General Appearance

An ancient breed, rediscovered in Italy in the 1940's, the Neapolitan Mastiff is a heavy-boned, massive, awe inspiring dog bred for use as a guard and defender of owner and property. He is characterized by loose skin, over his entire body, abundant, hanging wrinkles and folds on the head and a voluminous dewlap. The essence of the Neapolitan is his bestial appearance, astounding head and imposing size and attitude. Due to his massive structure, his characteristic movement is rolling and lumbering, not elegant or showy.

Size, Proportion, Substance

A stocky, heavy boned dog, massive in substance, rectangular in proportion. Length of body is 10% - 15% greater than height.

Height:

Dogs: 26 to 31 inches, Bitches: 24 to 29 inches.

Weight:

Average weight of mature Dogs: 150 pounds; Bitches: 110 pounds; but greater weight is usual and preferable as long as correct proportion and function are maintained.

The absence of massiveness is to be so severely penalized as to eliminate from competition.

Head

Large in comparison to the body. Differentiated from that of other mastiff breeds by more extensive wrinkling and pendulous lips which blend into an ample dewlap. Toplines of cranium and the muzzle must be parallel. The face is made up of heavy wrinkles and folds. Required folds are those extending from the outside margin of the eyelids to the dewlap, and from under the lower lids to the outer edges of the lips.

• Severe Faults: Toplines of the cranium and muzzle not parallel.
• Disqualifications: Absence of wrinkles and folds.

Expression:

Wistful at rest, intimidating when alert. Penetrating stare.

Eyes:

Set deep and almost hidden beneath drooping upper lids. Lower lids droop to reveal haw.

Eye Color:

Shades of amber or brown, in accordance with coat color. Pigmentation of the eye rims same as coat color.

• Severe Faults: Whitish-blue eyes; incomplete pigmentation of the eye rims.

Ears:

Set well above the cheekbones. May be cropped or uncropped, but are usually cropped to an equilateral triangle for health reasons. If uncropped, they are medium sized, triangular in shape, held tight to the cheeks, and not extending beyond the lower margin of the throat.

Skull:

Wide flat between the ears, slightly arched at the frontal part, and covered with wrinkled skin. The width of the cranium between the cheekbones is approximately equal to its length from occiput stop. The brow is very developed. Frontal furrow is marked. Occiput is barely apparent.

Stop:

Very defined, forming a right angle at the junction of muzzle and frontal bones, and the sloping back at a greater angle where the frontal bones meet the frontal furrow of the forehead.

Nose:

Large with well-opened nostrils, and in color the same as the coat. The nose is an extension of the topline of the muzzle and should not protrude beyond nor recede behind the front plane of the muzzle.

• Severe Faults: Incomplete pigmentation of the nose.

Muzzle:

It is 1/3 the length of the whole head and is as broad as it is long. Viewed from the front, the muzzle is very deep with the outside borders parallel giving it a "squared" appearance. The top plane of the muzzle from stop to tip of nose is straight, but is ridged due to heavy folds of skin covering it.

• Severe Faults: Top plane of the muzzle curved upward or downward.

Lips:

Heavy, thick, and long, the upper lips join beneath the nostrils to form an inverted "V". The upper lips form the lower, outer borders of the muzzle, and the lowest part of these borders is made by the corners of the lips. The corners turn outward to reveal the flews, and are in line with the outside corners of the eyes.

Bite:

Scissors bite or pincer bite is standard; slight undershot is allowed. Dentition is complete.

• Faults: More than 1 missing premolar.
• Severe faults: Overshot jaw: pronounced undershot jaw which disrupts the outline of the front plane of the muzzle; more than 2 missing teeth.

Neck, Topline, And Body

Neck:

Slightly arched, rather short, stocky and well-muscled. The voluminous and well-divided dewlap extends from the lower jaw to the lower neck.

• Disqualification: Absence of dewlap.

