroy.
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