The Neapolitan Mastiff is a giant dog, which is characterized by having very loose skin, as if it had a suit one or two sizes more than the correct one. It has a reputation for being a terrible bodyguard. It is not an unfounded affirmation, as it was used in the past to fight gladiators and beasts or to accompany the bandits of southern Italy. But despite this warlike past is not an aggressive dog, the reason that this dog responds to the orders of man is the need to move.
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History:
The mastiffs are a type of dog that has existed for thousands of years; the first mastiffs known were developed in Tibet approximately 5000 years ago, these immense dogs were used as guard dogs and to assist in the battles. The Neapolitan mastiff of Europe descends from the Tibetan mastiff, the oldest exponent of the canine species. Probably the first Asian mastiffs were brought from India to Greece by Alexander the Great, around the year 300 B.C. The Greeks got it to know the Romans, who got excited and used them in the circus battles.
The Neapolitan Mastiff is in any case descendant of the old Roman Molosser, its cradle is in the south of the Salento peninsula. The breeds started becoming extinct all over Europe. In Campania the breeding continued, in spite of the threats of the time and the war. It can be assured that the Neapolitan Mastiff lived in Campania for at least two thousand years, although its second official appearance in the Cinephilia dates from 1946 and its standard of 1949. Towards the decade of the 70s the breed had already gained some fame in the European continent and in the year 1973 the first copy arrived to the United States and from there began the migration of the species towards the rest of the American continent.
Characteristics::
Heght bitch: 58~70 cm / Height male: 63~77 cm
Weight bitch: 50~60 kg / Weight male: 60~70 kg
The Neapolitan Mastiff is a heavy, muscular and solid dog. It’s got eyes with a deep expression. The ears are small, triangular and hang against the cheeks, although in some countries they are usually cropped. The tail is thick at the root, although it is normal to be docked by one-third of its length.
It has a slow and heavy way of walking, often compared to a bear’s.
It is a very physically balanced dog and its characteristics testify of the reasons that led the breeders to look for a dog with this image. The mastiffs were bred as guardian dogs and for that reason their physical appearance hides much more than just a shiny coat, they are defense weapons to protect it from possible attacks.
The Neapolitan Mastiff has a height of 50 to 70 centimeters to the withers, weighs from 50 to 70 kilograms or more, it has short hair, the skin is loose, the colors are gray lead, gray, black, fawn of various shades and striped, has massive head, and a broad and deep chest.
Temperament:
This breed is characterized by being a guardian dog, therefore, it tends to be in a state of alert but it does not make it aggressive, its position is rather of defense dog, even if they seem to be relaxed, these guardians will always be alert to anything that happens around. It is possible that if its family is not at home the mastiffs do not let anyone in the property.
The mastiffs are very affectionate with their family but it is also usually quite stubborn. As with any other dog, the Neapolitans need to have a good period of socialization where it is exposed to people, places and other animals while they are puppies, this will help our puppies to have better attitude. The relationship of mastiffs with other animals can be a little compromised because it is a very dominant breed, it is advisable not to mix them with other breeds or pets that have a dominant character. They tend to be very affectionate with children though because of their large size and stubborn temperament they should not be left alone with them.
Maintenance:
As it is a very heavy a dog, we must understand that the Mastiff’s exercise must be done under control. The excess of physical activity can cause damage on its back, especially when it is a puppy in stage of growth. When you take it out for a walk, do it always using a dog sitter and try not to go up and down stairs, especially if it is a puppy, because due to its size is usually quite uncomfortable and may hurt it. We must understand that this breed needs a lot of space to live. They are very large and territorial, so if you do not have a large and fenced garden we do not recommend these great nobles.
Regarding the care of his coat is quite simple, does not require hairdressing services but regular toilets and skin care because due to the wrinkles that are formed in it can produce dermatological problems. The Mastiffs release the same amount of hair as other races so it requires weekly brushing to get rid of the dead fur. The maintenance and cleanliness of the ears is also an important point because as they have trailing ears are more likely to develop infections.
Health:
The Neapolitan Mastiff, as all big-sized dogs, can be affected by hip or elbow dysplasia, gastric dilatation volvulus or arthritis. Due to its loose skin, the appearance of eyelid reversing problems, which should be controlled from puppy to avoid blindness, is very common.
References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neapolitan_Mastiff
You can download the FCI (International Cinological Federation) standard at the following link: http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/264g02-en.pdf
on Neapolitan MastiffYo tengo un macho de 4 años y es lo mas tierno y obediente ,muy compañero y compartió desde cachorro...
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Cecilia –
Yo tengo un macho de 4 años y es lo mas tierno y obediente ,muy compañero y compartió desde cachorro hasta el año pasado con una rotwailler y se llevaban muy bien