Neapolitan Mastiff

The Neapolitan Mastiff is an ancient Italian breed of dogs. These dogs are quite large in size. They are very protective dogs and are used as watch dog’s defenders for families. These dogs are very aggressive when they sense a threat and are feared by many. These dogs were even used as part of the Roman army to fight against the horses of the other armies. These dogs have very good instincts and can sense danger approaching. They have a threatening bark that is meant to ward of strangers and warn their families’ about incoming danger. These massive dogs can scare people off simply by their size.

The Neapolitan Mastiff is a very powerful and rather serious breed of dog. This dog is rather rectangular in appearance. They are huge dogs that are covered with wrinkled skin on their heads and have quite a heavy dewlap. Their heads are flat and wide and is comparatively larger than the rest of the Mastiff’s body. They have a wide and long muzzle as well with a well defined stop. The color of the nose usually coordinates with the color of the coat. Their noses have large nostrils. Their eyes are very deep set and are almost completely covered by their drooping and wrinkle eyebrows. The eyes are blue in puppies but eventually turn darker to match the color of the coat. The ears of this dog are either left natural or cropped.

The Neapolitan Mastiff has very large paws with muscular legs. Their feet are rather rounded with nicely arched toes. The short straight and dense coat of this dog comes in chocolate, grey, mahogany, black, blue, brindle and tawny. There should be no white markings anywhere on the face of the dog. The chocolate color is a very rare one to find. These dogs are not for just anyone to own. This breed of dog looks very daunting and ferocious but is actually very calm and affectionate. They are loving and peaceful dogs that thrive in an affectionate setting. These dogs are known for the excessive drooling, especially in the heat. These dogs love being part of a family and will show immense affection towards the people they know.

They are very eager to please their master and are not very noisy dogs. They bark only when they sense danger. These dogs need to be socialized early on as they may not react well to all strangers. They are very mild mannered pets. They love being around children and are surprisingly gentle with them. These dogs are anywhere between 60-75 cms tall. The males tend to be taller than the females. They weigh in at about 74-90 kgs. These dogs are prone to hip dysplasia and bloat among other minor ailments. The Neapolitan Mastiff will adapt to life in an apartment if they are given enough exercise. They will however prefer a large backyard to play in. These large dogs do not live very long; only for about 10 years.