If you are considering looking for a Neapolitan Mastiff, there are definitely pros and cons that you should be aware of. Neapolitan Mastiffs are beautiful large dogs. They are very large, up to 170 pounds, with large flat heads and a boxy body. They have loose, wrinkled skin around their face and neck. Some have cropped ears and tails, but more and more owners are choosing to keep them in their natural state. They come in blue, black, or brown and have short, dense fur. They shed more than you would think for such a short haired dog. Neapolitan Mastiffs can be very good companions, but there are many things to consider before purchasing one.
The Neapolitan Mastiff needs to be trained very consistently from puppyhood. They are very intelligent and willful. Obedience and owner dominance must be instilled from a very young age. He must be firm in his approach to training and should probably seek professional advice. The Neapolitan Mastiff’s need to be socialized early and often. They are generally intolerant of other dogs. Males are less tolerant of other males than females. Females tend to be a bit more tolerant in general. Neapolitan Mastiffs are very good watchdogs. Her nature is to be protective and wary of strangers. Socialization is very important with these dogs. They need to be able to recognize who is being friendly. If not properly socialized, they can become quite a burden to bite.
If you have children in your home, you should do your research carefully before bringing in a Neapolitan Mastiff. If the dog has been raised with children then they can be good with them. This dog needs to be constantly exposed to many children to teach them to be tolerant. They do not tolerate teasing or rough play. Serious injury or death could occur. Remember that the Neapolitan Mastiff is very protective of his family. If you raise him only with his own children, then he may try to protect his children from his friends and family, resulting in a real tragedy. Neapolitan Mastiffs are generally not recommended for homes with children, mainly because children can be unpredictable.
Neapolitan Mastiffs can be very calm in nature once they reach adulthood. They are mostly quiet indoors and can bark a lot outdoors. They have an instinct to chase and catch other animals, so proper inclusion is necessary. They need moderate exercise, such as regular walking and occasional running. Intense exercise can seriously damage the joints of this large dog.
Neapolitan Mastiffs are susceptible to hip and elbow dysplasia. This risk increases if you exercise your dog too much or encourage him to jump from high places, especially when he is a puppy. Eye problems are also common and include progressive retinal atrophy and cherry eye. Cherry eye is very common. It occurs when the third eyelid, responsible for the production of tears, prolapses, becoming visible, inflamed and red. The usual treatment for cherry eye is surgical removal of the glans. It will usually happen early on, during the puppy stage. If your Neapolitan Mastiff has to have this acorn removed, be prepared to be given eye drops for the rest of its life.
Once all things have been considered, you should be able to decide if the Neapolitan Mastiff is the breed for you.