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.
This paragraph really says it all. It presents all three aspects of type: Wrinkle Characterized by loose skin over his entire body, abundant, hanging wrinkles, and folds on the head and a voluminous dewlap. Head and Mass The essence of the Neapolitan Mastiff are his bestial appearance, astounding head and imposing size and attitude.
It
also addresses the two qualifiers for interpreting the standard: Emotional impact by use of words such as "massive, awe inspiring dog.... bestial appearance....imposing size and attitude."
And introduces the concept that this dog is not expected to have endurance "characteristic movement is rolling and lumbering."
Size, Proportion, Substance
A stocky, heavy boned dog, massive in substance, rectangular in proportion. Length of body is 10% - 15% greater than the 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 proportions and function are maintained. The absence of massiveness is to be so severely penalized as to eliminate from competition.
It
is desired that the dog is to be rectangular, and the Italian experts
all state that if there is a variance, it is better to be a little too
long in body, than a little too tall in proportion. In the U.S. standard
it is stated that the length of body should be 10 -15% longer than the
height to emphasize that desire. Remember that it is not a fault if the
dog is square, but it is not correct. Given a choice of two equal dogs,
pick the one that is more rectangular.It is so important to us that the dogs have Mass, be Massive, and appear Massive that a dog with a lack of Mass should 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.
The head is critical to the emotional impact that this breed must create in the on-looker. Not only is it large, it is covered with wrinkles and folds, which flow into an impressive dewlap. The eyes are deep-set, almost hidden beneath the folds.
The topline of the cranium and muzzle must be parallel. The whole head should be covered with folds and wrinkles. The skin is loose on the head and body, not tight and rigid. At the same time, the skin must be heavy and thick, not thin. It moves about easily, but must not look like water moving over the dog.
Some dogs have distinctly more wrinkles than others do. It is not a case of "the more the better". It is more a "look." The dog must look correct. It must look as if the wrinkles and folds are an integral part of the dog; not something placed on the dog.
Examples of nice heads with wrinkles.
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At a minimum, all Neapolitan Mastiffs must have a significant fold
made up of two wrinkles running from the eyes down to join the lip. One
wrinkle runs from the outer-edge of the eye, one from the inner-edge of
the eye. The fold is deep, and should almost look as if it were cut into
a piece of clay by a knife.
NOTE: DISQUALIFICATION FOR LACK OF WRINKLE AND FOLDS
It is so important that the breed have appropriate wrinkles that a dog
without wrinkles and folds is not a proper Neapolitan Mastiff. Such a
dog should not be in the ring.
Expression
Wistful at rest, Intimidating when alert. Penetrating stare.
Eyes:
Set deep and almost hidden beneath drooping upper lids. Lower lids droop
to reveal the haw.
Color: Shades of amber or brown, in accordance with coat
color. Pigmentation of the eye rims same as the coat color.
Severe faults: Whitish-blue eyes; incomplete pigmentation
of the eye rims.
The eyes are deep-set and hidden. You've heard the expression "the
eyes are the window to the soul." In its job as guard, when the Neapolitan
Mastiff is looking at you, you usually cannot see the eyes, and you cannot
tell what it is thinking. You may not even know if it is truly looking
at you by looking at the eyes. However, when a Neapolitan 
Mastiff
is alert and is paying attention to you (because you did something that
caught its attention and it is trying to determine if there is something
it should be concerned about) its entire aspect is intimidating simply
by the intensity of the expression of the face. The wrinkles and folds
all contribute to this.
When the Mastino is not looking at you, or when it is not especially
alert (typical for this breed, especially when in the show ring), it simply
gazes around bored.
The lower lids of the eye droop to reveal the haw.
The Neapolitan Mastiff is bred to have loose skin, which translates
to loose eye-rims. In the course of a day, a bit of chaff may get in the
eye. Interestingly enough, though, the looseness of the skin actually
helps get rid of most of this, as the skin is so loose as it moves across
the eye, any chaff drops out, instead of getting caught in the skin.
