Breed typical diseases of the Neapolitan Mastiff
For many years, breeding focused far too much on achieving extreme wrinkles and overweight types. In the 1970s, the breed was so overbred that today it would be called torture breeding. The dogs degenerated to huge mountains of meat, which could hardly move and suffered from coat problems. These times are fortunately over and the new strict breeding selection has long since taken hold in Italy as well. Nevertheless, there are still some dogs that show this heavy heritage and an excess of wrinkles.
If this dog degenerates into a couch potato, it can get serious problems with its joints at an early age.
- tends to be overweight
- Skin problems due to too many wrinkles
- Problems with the joints
Breeding and purchase of a Mastino Napoletano
Mastino Napoletano breeders must be extremely responsible people. In Germany, the breeding is supervised by the "Club für Molosser" (http://club-fuer-molosser.org/). The number of puppies is between 60 and 80 animals per year. If you want to buy a Mastino Napoletano you have to expect to pay about 1000 Euros for a healthy puppy with papers.
But please note that the Mastino Napoletano can still be on the list of dangerous dogs in Germany. In this case, either the keeping is completely forbidden or only possible with conditions. The regulations are so different depending on the municipality and the federal state that you have to ask at your local citizen's office.
In Austria, the Mastino Napoletano is on the list in Vienna and Vorarlberg. In Vienna you can take an aptitude test. If you live in Vorarlberg, you need the explicit permission of your municipality to be allowed to keep this dog.
The Swiss cantons of Geneva and Valais have completely banned imports, breeding and keeping. In the cantons Fribourg, Schaffhausen, Solothurn and Ticino you need a permit.
- only few puppies per year
- price 1000 Euros or more
- classified regionally as dangerous
- keeping is often subject to authorisation or prohibited