Body:

The length of the dog, measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of buttock is 10 - 15 percent greater than the height of the dog measured from the highest point of the shoulder to the ground. Depth of the ribcage is equal to half the total height of the dog. Ribs are long and well sprung.

Chest:

Broad and deep, well muscled.

Underline and tuckup:

The underline of the abdomen is practically horizontal. There is little or no tuckup.

Back:

Wide and strong. Highest part of shoulder blade barely rising above the strong, level topline of the back.

Loin:

Well-muscled, and harmoniously joined to the back.

Croup:

Wide, strong, muscular and slightly sloped. The top of the croup rises slightly and is level with the highest point of the shoulder.

Tail:

Set on slightly lower than the topline, wide and thick at the root, tapering gradually toward the tip. It is docked by 1/3. At rest, the tail hangs straight or in slight "S" shape. When in action, it is raised to the horizontal or a little higher than the back.

• Severe Fault: Tail carried straight up or curved over the back. Kinked tail.
• Disqualification: Lack of tail or short tail, which is less than 1/3 the length from point of insertion of the tail to the hock - joint.

Forequarters:

Heavily built, muscular, and in balance with the hindquarters.

Shoulders:

Long, well-muscled, sloping and powerful.

Upper arms:

Strongly muscled, powerful. In length, almost 1/3 the height of the dog.

Elbows:

Covered with abundant and loose skin; held parallel to the ribcage, neither tied in nor loose.

Forelegs:

Thick, straight, heavy bone, well muscled, exemplifying strength. About the same length as the upper arms. Set well apart.

Pasterns:

Thick and flattened from front to back, moderately sloping forward from the leg.

Dewclaws:

Front dewclaws are not removed.

Feet:

Round and noticeably large with arched, strong toes.

Nails:

strong, curved and preferably dark-colored. Slight turn out of the front feet is characteristic.

Hindquarters:

As a whole, they must be powerful and strong, in harmony with the forequarters.

Thighs:

About the same length as the forearms, broad, muscular.

Stifles:

Moderate angle, strong.

Legs:

Heavy and thick boned, well-muscled. Slightly shorter than thigh bones.

Hocks:

Powerful and long.

Rear pasterns: (metatarsus)

Heavy thick bones. Viewed from the side, they are perpendicular to the ground. Viewed from, the rear, parallel to each other.

Rear dewclaws:

Any dewclaws must be removed.

Hind feet:

Same as the front feet but slightly smaller.

Coat:

The coat is short, dense and of uniform length and smoothness all over the body. The hairs are straight and not longer than 1 inch. No fringe anywhere.

Color:

Solid coats of gray (blue), black, mahogany and tawny, and the lighter and darker shades of these colors. Some brindling allowable in all colors. When present, brindling must be tan (reverse brindle). There may be solid white markings on the chest, throat area from chin to chest, underside of the body, penis sheath, backs of the pasterns, and on the toes. There may be white hairs at the back of the wrists.

• Disqualifications: White markings on any part of the body not mentioned as allowed.

Gait:

The Neapolitan Mastiff's movement is not flashy, but rather slow and lumbering. Normal gaits are the walk, trot, gallop, and pace. The strides are long and elastic, at the same time, powerful, characterized by a long push from the hindquarters and extension of the forelegs. Rolling motion and swaying of the body at all gaits is characteristic. Pacing in the show ring is not to be penalized. Slight paddling movement of the front feet is normal. The head is carried level with or slightly above the back.

Temperament:

The Neapolitan Mastiff is steady and loyal to his owner, not aggressive or apt to bite without reason. As a protector of his property and owners, he is always watchful and does not relish intrusion by strangers into his personal space. His attitude is calm yet wary. In the show ring he is majestic and powerful, but not showy.

Faults:

The foregoing description is that of the ideal Neapolitan Mastiff. Any deviation from the above described dog must be penalized to the extent of the deviation.

