The Neapolitan Mastiff Site

The number one reason dogs are placed at shelters or abandoned is "Behavior Problems". Why do all these dogs have "Behavior Problems"? Most of the time it is because their owners did not properly rear them, raise them or train them.

A dog is a dog. You must teach him how to behave by our human rules.

Neapolitan Mastiffs are not born with the knowledge that drinking out of the toliet is unacceptable...it looks like a great water source to them.

Neo's don't know that chewing up the couch is not acceptable,
it looks like a great big chew toy to them.

Dogs don't just suddenly know at age two that biting your arm is no longer acceptable, you let them do it when they were a puppy?

Dogs don't understand when you change the rules!

Crates are not cruel, you have your own bedroom, why is it cruel to allow a dog to have its own space?

How come you expect your dog to go in a crate at the Vet office or boarding facility at age two when you never showed him a crate before ?

When the kids are screaming, the phone is ringing, dinner is burning - don't you think your Neo would like to go in his crate for some peace ?

Your Neapolitan Mastiff will be 165 to 180 pounds, he better have manners.

And if he doesn't, who's fault is it?

Be a responsible parent, and parent your dog. Parents take the time to "train" their children, send them to school, put them to bed, potty train them etc.. but most pet owners never take their pet child to school or give them a crate as their own private bedroom. And then they wonder....."Why is my Neo so out of control?"

There are two ways to approach training and rearing your Neapolitan Mastiff.
If you are getting a puppy and if you purchase an adult or young adult. You can teach an old dog new tricks but it does require more time and effort.

First, and hopefully before your new Neapolitan Mastiff arrives, you and your family will discuss what your expectations are. You need to envision an adult Neo living within your family and household. What and where does he/she do? sleep? potty? eat? What does your adult Neo do at your dinner time? does he sit beside you drooling begging for food? or perhaps he jumps on your lap while your driving?   That's probably not what you envision, but it will happen if you don't start training right away. In order to start training though, you need to know or have a feeling for what it is your family expects.

See New Neapolitan Mastiff Check List