The words Dog Breed Info with the letter D inside of a black paw print

The Purebred Neapolitan Mastiff

Information and Pictures

Front view of an extra large dog with a lot of wrinkles all over his head where his eyes look closed, a big black nose, huge paws and a pink tongue standing outside on a sidewalk

Adult Phantom Neapolitan Mastiff

Other Names
  • Can'e presa
  • Italian Mastiff
  • Italian Molosso
  • Mastino
  • Mastino - Mastini plural
  • Mastino Napoletano
  • Neo
Pronunciation

nee-uh-PAH-luh-tuhn MAS-tifspeaker

Description

The Neapolitan Mastiff is a serious, powerful dog. The body of this massive, rather rectangular looking dog has abundant, hanging wrinkles and folds on the head and a very large dewlap. The wide, flat head is large in comparison to the rest of the body. The muzzle is 1/3 the length of the head and is as broad as it is long with a well-defined stop. The large nose has well-open nostrils and a color that coordinates with the coat. The teeth meet in a scissors, pincer or slight undershot bite. The deep-set eyes are almost covered by the dropping upper lids and come in amber to brown, depending on the coat color. Puppies begin life with blue eyes, which later darken. The ears may be cropped or left natural. Many owners opt out of docking and cropping, preferring the natural look, as it is painful for the dog. The tail is carried straight up and curves over the back. In dogs that are shown in the AKC front dewclaws are not removed. The round feet are large with well-arched toes. The straight, dense, short coat comes in gray, blue, black, chocolate, mahogany and tawny, sometimes with brindle and white markings. A little white is permitted on the chest and toes. No white should be on the face. Chocolate dogs are rare.

Temperament

The Neapolitan Mastiff is not a breed for everyone. This breed looks a bit intimidating, but is actually affectionate, calm, peaceful and loving. They enjoy family and friends. This breed is a heavy drooler, particularly in hot weather or after getting a drink. Males may drool more than females. They are very keen to their owners’ commands. Intelligent, very protective, courageous, serious and mild-mannered. Generally quiet, they tend to only bark when necessary. They can be reserved with strangers; socialize them well with people, places, sounds and animals. These dogs are usually very loving with children, provided the children know how to display leadership skills. A Neo can get along well with non-canine pets if raised with them from puppyhood and/or properly socialized. Obedience training is very important. Teach them to heel on a lead and to go in and out door and gateways after the humans. This breed needs a dominant owner who understands and is capable of controlling them properly. They will be easiest if this is established when the dog is still a puppy, but it is still possible to communicate with an adult Neo that the human is in charge. Children should be taught how to be pack leaders. Socialize this breed while they are young. This is a natural guard dog and protection training is not necessary. You cannot breed out the guard in the dog, no matter how submissive they become. If they sense there is a threat to the home they will react unless the owner is there and tells them everything is OK. Be sure you are consistent in approach and do not keep repeating commands the dog has failed to obey. If they are not listening, try a different approach, making sure you are in a confident state of mind. Neos will not listen to meek owners. These are not dogs for beginners, but it is an exaggeration to describe them as difficult in their association with others. A calm handler with natural leadership will achieve the best results. With comprehensive training and an experienced, dominant owner, the Neapolitan Mastiff can be a wonderful family pet. This breed has a high pain tolerance. Neos that do not have a firm, confident, consistent owner who provides them with daily pack walks to release mental and physical exercise will become willful, over-protective and dog aggressive. When correcting this dog, the owner's correction must match the dog's level of intensity, and the timing of the correction must be precise.

Height, Weight

Height: Males 26 - 30 inches (65 - 75 cm) Females 24 - 28 inches (60 - 70 cm)
Weight: Up to 165 pounds (74 kg)
The largest male Neapolitans may be nearly 200 pounds (90 kg)

Health Problems

Prone to cherry eye, hip dysplasia, bloat, pano-ostiosis (joint pain from growth can occur at 4-18 months and usually goes away on its own). Pups are usually born via caesarian section.

Living Conditions

The Neo will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. It is relatively inactive indoors and a small yard will do. Take extra caution in warm weather to provide shade, water and a cool place to lie.

Exercise

Adult Neapolitan Mastiffs need a great deal of exercise. They should be taken on daily, long walks at least twice a day. While out on the walk the dog must be made to heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, as in a dog's mind the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human. Teach your dog to enter and exit all door and gateways after the human.

Life Expectancy

Short, up to 10 years

Litter Size

About 6 to 12 puppies

Grooming

These giant, shorthaired dogs are easy to groom. Remove loose, dead hair with a rubber brush. This breed is an average shedder.

