NEAPOLITAN MASTIFF

Brief description of the Neapolitan Mastiff breed

Neapolitan mastiffs (otherwise - Mastino Neapolitano) - these are large dogs, the height of which at the withers can reach over 75 cm, especially in males. The Neapolitano Mastiff weighs up to 70 kg (sometimes more) in males and 60 kg in females. This breed is distinguished by an abundance of freely hanging skin all over the body, a large number of folds on the muzzle, a voluminous dewlap on the neck and abdomen. - all this makes the massive appearance of the mastino somewhat intimidating. The back of the animal is muscular (the length of the body exceeds the height at the withers by 10 %), long, the head - large, short, neck - short, strong. Forearms and shoulders with well-developed muscles, the dog's limbs are powerful, in proportion to its entire constitution. The tail of the Neapolitan mastiff has a saber shape (most often the tail is not docked). The coat of dogs of this breed is short (1-1.5 cm), without feathering, as a rule, in males it is more rigid than in females. Mastiff shades - dark gray, black, blue, fawn, brindle, sometimes there are white markings on the chest, paws.

It is not known for certain which blood of ancestors gave rise to such a breed as Neapolitano mastino. Which is not surprising, since the mention of dogs that are outwardly similar to the Neapolitan mastiffs appeared in the days of the Roman Empire (according to some sources, even earlier). Presumably, the Neapolitano mastino's direct relatives are tibetan mastiffs, which in times BC were sung by philosophers and travelers. Looking at the Tibetan mastiffs, you notice their true similarity with the Neapolitan ones (with the exception of the thick long hair of the Tibetan mastiffs).

Despite their ancient origin, Neapolitan Mastiffs were officially recognized relatively recently - in 1949. The founder and main creator of the breed is considered to be the Italian Pietro Scanziani, who devoted many years of hard work to breeding the famous mastiffs. It was not until the 1970s that Neapolitan Mastiffs began to spread massively in Europe, and before that their main place of residence was Italy. It is noteworthy that the appearance of the Neapolitan mastiffs acquired significant changes over time, but these animals remained large, strong and fearless fighters for many centuries.

Neapolitan mastiffs - dogs are intelligent, phlegmatic, balanced, often not showing their feelings for show. Nevertheless, many experienced owners note their unprecedented devotion and affection for the owner, for the sake of saving the life and health of their human friend, they are ready to fight with anyone. The Neapolitan Mastiff is not a “barking” breed, even in a dangerous situation, the Neapolitan Mastiff prefers to act rather than speak out. Often, experienced owners admit that before a guest at home is “allowed to enter”, the mastino Neapolitano will carefully examine the person and thoroughly sniff him, and only then, if the dog likes the stranger, then he can enter the holy of holies - master's house.

It is noteworthy that for all their disposition towards the owner, these dogs are a little selfish and jealous, which is why it is undesirable to acquire a Neapolitan mastino for a family with small children or a large number of pets. The Mastiff gives all of himself to his owner and his safety, therefore he wants the same dedication in return. Mastiffs rarely harm their family members, but their considerable size, improper upbringing, some character traits (such as jealousy) can be detrimental to health. In addition, these dogs never forgive a person for betrayal, so you should think carefully before acquiring such a hero, because they choose the owner and leader once and for all.

The large dimensions of the Neapolitano Mastiff suggest keeping in country or private houses, but often these dogs also live in apartments. In any case, the dog should have its own place, quite free. It is desirable that the bedding be of medium hardness - too soft will allow the bones to deform, and hard and hard will leave ugly bald patches on the short and already short coat. It is required to equip the dog's place with bowls for water and food, toys (their size must correspond to the large mastiff's mouth in order to avoid swallowing). If the dog lives in an apartment, then walking is necessary, at least 2 times a day. At the same time, mastiffs, as a rule, are not fans of excessive physical activity, so calm walks in the fresh air will benefit the dog, and the owner will not be exhausted. By the way, mastiffs do not like excessive summer heat, and they adore sleeping in the fresh air.

By and large, Neapolitan mastiffs do not bring much trouble to their owners, due to their short hair. To improve blood circulation, cleanse the coat and remove dead hairs, it is recommended to comb the Neapolitano Mastiff at least 1-2 times a week (more often during molting). Since dogs of this breed have a large number of skin folds, improper care and lack of hygiene can lead to irritation and infection. The area around the dog's eyes should be clean, without pathological discharge (already lowered eyelids can become seriously inflamed). But you should not wash the dog often, it is recommended to regularly look through the folds (after eating, walking), wipe them, cleaning them from dirt, saliva, food debris. After a walk, it is advisable to wash the dog's paws, and bathe fully with water and shampoo no more than 3-4 times a year (or in cases where the animal is excessively dirty).

The characteristic physiological features of these dogs are increased salivation, heavy breathing and snorting, which can sometimes be a difficult factor for these giants to live in a small city apartment. Sometimes owners of Neapolitan Mastiffs make the mistake of believing that the large size of these animals implies an excessive appetite. Overfeeding often leads already massive mastiffs to obesity. Only a bowl of clean water should be left to the dog at all times, while the bowl of food should be set up for the dog and removed after 15-20 minutes (and then washed).

The person training the Neapolitan Mastiff should be dominant over the dog. Mastiffs are characterized by traits of obstinacy and assertiveness, as well as an excellent memory. That's why you should never punish your dog by force for faults while executing commands. It is worth remembering that the desire to protect the owner and housing flows in the blood of such dogs, therefore, with the right and not too assertive approach, mastiffs will acquire the necessary skills and master commands. Daily classes with someone who trusts the Neapolitan mastiff will help him become obedient, clearly understanding that he must do exactly what the owner tells her. Slowness can be singled out as features that make learning a mastiff somewhat difficult; these dogs often get bored with long lessons. It should be remembered that overwork can resonate in the dog's soul with aversion to the execution of commands in the future.

Some owners of such dogs, unfortunately, consider walking without a muzzle and a leash to be the norm, they specially teach the animal to rush to cats (and even people). This is not negligent, but even criminal behavior of the owners, as a rule, goes sideways. An unruly and improperly trained mastiff, despite all his calmness, will turn into a dangerous big monster.