Neapolitan Mastiff Breed Standard

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A Breed Standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function. Absolute soundness is essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be careful to avoid obvious conditions or exaggerations which would be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed. From time to time certain conditions or exaggerations may be considered to have the potential to affect dogs in some breeds adversely, and judges and breeders are requested to refer to the Kennel Club website for details of any such current issues. If a feature or quality is desirable it should only be present in the right measure.

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General Appearance

• Well boned, large, muscular and strongly built. Body slightly longer than height at withers. Majestic bearing with noble expression.

Characteristics

• Some loose fitting skin over body and head permitted, not to be excessive.

Temperament

• Steady, loyal, devoted and vigilant. Slightly aloof.

Head and Skull

• Head fairly large with broad short skull, broad across cheeks. Head proportion: skull length two thirds, to muzzle one third. Skull flat and parallel to topline of muzzle.  Definite stop, nose should not protrude beyond vertical line of muzzle. Nose large with well open nostrils. Lips fleshy and thick. The upper lips form an inverted ‘v’ when viewed from the front. Muzzle deep and square when viewed from the front. Head has loose skin permitted but without excess.

Eyes

• Clean eyes, set forward, well apart, rather rounded. Rims tight without haw. Rim pigmentation to tone with nose colour. Free from obvious eye problems.

Ears

• Small for size of head, set forward, high and well apart. Triangular, hanging flat towards cheeks, but not reaching beyond line of throat.

Mouth

• Scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Or level bite. Teeth white and regular. Strong well developed jaws.

Neck

• Fairly short, stocky, very muscular.

Forequarters

• Shoulder long, slightly sloping with well developed and definite muscle. Elbows not too close to body to allow very free action. Pasterns slightly sloping, legs vertical when viewed from front.

Body

• Longer than height at withers. Broad, well muscled chest, ribcage reaching at least to elbow. Ribs long and well sprung. Topline straight, sloping slightly from the withers, line of belly parallel to topline.

Hindquarters

• Broad loin, well let into backline, slightly rounded with well developed muscle. Croup broad, muscular, with slight slope. Thighs long, broad, moderate stifle, powerful hocks.

Feet

• Oval; close, arched toes. Pads thick, hard and dark coloured. Nails curved, strong and dark. Hindfeet slightly smaller than front.

Tail

• Previously customarily docked.

Docked: Customarily docked by 1/3 of length. Thick at root, set on slightly lower than topline. Tapering towards the tip. Never carried up or over back, but may be carried level with topline when moving.

Undocked: Thick at root, set on slightly lower than topline. Tapering towards the tip. Never carried up or over back but may be carried level with topline when moving. In overall balance with the rest of the dog.

Gait/Movement

• Slow, free, bear-like. Slow trot, long steps covering ground well. Rarely gallops.

Coat

• Short, dense, even, fine, hard texture, with good sheen. No fringe.

Colour

• Preferred black, blue, all shades of grey, brown varying from fawn to red. Brindling on either of the latter colours. Small star on chest and white on toes permissible. Pigmentation to tone with coat colours.

Size

• Height: 65-75 cms (25½-29½ ins); Weight: 50-70 kgs (110-154 lbs). Some tolerance allowed. Bitches somewhat less.

Faults

• Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Note

• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Last Updated - October 2009

Italian Breed Standard

The original Italian Neapolitan Mastiff Standard was written in 1946, rewritten, then modified and rewritten again. It is known as the official ENCI version of the Neapolitan Mastiff Standard. The Neapolitan Mastiff is regulated in Italy by its national breed club, known as SAMN (Societa Amatori del Mastino Napoletano). SAMN is in turn regulated by the Italian Kennel Club known as ENCI (Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana). This national kennel club is regulated by the FCI. The only official worldwide standard for the Neapolitan Mastiff is the FCI standard as submitted by ENCI which in turn should get the standard from SAMN. The FCI states that the standard for a breed belongs to the country of origin of that breed. The standard of the Neapolitan Mastiff has a rather complicated ongoing history. The original standard, written in 1946 by several of the early Mastino lovers, was rather brief. In 1949, Scanziani and others elaborated on the standard previously engineered by Dr. Soldati and due to their efforts, ENCI accepted the new breed standard. The 1946 ENCI standard remained in force until 1968. At that time the SAMN created a longer more explicit standard which was not accepted by ENCI. They contracted another individual to draft a Neapolitan Mastiff standard in 1968. This standard was adopted by the FCI in 1971. In 1987 the FCI decided that the standards for all their recognized breeds should be revised into a specific format. The standard was changed again and was accepted by ENCI and by the FCI in 1991. Bewteen 1989 and 1991 the Italian standard was translated into French, German, Spanish and finally English. If you go to ENCI's Web site you will find the standards worded in the five languages. I am advised that the Standard written in Italian differs considerably in its wording but not necessarily in its overall meaning, from the standards in the other four languages.