How to know you're ready for a neo.
1) Lift a hundred pound bag of wet sand up and down the stairs
2) Push a hundred pound bag of wet sand into your car
3) Smear hair gel all over your walls and throw it on the ceiling and TV, while you’re at it, smear the lower half of all windows, curtains and glass
4) Rub fur and gel into the roof of your vehicle
5) At least twice daily, drop that bag of wet sand on your bare foot
6) Shake balls of fur, mulch, and a bucket of dirt all over your house daily (add water for rainy days)
7) Practice repeating “Neapolitan mastiff, about 150 pounds…8-10 cups a day…”no, I don’t have a saddle” over and over with a smile
8) Volunteer at the zoo to help wash the large animals and clean up their poop
9) Invite your friends over and have them all try to get in the bathroom while you are using it
10) Practice telling people that your husband does NOT beat you, that those bruises are from your dog!
11) Take a nice long piece of rubber hose and go around smacking all the coffee mugs off the end-tables and hit any close male where he doesn’t like to be hit and smack your own legs a few times too
12) Have someone operate a chain saw at the foot of your bed all night…record this and play it every night close to your ear.
13) Invite friends over and feed them lots of gas-inducing foods. Sit in a room together and let em rip.
All joking aside, Neapolitan Mastiffs are not dogs for a timid or first time owner. These dogs are not for everyone. They are not gentle giants. They are not to be confused with their softer cousins, the English mastiff. They are heart-breakers without a doubt. You must be willing to make a lifetime commitment. They bond intensely to their owners and are aloof and suspicious of strangers. This means while they may love you, they may not love everyone. Combine a guardian temperament with ineffective leadership and you can have a boiling pot of good intentions and bad outcomes. As a guardian breed, they will want to guard. If they are not given jobs and boundaries, they will create their own and you may not appreciate their ideas.
The Neapolitan Mastiff originates in Italy, where they were bred first as war dogs and later as estate guardians. Their fearsome exterior combined with an intimidating bark and poise makes them the Brinks home security system of the dog world. The breed dwindled near extinction after modern industrialization until fanciers took an interest and around World War II made a concentrated effort to save the breed. The Neapolitan Mastiff was recognized by the AKC in 2004.
The Mastino has a long list of health problems and a short life expectancy. Cherry eye is common and does require removal. Most vets will suggest that you tack the cherry eye. This is ineffectual and can cause more damage to the eye than removal, which is recommended by most neo breeders. Hip and elbow dysplasia, cardiomyopathy, thyroid problems, entropion, ectropion, bloat, demodex and skin infections, and an abundance of yeast are also common in this breed. Please educate yourself on these health problems! These are stinky, slobbering gargoyles posing as dogs.
Neo temperaments may vary between the very mellow giant lap dog to the overprotective bear to the bully. Be prepared to be the leader for your dog. Crate training is a must! They need a space that is all their own. This will not only save your hair down the road, but heart ache for the dog as well.
Do research. Research the breed. Research breeders. Do yourself a favor and make sure this is the breed for you. Some days I question my sanity. Know I will question yours as well.
2) Push a hundred pound bag of wet sand into your car
3) Smear hair gel all over your walls and throw it on the ceiling and TV, while you’re at it, smear the lower half of all windows, curtains and glass
4) Rub fur and gel into the roof of your vehicle
5) At least twice daily, drop that bag of wet sand on your bare foot
6) Shake balls of fur, mulch, and a bucket of dirt all over your house daily (add water for rainy days)
7) Practice repeating “Neapolitan mastiff, about 150 pounds…8-10 cups a day…”no, I don’t have a saddle” over and over with a smile
8) Volunteer at the zoo to help wash the large animals and clean up their poop
9) Invite your friends over and have them all try to get in the bathroom while you are using it
10) Practice telling people that your husband does NOT beat you, that those bruises are from your dog!
11) Take a nice long piece of rubber hose and go around smacking all the coffee mugs off the end-tables and hit any close male where he doesn’t like to be hit and smack your own legs a few times too
12) Have someone operate a chain saw at the foot of your bed all night…record this and play it every night close to your ear.
13) Invite friends over and feed them lots of gas-inducing foods. Sit in a room together and let em rip.
All joking aside, Neapolitan Mastiffs are not dogs for a timid or first time owner. These dogs are not for everyone. They are not gentle giants. They are not to be confused with their softer cousins, the English mastiff. They are heart-breakers without a doubt. You must be willing to make a lifetime commitment. They bond intensely to their owners and are aloof and suspicious of strangers. This means while they may love you, they may not love everyone. Combine a guardian temperament with ineffective leadership and you can have a boiling pot of good intentions and bad outcomes. As a guardian breed, they will want to guard. If they are not given jobs and boundaries, they will create their own and you may not appreciate their ideas.
The Neapolitan Mastiff originates in Italy, where they were bred first as war dogs and later as estate guardians. Their fearsome exterior combined with an intimidating bark and poise makes them the Brinks home security system of the dog world. The breed dwindled near extinction after modern industrialization until fanciers took an interest and around World War II made a concentrated effort to save the breed. The Neapolitan Mastiff was recognized by the AKC in 2004.
The Mastino has a long list of health problems and a short life expectancy. Cherry eye is common and does require removal. Most vets will suggest that you tack the cherry eye. This is ineffectual and can cause more damage to the eye than removal, which is recommended by most neo breeders. Hip and elbow dysplasia, cardiomyopathy, thyroid problems, entropion, ectropion, bloat, demodex and skin infections, and an abundance of yeast are also common in this breed. Please educate yourself on these health problems! These are stinky, slobbering gargoyles posing as dogs.
Neo temperaments may vary between the very mellow giant lap dog to the overprotective bear to the bully. Be prepared to be the leader for your dog. Crate training is a must! They need a space that is all their own. This will not only save your hair down the road, but heart ache for the dog as well.
Do research. Research the breed. Research breeders. Do yourself a favor and make sure this is the breed for you. Some days I question my sanity. Know I will question yours as well.