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Breed Standard
General Appearance
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.
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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.
Weight
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.
Head
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.
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Expression
Wistful at rest, intimidating when alert. Penetrating stare.
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Eyes
Set deep and almost hidden beneath drooping upper lids. Lower lids droop to reveal haw.
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Eye Color
Shades of amber or brown, in accordance with coat color. Pigmentation of the eye rims same as coat color.
• Severe Faults: Whitish-blue eyes; incomplete pigmentation of the eye rims.
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.
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.
Stop
Very defined, forming a right angle at the junction of muzzle and frontal bones, and the sloping back at a greater angle where the frontal bones meet the frontal furrow of the forehead.
Nose
Large with well-opened nostrils, and in color the same as the coat. The nose is an extension of the topline of the muzzle and should not protrude beyond nor recede behind the front plane of the muzzle.
• Severe Faults: Incomplete pigmentation of the nose.
Muzzle
It is 1/3 the length of the whole head and is as broad as it is long. Viewed from the front, the muzzle is very deep with the outside borders parallel giving it a "squared" appearance. The top plane of the muzzle from stop to tip of nose is straight, but is ridged due to heavy folds of skin covering it.
• Severe Faults: Top plane of the muzzle curved upward or downward.
Lips
Heavy, thick, and long, the upper lips join beneath the nostrils to form an inverted "V". The upper lips form the lower, outer borders of the muzzle, and the lowest part of these borders is made by the corners of the lips. The corners turn outward to reveal the flews, and are in line with the outside corners of the eyes.
Bite
Scissors bite or pincer bite is standard; slight undershot is allowed. Dentition is complete.
• Faults: More than 1 missing premolar.
• Severe faults: Overshot jaw: pronounced undershot jaw which disrupts the outline of the front plane of the muzzle; more than 2 missing teeth.
Neck, Topline, And Body
Neck
Slightly arched, rather short, stocky and well-muscled. The voluminous and well-divided dewlap extends from the lower jaw to the lower neck.
• Disqualification: Absence of dewlap
Body
The length of the dog, measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of buttock is 10 - 15 percent greater than the height of the dog measured from the highest point of the shoulder to the ground. Depth of the ribcage is equal to half the total height of the dog. Ribs are long and well sprung.
Chest
Broad and deep, well muscled.
Underline and Tuckup
The underline of the abdomen is practically horizontal. There is little or no tuckup.
Back
Wide and strong. Highest part of shoulder blade barely rising above the strong, level topline of the back.
Loin
Well-muscled, and harmoniously joined to the back.
Croup
Wide, strong, muscular and slightly sloped. The top of the croup rises slightly and is level with the highest point of the shoulder.
Tail
Set on slightly lower than the topline, wide and thick at the root, tapering gradually toward the tip. It is docked by 1/3. At rest, the tail hangs straight or in slight "S" shape. When in action, it is raised to the horizontal or a little higher than the back.
• Severe Fault: Tail carried straight up or curved over the back. Kinked tail.
• Disqualification: Lack of tail or short tail, which is less than 1/3 the length from point of insertion of the tail to the hock - joint.
Forequarters
Heavily built, muscular, and in balance with the hindquarters.
Shoulders
Long, well-muscled, sloping and powerful.
Upper arms
Strongly muscled, powerful. In length, almost 1/3 the height of the dog.
Elbows
Covered with abundant and loose skin; held parallel to the ribcage, neither tied in nor loose.
Forelegs
Thick, straight, heavy bone, well muscled, exemplifying strength. About the same length as the upper arms. Set well apart.
Pasterns
Thick and flattened from front to back, moderately sloping forward from the leg.
Dewclaws
Front dewclaws are not removed.
Feet
Round and noticeably large with arched, strong toes.
Nails
Strong, curved and preferably dark-colored. Slight turn out of the front feet is characteristic.
Hindquarters
As a whole, they must be powerful and strong, in harmony with the forequarters.
Thighs
About the same length as the forearms, broad, muscular.
Stifles
Moderate angle, strong.
Legs
Heavy and thick boned, well-muscled. Slightly shorter than thigh bones.
Hocks
Powerful and long.
Rear pasterns (metatarsus)
Heavy thick bones. Viewed from the side, they are perpendicular to the ground. Viewed from, the rear, parallel to each other.
Rear dewclaws
Any dewclaws must be removed.
Hind feet
Same as the front feet but slightly smaller.
Coat
The coat is short, dense and of uniform length and smoothness all over the body. The hairs are straight and not longer than 1 inch. No fringe anywhere.
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Color
Solid coats of gray (blue), black, mahogany and tawny, and the lighter and darker shades of these colors. Some brindling allowable in all colors. When present, brindling must be tan (reverse brindle). There may be solid white markings on the chest, throat area from chin to chest, underside of the body, penis sheath, backs of the pasterns, and on the toes. There may be white hairs at the back of the wrists.
• Disqualifications: White markings on any part of the body not mentioned as allowed.
Gait
The Neapolitan Mastiff's movement is not flashy, but rather slow and lumbering. Normal gaits are the walk, trot, gallop, and pace. The strides are long and elastic, at the same time, powerful, characterized by a long push from the hindquarters and extension of the forelegs. Rolling motion and swaying of the body at all gaits is characteristic. Pacing in the show ring is not to be penalized. Slight paddling movement of the front feet is normal. The head is carried level with or slightly above the back.
Temperament
The Neapolitan Mastiff is steady and loyal to his owner, not aggressive or apt to bite without reason. As a protector of his property and owners, he is always watchful and does not relish intrusion by strangers into his personal space. His attitude is calm yet wary. In the show ring he is majestic and powerful, but not showy.
Faults
The foregoing description is that of the ideal Neapolitan Mastiff. Any deviation from the above described dog must be penalized to the extent of the deviation.
Disqualifications
• Absence of wrinkles and folds
• Absence of dewlap
• Lack of tail or short tail, which is less than 1/3 the length from point of insertion of the tail to the hock.
• White markings on any part of the body not mentioned.
AKC Approved: January 13, 2004
Effective: May 1, 2004