Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: Neapolitan Mastiff Dog Breed History, Temperament, Health Issues, Grooming and Living Conditions

Description: The Neapolitan Mastiff is a very
strong dog, whose height is 26 to 30 inches in
the dog and 24 to 28 inches in the bitch; this
breed can weigh up to 165 pounds, with the
largest recorded male being just short of 200
pounds. The body is large and stocky with great
quantity of skin on the head and large dewlap.
The head is flat and fairly wide and looks bigger
than the rest of the body. The muzzle is one
third the length of the head and is as broad as
it is long. With a large nose that has opened
nostrils, and the colour matches the coat. The
Neapolitan Mastiff teeth can meet in a slight
undershot bite, pincer or scissor bite. They have
deep set eyes that are almost hidden by the
dropping upper lids; the eye colour is either
amber or brown depending on the coat colour. The
Neapolitan Mastiff ears may be cropped, in
countries that do not permit it, these are left
natural. The tail is carried straight up and is
rounded over the back. With sturdy legs this dog
has rounded feet with well arched toes. Their
coat is straight, very dense and short furred.
The colours that come with this breed are; black,
blue, grey tawny and mahogany and very rarely
chocolate. A little white is permitted on the
chest and toes, but there should never be white
on the face. This breed has a short life
expectancy of up to 10 years.

History: This breed descends from the Tibetan
Mastiff, as do all European mastiffs. It's
generally believed to be the earliest member of
the canine species. Being seen in Greece, in
around 300 BC, and it was brought from India by
Alexander the Great. The Greeks went on to
introduce the dog to the Romans. Who use these
dogs in circus combat. Another thought of how
this breed started is that the Phoenicians
brought this dog to Britain in 500 BC. The
Neapolitan mastiff is a straight descendant of
the Roman Molossus. The breed became extinct
throughout the rest of Europe and survived only
in Campania, this is why it is said that the
Neapolitan Mastiff has existed in Campania for
2000 years. This dog has been used in war, and
the blood sports, that the Romans were so fond
of. This dog has a well-deserved reputation as a
guard dog. This dog was first shown in Italy in
1946 and its standards were set in 1949. This is
a rare dog to have in America and was recognized
by the AKC in 2004.

Temperament: The Neapolitan Mastiff dog is not
always as it appears, and is, in fact, very
affectionate, calm and loving. They love their
family and friends, and with their intelligence
love to do their owners bidding. This dog is very
protective and courageous, being quiet most of
the time and only barking when necessary. It is a
good idea to socialise and mix well as a puppy.
The Neapolitan Mastiff is usually very kind to
children, but really children will need to learn
leadership skills. Obedience training is very
important for this large dog, and this breed
requires a strong willed owner, who understands,
and is capable of, controlling this dog properly.
With consistency and good training, this dog
should do well. Neo's will not listen to a timid
person, and these are not dogs for the first time
owner. This breed is a heavy droller, particular
in hot weather.

The Neapolitan Mastiff breed requires daily walks
for mental and physical exercise. If this dog
doesn't receive the correct amount of exercise,
with a strong and consistent owner, they can
become an overprotective and aggressive dog. Good
guidance should be found on how best to correct
and handle this dog to obtain the best of this
breed.

Health issues: The Neapolitan Mastiff dog can
have hip dysplasia, bloat, cherry eye and joint
pain that will go as the dog gets older.

Grooming: Grooming is easy to do for this dog,
using a rubber brush, removing dead hair and
debris from a coat is all that is required.

Living conditions: The Neapolitan Mastiff can
live in apartments as long as given adequate
exercise. They only require a small garden that
needs to offer shade on hot days.

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