Neapolitan Mastiff - breed description and dog character

Neapolitan mastiffs are magnificent watchmen in those territories that are given to them for protection, and the defenders of people. Sometimes some people may incorrectly regard their appearance, which is very calm and even partly melancholy if the dog does not see danger around.

A mastiff looks like a big man who does not bother anything, but if you try to pose a threat to his master, whom the mastiffs are incredibly loyal to, the dog will immediately become an enraged beast that knows no mercy. As for the story, these dogs are very old and exciting. Mastiffs demonstrated their strength during gladiator fights, without being afraid of lions, bears and other larger animals.

Breed appearance and character

Neapolitan mastiff is a large breed of dogs that can reach a height of 75 cm, this is especially true for males. With regard to weight, the dog can reach 70 kg, and bitches - up to 60 kg. Dogs of this breed have abundantly dangling skin over the entire body area, there are many folds on the muzzle, and a massive suspension is visible in the abdomen and neck. All this visually increases the appearance of mastino and adds aggressiveness to it.

The back of the dogs is muscular, and the total body length is usually 10-15 percent longer than the height at the withers. The head is massive and short, and the neck is muscular and strong. The muscles are generally well developed, the legs are powerful and look proportionate. The tail of dogs of this breed is saber, usually not docked. The mastiff's hair is short, the hairs are absent, and usually the males have a more rigid coat. Shades of wool of the Neapolitan Mastiff can be different - from black and brindle, to blue and dark gray. Sometimes there may be white marks on the limbs.

In the list of the most striking character traits, the following can be distinguished:

1. Friendliness.
2. Fidelity - the dog is attached to the family in which he lives.
3. Calm character, lack of aggression - the dog of this breed is very reasonable.
4. The desire to protect the owners and at home - the dog will always protect the owner and will not allow anyone to offend him.
5. Laziness and sluggishness - the dog sometimes rests for an excessively long time, and it is difficult to force it to exercise.
6. The need for socialization.
7. Some sloppy and awkward.

The history of the breed

An interesting fact is that, despite all the disposition and excessive love for the owner, the mastiff has a somewhat selfish character, often feeling jealousy. For this reason, it is not recommended to have such a dog in a family where there are babies or many other pets.Such dogs try to give themselves completely to their master and his calmness, so they want to get the corresponding return in their favor. It rarely happens that a mastiff will intentionally harm one of the household members, but at the same time, large dimensions, mistakes in education and a number of character traits can lead to harm to health. In addition, such dogs are unlikely to forgive serious betrayal to their master, so you should perfectly weigh the pros and cons before you get such a dog. A mastiff chooses a leader once and for all time.

Mastiff care and maintenance

Given the large size and massiveness of the mastiff, we can conclude that it is desirable to keep them in private houses located outside the city. But in fact, it often happens that dogs live in a city apartment. One way or another, the dog should have its own corner in which it will feel quite at ease.

1. The litter must be selected not very hard, but not too soft, otherwise the dog’s bones can be deformed, and too hard a bed will leave unpleasant marks and bald spots on a short wool coat.
2. The place of the mastiff should have bowls for food and water, a variety of toys (which should be larger than the jaws of the dog).
3. If the dog is kept in an apartment, you must walk it at least twice a day. At the same time, rarely does a mastiff like long and active walks, so the owner will not be exhausted after a calm and measured walk. In addition, the Neapolitan mastiff negatively refers to the summer heat, while adoring to doze off in the fresh air.
4. Most often, this breed does not turn into major problems and troubles for the owner due to the short coat. In order to increase the blood circulation of the dog, clean the coat and get rid of excess hair that has fallen, the dog will need to be combed out no more than a couple of times a week.
5. Such dogs have many skin folds on their bodies, so without hygiene and improper care, the dog may suffer from infection and irritation. This is important to consider. The areas near the eyes should be as clean as possible, it should be monitored so that pathological discharge does not occur. But too often it is not recommended to subject the dog to water procedures; it would be better to examine the folds on the body after eating and walking, wipe them, removing all particles of dirt, food and saliva. At the end of the walk, it is necessary to wash the paws of the mastiff, and bathing fully, using all means, is necessary about four times during the year.
6. At the place of the dog there should always be a container filled with clean water, and it is recommended to substitute the dog for 20-30 minutes with the dog, and then clean and wash.

Increased salivation is characteristic of dogs of this breed, and you should not worry if the mastiff breathes heavily and snorts. However, this can be a small problem when you live mastino in a small city apartment.