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
to 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 then 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 top line of the
muzzle and should not protrude beyond nor recede behind the front plane
of the muzzle.
Severe faults: Incomplete pigmentation of the nose.
The standard says the ears are usually cropped to an equilateral
triangle, but doesn't say how long an equilateral triangle, and it doesn't
say anything about how the ears should be carried. The ears contribute
to
the all-important expression, the way the head "looks"
for the breed, and so we must consider them for that purpose.
The ears are traditionally cropped fairly short. A longer cropped
ear makes the dog look more alert, more like other breeds, which is not
desirable for this breed. Sometime dogs will have the ear cropped so short
it is nearly gone. This isn't a real problem except how it relates to
the look of the shape of the head. Sometimes, without that little wedge
of an ear at the side of the head, the head can give the appearance of
being more rounded.
It is preferred that the cropped ear lay flat over the top of the
head, or to stand up, but many dogs will hold them out to the side. This
is not to be penalized, and should not be considered a fault.
If uncropped, the ear is triangular, like a Mastiff ear, and held
fairly unobtrusive and close to the cheek. It must not be "rose"
like a Bulldog, and it must not be "folded" like a Hound.
The
cranium and muzzle are parallel. The top should be flat. You may want
to check the cranium physically to be sure you're seeing the flat skull,
not the wrinkles and folds or muscles which may make it look more rounded.
The width of the cranium should be approximately equal to the length.
The sides should be parallel.
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.
The long lips of the Neapolitan Mastiff are part of the distinct
look of the dog.
When viewed from the front, the lips must join beneath the muzzle
and then separate 
below
the jaw as an upside-down "V".
The preferred bite is a scissors bite, or a pincer bite, but an undershot
bite is allowed as long as the undershot jaw is not so extensive that
it is visible through the upper lips.
If the undershot jaw turns the upside-down "V" into an upside-down
"U" this is too much undershot.
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.
It is a short, strong, arched neck. Such a neck is necessary to hold
that massive head. If you touch the neck of a mature dog, you should definitely
get an impression of muscles.
The dewlap must exist and must be divided in two.
DISQUALIFICATION: ABSENCE OF DEWLAP
This
is another manifestation of how important the three characteristics of
type are to the breed. If the dog does not have a Dewlap, it cannot possibly
have properly loose skin, it is not a proper Neapolitan Mastiff and it
must not be in the conformation ring!
Body: The length of the dog, measured from the point
of the shoulder to the point of the buttock, is 10% - 15% 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 the 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 about 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.
The
Neapolitan Mastiff must not get its height from length of leg, but from
its body and legs proportioned together.
If you draw a line along the bottom of the abdomen, it should parallel
a line drawn along the topline. In the adult Neapolitan Mastiff, there
should be little to no tuckup. Note that the skin may hang down below
the underside, so be sure you're looking at the abdomen, not just the
hanging skin.
This massive dog has a massive back. It should be distinctly wide.
The withers are also wide. While there may be a slight dip behind the
withers, the back should be level to the loin.
The croup is angled to give spring to the hindquarters, which must
be able to propel this big heavy dog from a lying position into instantaneous
action.
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. 
The
forequarters of the dog must exemplify strength. The ability to hold this
heavy, massive dog up, to support it as it springs into action.
Typically dewclaws in the front are not removed.
SLIGHT TURN-OUT OF THE FRONT FEET IS CHARACTERISTIC
This is a big heavy dog. A dog that in order to maintain balance turns
its front feet out, but otherwise has a correct leg, straight bones, and
correctly placed elbows.
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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 the 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.
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It is more important that the forequarters and hindquarters be in balance, be harmonious with each other and with the overall dog.
The Neapolitan Mastiff must exemplify strength and power.
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 wrist.
Disqualification: 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.
TemperamentThe Neapolitan Mastiff is steady and loyal to his owner, not aggressive. 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.
DisqualificationsAbsence 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 marks on any part of the body not mentioned as allowed.
Approved: January 13, 2004
Effective: May 1, 2004
United States Neapolitan Mastiff Club
www.neapolitan.org
