| History The Neapolitan Mastiff is a descendant of the Molossus, the mammoth war dogs of the Middle East, and was frequently used in the Roman arenas pitted against lions, bears and gladiators for entertainment. The ancestral form of the Mastino {single dog. Mastini for pleural} was a favorite breed of Alexander the Great, who was given a pair by the defeated Asian King Porus, in northern India in the year 326BC. Reborn again in the 1940's in the farms and countrysides in Italy, the Neo's were and are used to protect farms and families, as they are usually in far off lands, as their owners tend to the fields and pastures. Temperament The Neos are fearless and protective, they are wary of strangers. They do not bark excessively. As a breed the Neo can be stubborn but does learn his masters ways. It has a dominant attitude and must be taught early on in puppy hood that it's master is the boss. Not enough can be said for obedience training. Neos are affectionate, loyal, fearless and loving. Our neos are raised among our children, other dogs as well as cows, goats and chickens. Our goal is to preserve the breed as well as temperament and produce quality healthy Neos true to the breed standards to the best of our ability. The Neapolitan is not a dog for all humans. They require much training and more love from their masters. These animals are very smart despite their looks. They will be large, drooly, snoring at nite, have a voracious appetite, shadow your every move, and please no open flames around when they are GASSY. They take up alot of space and money. They will require an expensive diet, as their bodies require proper nutrition for the large breed. Usually 6 -8 cups of food a day. We use Iams and or Eukanuba large breed. As a puppy their play needs to be monitored for excessive and rough play to protect those brittle and flexible joints and bones. Health The Neo is generally hardy but like all pure breeds, they do have some specific health concerns. Please research the breed. Puppies especially, the joints and cartilage will be under great duress due to the rapid growth and quick weight gain. Most Neos do not reach full maturity till two years in age. Regular vet checks and immunizations will help maintain the dogs health. A quality grade feed is recommended and can become expensive over time. These are not high energy dogs,they are great couch potatoes, not for jogging. Short walks are enough and long continous walks can be hard on the joints. Stairs are also of concern, puppies are clumsy and should be watched around stairs, baby gates help. Here are some helpful and interesting links; Info Health |
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