Sometimes the owners of animals of this breed are mistaken, believing that the large dimensions of the dogs are invariably associated with exorbitant appetite. However, overfeeding mastiff is strictly prohibited, otherwise it may turn into obesity.

The process of education and training

A person who is engaged in the full training of a mastiff must have unconditional dominance over this dog. The character of the mastiff is not without pressure and perseverance, while the dog has an excellent memory. It is for this reason that it is strictly forbidden to scold and condemn the dog for any mistakes that it makes when executing commands. It should be remembered that in the blood of the Neapolitan mastiff there is already a desire to protect the owner and protect his home, therefore, with the right and not overly strict approach, Neapolitan mastino will surely get the necessary skills and will obey the commands.

In everyday activities with the dog, the mastiff can become an obedient dog who perfectly understands that she needs to do everything that the owner orders her. At the same time, it is important to repeat again that a person whom a mastiff can trust should be engaged in training. Among the character traits that can partly complicate the learning process of a mastiff, is leisurely, and a mastiff is often tired if you have to memorize teams for a long time. It should be understood that constant fatigue will lead to the fact that the dog will form a certain dislike for the execution of all commands in the future.

A number of Neapolitan mastiff owners, unfortunately, believe that it is quite normal to walk your pet without putting on a leash or even a muzzle. Sometimes they purposely teach a mastiff to attack small animals and even people as a puppy. Such improper behavior is truly criminal, and most often will result in sad consequences. Mastiff, being improperly trained, and from that not particularly controlled, despite the natural calm, can become a large and dangerous monster.

Neapolitan Mastiff Health

Most often, mastiff can suffer from the following diseases:

1. Hip dysplasia, which can then turn into osteoarthrosis.
2. Myopathy of the heart muscle (as is known, it is caused by congenital heart defects, but sometimes it is the result of a number of infectious and bacterial diseases, often it affects already old dogs).
3. Infections of the skin (caused by ticks, injuries, fleas or staphylococcus).

As you can see, all these diseases are fully correlated with the large size of the dog, a considerable number of folds on the skin and a lot of weight. Even in puppyhood, it is necessary to demonstrate a small mastiff to a veterinarian for examination. It will be important to timely carry out all preventive actions aimed at getting rid of parasites, as well as vaccination, the schedule of which will be provided by a specialist. It is necessary to carefully engage in proper feeding of the pet and monitor the condition of its skin, coat and eyes. If a warm and respectful attitude is combined with Neapolitan mastiff, combined with proper care, then the pet will live about 11-13 years.

Breed cost and reviews

Buying Neapolitan mastino is quite simple, dogs are in demand and popular in Russia since the middle of the last century. The main peak of interest in mastiffs occurred at the beginning of the twenty-first century, and at present, these dogs can not be found everywhere, but the breed is still relevant.

The cost of a Neapolitan mastiff in Russia can vary in an unusual way from 20 thousand rubles to 60 or more. Of course, a puppy born into the world, having an amazing pedigree and titled parents, will be very expensive. But even in the list of dogs of this breed that do not have an amazing heritage, puppies are often found that are apparently not inferior to more thoroughbred ones.

As for the reviews of Neapolitan mastiffs, it is incredibly difficult to find a negative response. And this is surprising, since dogs of this breed have a heavy character and a peculiar appearance that requires considerable care. Despite all this, everywhere you can find only positive reviews about animals, not only in individual groups on social networks, but also on special online forums where dog lovers communicate.

Interesting Facts

1. The real miracle is the very history of the emergence of such extraordinary dogs, which is shrouded in centuries-old puzzles. Often drawings depicting a mastiff can be found on ancient bas-reliefs or in books that managed to survive under the influence of time. Surely, any owner of a Neapolitan mastiff can easily tell more than one entertaining story about his pet.Each owner of a dog of this breed speaks warmly of them, calling him a large faithful companion who will easily protect even a baby.
2. In 2004 there was an out of the ordinary event - Hercules, a Neapolitan mastiff, was included in the Guinness Book of Records. He had an unusually large weight (128 kilograms). In those days, he was the largest dog in the world in general, among all existing breeds. During the daily meal, the dog ate more than one and a half kilograms of dry food, and in addition to this one kilogram of meat. This is unbelievable, given that Hercules was twice the weight of the average mastiff.

Video: Neapolitan mastiff dog breed