Neapolitan Mastiff Breed description: Character & Co

The typical character traits of the Mastino Napoletano

You would think that these dogs would be relaxed and calm throughout. However, if you have ever seen an agitated or playing Mastino Napoletano, you know that this is a misconception!

This dog likes to form a bond to one person and their house. From their origin in the south of Italy it is more used to being led by men. If you are a woman and would like to keep such a dog, you should have a strong sense of assertiveness as well as a lot of dog experience. The Mastino Napoletano is neither aggressive nor tends to bite. It is only protecting and very alert at the same time. It never gets angry without good reason. Nevertheless, they know how to get their will and how to use their strength for their own good. You should train your Mastino Napoletano puppy in a strong and intelligent way from an early age. They must know where their limit is in order to be a confident companion to its owner.

• not always just relaxed
• can be very temperamental
• easier to be led by men
• intelligent and sometimes very stubborn
• needs consistent training and boundaries

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.

1. only few puppies per year
2. price 1000 Euros or more
3. classified regionally as dangerous
4. keeping is often subject to authorisation or prohibited