Origin

All European mastiffs are descended from the Tibetan Mastiff, the most ancient member of the canine species. The first Asian mastiffs were probably brought to Greece from India by Alexander the Great around 300 BC. The Greeks introduced the dogs to the Romans, who adopted them enthusiastically and used them in circus combats. The word "mastiff" derives from the Latin word “masssivus,” meaning massive. English experts, however, have another theory. They contend that the mastiff was brought to Britain by the Phoenicians in about 500 BC and spread from there to the rest of Europe. In any case, the Neapolitan Mastiff is a direct descendant of the Roman Molossus. While the breed became extinct throughout the rest of Europe, it continued to survive in Campania, despite the perils of weather and war. One can therefore say that the Neapolitan Mastiff has existed in Campania for two thousand years, even though it was not officially recognized until 1946, and its standard was not set until 1949. The Neapolitan Mastiff was bred for use in war and in bloody Roman arena spectacles. Today this powerful breed has a well-deserved reputation as a formidable guard dog. Neos have been used by the Italian police and army and by that country's farmers, business establishment and estate owners to protect people and property. Though the Neapolitan Mastiff was first shown in Italy in 1946, the breed is still quite rare in the United States. The Neapolitan Mastiff was recognized by the AKC in 2004.

Group

Mastiff

Recognition
  • ACA = American Canine Association Inc.
  • ACR = American Canine Registry
  • AKC = American Kennel Club
  • APRI = American Pet Registry, Inc.
  • CKC = Continental Kennel Club
  • DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc.
  • FCI = Fédération Cynologique Internationale
  • KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain
  • NAPR = North American Purebred Registry, Inc.
  • NKC = National Kennel Club
  • NZKC = New Zealand Kennel Club
  • USNMC = United States Neapolitan Mastiff Club
Left Profile - A wrinkly, black with white Neapolitan Mastiff is standing in grass in front of a rusted fence. Its mouth is open and tongue is out. It has very large dewlaps.

Photo courtesy of Maximum Mastiffs

The backside of a black with white Neapolitan Mastiff is standing in grass facing a white concrete with brick wall. The dog has a lot of extra skin.

Ch. Newworldmastino's Esperanza AKA Chiquita at 4 years old—"Chiquita is the only female Neapolitan Mastiff to ever win Best of breed at the Eukanuba nationals; she beat males and females alike in the 2010 Eukanuba nationals."

A huge, very wrinkly black dog with a massive amount of skin with a big black nose, very big paws and large dewlaps standing outside

Adult Phantom Neapolitan Mastiff

Front view of a massive, large breed dog with a ton of wrinkles all over his face and a large pink tongue hanging out laying down on a tiled floor

Adult Phantom Neapolitan Mastiff

Size comparison of a man and a dog face to face and the dog's head is bigger than the man's head. The dog has a lot of wrinkles

Adult Phantom Neapolitan Mastiff

Front side view of a huge mastiff dog with a very large head and a lot of wrinkles on a leash outside in sand

Adult Phantom Neapolitan Mastiff

View from down low looking head on at the dogs - Two black Neapolitan Mastiff puppies are laying on a floor. One is sitting up and the other is laying flat on its side. They have a lot of extra skin.

Two Neapolitan Mastiff puppies—Posh is up and Argus is lying down.

Action shot side view - A dark blue Neapolitan Mastiff is aggressively barking and jumping to the right of the image.

Achilles the Neapolitan Mastiff at 5 years old—"Achilles is an old-school working type Neo. He's 150 lbs. and stands 29 inches at the shoulder. He's incredibly strong and extremely protective. He's very athletic for a Neo, and not overly wrinkly. He's trained for protection work. He loves to work; it always leaves him feeling like a million bucks. He was born for it. He's the most active Neo I've ever met, and very mobile. I'm very happy with him; he's exactly what I want in a Neo. I hope more breeders start focusing on functional working Neapolitan Mastiffs, and more away from the sadly overdone type. I hope Achilles can prove to those people who believe there is no strength left in the Neo, that there are still good working specimens out there." Photo courtesy of Midgard Mastiffs

Side view - A wrinkly, dark blue Neapolitan Mastiff dog is walking across grass pulling on the leash and there is a man walking dressed in a blue shirt, tan pants and cap and brown boots holing on tightly as the dog pulls.

Achilles the old-school working type Neapolitan Mastiff at 5 years old, photo courtesy of Midgard Mastiffs

View from the front - A dark blue with white Neapolitan Mastiff is standing in a cage and looking up with a person next to it.

Achilles the old-school working type Neapolitan Mastiff at 5 years old, photo courtesy of Midgard Mastiffs

See more examples of the Neapolitan Mastiff