Origin

The Tibetan Mastiff is the ancestor of all mastiffs in Europe including the Neapolitan Mastiff. The word mastiff means massive. The Roman Molossus are said to be the ancestors of this breed. This breed is very rare in USA but this same breed has gained a lot of popularity in Italy. In 1946 this breed was first recognized.

General Description

The Neapolitan Mastiff has a large size and it has a stout, fatty and big body. If you ask me then this breed is not at all good to look at. It has a large bulky head and flat muzzle with a flat nose at the tip. By seeing their muzzle it seems that some one might have punched that. The skin of their face is very much wrinkled as if looks like an old man of 150 years. There are hundreds of wrinkles in their face. Neapolitan Mastiffs have big and wide jaws and small round ears which cannot even be seen properly. The mastiff has bulky limbs and legs and their paws are big. They have wide shoulders and wide chest and a flat back side. They have a short coat and mainly found in black, grey, tawny, brindle and other colours.

Character

The Neapolitan Mastiff is mainly used as guard dogs. They prove to be great companions and very gentle in nature. They love human interaction very much and they are very calm and affectionate. Generally these dogs are very shy and cannot mix with strangers so they should be trained properly from early ages. Their alertness makes them great guard dogs. They should be raised with other animals from young age otherwise things would go out of control when they grow up. Very powerful but agreeable at the same time. Neapolitan Mastiff is a very devoted breed and they are also protective of their families. They are generally even tempered and good to others unless they are threatened. They do not attack others but they may be dangerous for trespassers. This is a good breed but they should be trained properly from early age. Not at all recommended for inexperienced owners.

Temperament

The Neapolitan Mastiff is dominant at times and that’s why they need a dominant owner. It is a very good dog, they are sweet and loveable but they are not recommended for novice owners. They are so big in size that they are not at all at all recommended for houses with kids. This breed is a giant and they are also protective in nature. It is very confident and gentle. They would not harm the kids but they are not recommended for them due to their size. They cannot mix with strangers sometimes due to their shyness. The Neapolitan Mastiff is a great companion and family dog. They are very alert and prove to be great watch dogs. If early training is provided they are also good to other pets.

Training

The Neapolitan Mastiff is a very well tempered breed but firm training is required to train them properly. Early training classes are required.

Health

Like many other dogs they may be affected by hip dysplasia. They may also be affected by tumors, bloat, boils etc. Their average life span is 10 years and average litter rate is 8.