Disqualifications:

• Absence of wrinkles and folds
• Absence of dewlap
• Lack of tail or short tail, which is less than 1/3 the length from point of insertion of the tail to the hock.
• White markings on any part of the body not mentioned.

Approved: January 13, 2004
Effective: May 1, 2004

 

"Foreign Breed Standards"

While the AKC standard is the official standard in the United States of America many people often ask what the Italian Standard is. The AKC Standard was taken from the FCI standard but if you are very interested in seeing what the foreign standard is it can be found at http://www.enci.it/en....

If you are going to show your dog in the United States under the AKC then you must follow the AKC standard.

 

The Neapolitan Mastiff is an estate guard dog from Italy. The breed traces its roots to the dogs of war used by the Roman Army. The breed then existed on estates and farms across Italy for the past two millennia, known as the"big dog of the little man" -- the extraordinary dog of the ordinary man. After the devastation of World War II, the breed was recognized as an unquestionable treasure of Italy and consequently, has been refined to its present form over the past 60 years. A standard was first written in 1948, later re-written for greater precision in 1971, and the Neapolitan Mastiff has thus claimed its rightful place among the international world of dogs.

While the Neapolitan Mastiff has been recognized as a breed in the modern world only since recognition by the FCI in 1949, we can see, through bas-relief, paintings and statues dating from 3000 years before Christ, that his roots trace to the giant war dogs of Egypt, Persia, Mesopotamia and Asia. Even as grand a figure as Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) was instrumental in creating the modern Neapolitan Mastiff.

Alexander is known to have crossed the giant Macedonian and Epirian war dogs with the shorthaired "Indian" dogs to create the Molossus. The Molossus was a dog characterized by having a wide, short muzzle, and a heavy dewlap, and was used to fight tigers, lions, elephants, and men in battle. This animal is easily recognized as the great forefather of the Neapolitan Mastiff.

When the Romans conquered Greece, they adopted the Molossus Dogs and also used them in battle, in the hunt and in the arena. The Roman invasion of England gave them access to the even larger giant Mastiff dogs there, which the Romans crossed with their own now formidable war beasts. The several different breeds that are descended from these dogs originating in many different European countries, have many traits in common: they are large powerful animals, are devoted to their masters, and are superior defenders of person and property.

Over the centuries, breeders of the Mastino in the Neapolitan area of southern Italy focused on breeding guards for the homes and estate. They created a breed that retained the giant size, heavy, loose skin, and dewlap. This was an animal, which was a stay-at-home type, and was good with the family. It was bred to detect unwanted intruders and to deter them from the property under their care. Indeed, many say that the Neapolitan Mastiff's unique type was developed purposely as an alarmingly ugly dog whose looks alone were enough to deter any intruder.

After the second World War, several Italians began to organize and promote the breed. The first exhibition was held in Naples in 1946 with six Neapolitan Mastiffs being presented. The standard was first codified in 1948 by Dr. Piero Scanziani and the breed was recognized by the FCI (Federation Cynologique Interantionale) in 1949. The standard was rewritten again for greater precision in 1971.

By the early 1970's the breed had representatives in most other European countries and had acquired significant footholds in Germany and in the USA where a few fanciers became fascinated by the art of breeding this uniquely looking and moving dog. And we say art because the breeding of the Neapolitan Mastiff is truly an art. To quote Arch. Giuseppe Alessandra, president of the A.T.I.Ma.NA. (The International Association for lovers of the Neapolitan Mastiff), "There are three important and equal aspects to the Neapolitan Mastiff: its type, its size, and its soundness."

The Mastino's type, its unique appearance, was created in the Neapolitan countryside by years of inbreeding. As a result, the traits that make the Mastino an unusual dog: its wrinkles, dewlap, loose skin, enormous bone, and distinct lumbering gait, are created by an accumulation of recessive genes. To breed a sound dog with these attributes is truly an art...and a challenge.

 

"Temperament and Training"

"Puppy Socialization"