Information on AKC Neapolitan Mastiff Puppies
AKC MEET THE BREEDS®: Neapolitan Mastiff
Large and powerful, Neapolitan Mastiffs are known for their massiveness – massive head, massive bone, and massive body. Despite their fierce appearance and serious demeanor, Mastini are generally peaceful, steady dogs. The breed’s trademark is the loose skin that covers their bodies, the abundant wrinkles and folds on the head and their rolling and lumbering gait. Their short coat can by gray (blue), black, mahogany and tawny. Some brindling and white markings are allowed.
A Look Back
An ancient breed, the Neapolitan Mastiff’s lineage can be traced back to ancient Egypt, Persia, Mesopotamia and Asia – to the dogs of war used by the Roman army. The breed later existed on estates and farms in northern Italy, designed to be imposing in appearance for use as a defender of owner and property.
Right Breed for You?
Well-bred and socialized Mastini are steady and loyal to their own families but protective around strangers. Due to the breed’s size, strength and temperament, experts do not recommend a Neapolitan Mastiff for first-time dog owners or families with young children. They should receive some form of daily exercise, but beware that they don’t overdo it in hot weather. Their short coats are easy to care for, but potential owners should not be afraid of a little drool!
If you are considering purchasing a Neapolitan Mastiff puppy, learn more here.
- Working Group; AKC recognized in 2004.
- Ranging in size from 24 to 31 inches tall at the shoulder; Average weight is 150 pounds for males and 110 pounds for females.
- Guard and protection dog.
© The American Kennel Club, Inc.
Neapolitan Mastiff Breed Standard
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. 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
