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A breed of rich history, intrigue and integrity.  The Neapolitan Mastiff invokes such passion and loyalty in it's owners, it integrates each area of your life.  Difficult to explain the effects a Neo will have on you, but if you own one already you know exactly what I mean !  I will not dwell on the history of the breed, this section of our site is meant to show you what a Neapolitan Mastiff is supposed to look like - The Official Standard of the Neapolitan Mastiff.  There are many sites to 'read' the standard, this site is offered in a visual fashion - so that you may actually see the standard in a comparative form.  Please feel free to offer pictures or suggestions to us at cmastino@comcast.net. Keep in mind, as you learn the standard, that the Neapolitan Mastiff is not fully mature until 3 or 4 years of age.  It is extremely difficult to judge or critique a 14 month old Neo, also the beauty of our breed is unique - meaning you can have two excellent Neos but they will look different !!  But both will have the 'basic elements' which make our breed.  It is these 'basic elements' I want to touch on here. The original standard is maintained by the country of origin - Italy where it is classified as: Standard FCI n. 197/19 november 1991 belonging to the Molossoid Group, classified as a Working dog or Guard dog In the United States the Neapolitan Mastiff is accepted by the American Kennel Club in the Working group. For this website the standard of the American Kennel Club will be cited with occassional notations.

Neapolitan Mastiff Standard

Page One General Appearance ~Size,Proportion,Substance Head ~Expression, Eyes ~Skull

Page Two under construction

Page Three under construction

What is a Neapolitan Mastiff Supposed to look like ? You can go through the following three pages to see side by side comparisons illustrating each section of the official standard.

General Appearance "Large, heavy massive and bulky dog, whose length of body exceeds the height at the withers" - FCI "An ancient breed, rediscovered in Italy in the 1940's, the Neapolitan Mastiff is a heavy-boned, massive, awe inspiring dog bred for use as a guard and defender of owner and property. He is characterized by loose skin, over his entire body, abundant, hanging wrinkles and folds on the head and a voluminous dewlap. The essence of the Neapolitan is his bestial appearance, astounding head and imposing size and attitude. Due to his massive structure, his characteristic movement is rolling and lumbering, not elegant or showy." - AKC

Outstanding Female, correct portions, impressive bone, bestial appearance, imposing size

Male shows nice presence & attitude

Male lacks bone, presence and size

Lacks bone & mass

Lacks bone & mass

Size, Proportion, Substance "A stocky, heavy boned dog, massive in substance, rectangular in proportion. Length of body is 10% - 15% greater than height. Height: Dogs: 26 to 31 inches, Bitches: 24 to 29 inches. Average weight of mature Dogs: 150 pounds; Bitches: 110 pounds; but greater weight is usual and preferable as long as correct proportion and function are maintained. The absence of massiveness is to be so severely penalized as to eliminate from competition" - AKC

Standard in Italian w/photos in English from Del Castellaccio

Male who is massive and slightly longer

Female has excellent proportion & size

Head "Short and Massive with a skull wide at level of zygomatic arches: its lenght is about 3/10 of the height at the withers.  Ample skin with wrinkles and folds of which the most typical and the marked goes from the outer palpebral angle down to the lip angle.  The upper longitudinal axes of the skull and the muzzle are parallel." Disqualifying Fault - "absence of wrinkles, folds and dewlap" - FCI "Large in comparison to the body. Differentiated from that of other mastiff breeds by more extensive wrinkling and pendulous lips which blend into an ample dewlap. Toplines of cranium and the muzzle must be parallel. The face is made up of heavy wrinkles and folds. Required folds are those extending from the outside margin of the eyelids to the dewlap, and from under the lower lids to the outer edges of the lips. Severe Faults: Toplines of the cranium and muzzle not parallel. Disqualifications: Absence of wrinkles and folds. Expression: Wistful at rest, intimidating when alert. Penetrating stare." - AKC

The above heads are all correct

Poor Head

Eyes "Set deep and almost hidden beneath drooping upper lids. Lower lids droop to reveal haw. " - AKC Eye Color "Shades of amber or brown, in accordance with coat color. Pigmentation of the eye rims same as coat color." - AKC "Severe Faults: Whitish-blue eyes; incomplete pigmentation of the eye rims." - AKC Ears "Set well above the cheekbones. May be cropped or uncropped, but are usually cropped to an equilateral triangle for health reasons. If uncropped, they are medium sized, triangular in shape, held tight to the cheeks, and not extending beyond the lower margin of the throat." - AKC

(Left) Poor Ear Set - Notice the insertion point of the ears is too low on the head

Skull Wide flat between the ears, slightly arched at the frontal part, and covered with wrinkled skin. The width of the cranium between the cheekbones is approximately equal to its length from occiput stop. The brow is very developed. Frontal furrow is marked. Occiput is barely apparent- AKC

Poor Head - Not Square

Still Under Construction