Neapolitan Mastiff
拿坡里獒犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Neapolitan Mastiff — the Mastino — is a massive, wrinkled guardian of ancient Roman stock, rebuilt around Naples after the Second World War, with an 'astounding' head of hanging folds and pendulous lips on a body that can weigh 68 kg. Mastini are dignified, loyal and watchful: docile and unaggressive under normal circumstances, sleeping much of the day, but exceptional guard dogs that react with startling suddenness when something seems wrong, and steady with those they love. They drool copiously, overheat easily, need gentle exercise and no stairs while growing, and patient, consistent training from puppyhood before the strong, stubborn adolescent stage — and an owner prepared, in the parent club's words, to live with a dog that considers the house, the toys and the people 'mine'.
Facts
| Size | Giant |
|---|---|
| Height | 61–79cm |
| Weight | 50–68kg |
| Life expectancy | 7–9years |
| Breed group | AKC: working FCI: 2 |
| Role | Guardian |
| Coat | Short coat |
| Shedding | 3/ 5 |
| Exercise | 30–60min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 4 hours |
| Companionship need | 3/ 5 |
| Trainability | 3/ 5 |
| Barking | 1/ 5 |
| Good with children | 3/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 3/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 1/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 2/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Hip dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen hips by X-ray. Ask your vet about hip screening and about keeping your dog lean and fit.
Elbow dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen elbows by X-ray. Ask your vet if you notice front-leg lameness, especially in a growing dog.
Inherited eye conditions
Various inherited eye conditions are reported in the breed; annual eye examinations by a veterinary ophthalmologist are recommended for breeding stock. Ask your vet about eye screening.
Heart conditions
Certain heart conditions are reported in the breed; breeders may have breeding stock examined by a veterinary cardiologist. Ask your vet about heart checks at routine visits.
Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus)
Deep-chested dogs of this breed are at risk of bloat, a life-threatening emergency. Ask your vet about the warning signs and prevention options.
Brachycephalic airway syndrome
As a flat-faced breed, breathing difficulties and heat intolerance are commonly reported. Ask your vet to assess breathing, keep exercise gentle in hot, humid weather and use a harness rather than a collar.
Skin and allergy problems
Skin problems and allergies are commonly reported in the breed. Ask your vet if you notice itching, redness or recurring ear/skin infections.
Cherry eye / eyelid problems
Eyelid and tear-film problems (cherry eye, entropion, dry eye) are reported in the breed. Ask your vet if the eyes look red, sore or weepy.
Panosteitis (growing pains)
Panosteitis (shifting lameness in growing dogs) is reported in the breed. Ask your vet if a young dog is intermittently lame.
Cancer
The parent club lists bone cancer among the serious conditions that occur at elevated rates in the breed, alongside bloat, cardiac disorders, eye problems and orthopaedic problems, and warns that medical expenses can be substantial. Ask your vet about regular check-ups and about any lameness or new lumps.
Behaviour
Docile — until something is awry
The AKC says most adult Neapolitans are calm animals who sleep a lot, while puppies are as active and curious as any toy puppy and adolescents, when awake, are energetic and powerful — so train the Mastino young so the right hierarchy is in place before the strong, stubborn teenage stage, after which, by three or four, most show laid-back adult behaviour; they do not respond to harsh training and need an encouraging, rewarding atmosphere with patience and consistency. The CKC says that under normal circumstances the Neo is generally docile and unaggressive, but is known as an exceptional guard dog that may be vigorous in defence of home and family, and is steady and loyal with those it loves.
Gentle exercise, no stairs, beware the heat
The AKC says every Mastino should have the chance to run and romp, but not with an emphasis on running and quick turns because the joints are easily damaged; it is a big, heavily built breed that overheats easily, the puppy will want to play beyond when it should, stairs and porch leaps injure knees, and breed experts advise against tug-of-war and wrestling because the growing dog learns it is stronger than its human. It scores drooling 5/5 — keep a towel handy. The CKC calls the Neo an energy-efficient dog, content to take it easy unless action is necessary, that needs regular outdoor exercise to keep muscle tone; the Royal Kennel Club suggests up to 1 hour a day.
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 2/5 (fairly low) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "up to 1 hour per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 3/5, barking level 1/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Neapolitan Mastiff
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Neapolitan Mastiff (Working Dogs)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Neapolitan Mastiff
Breed characteristics (size large, exercise up to 1 hour per day, lifespan under 10 years), plus the recommended pre-breeding health schemes and DNA tests.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Neapolitan Mastiff (standard no. 197, group 2)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The parent club's 'Why not a Neapolitan Mastiff?' page lists the reasons the breed may be wrong for you: dominance, territoriality and jealousy born of intense bonding; a dog that looks lazy but reacts with startling suddenness when it feels something is awry; frequent trouble with dogs of the same sex; a 150-pound animal that can wreak havoc without meaning to and knock small children over; a possessive nature — 'my' house, toys and people — that can bring separation anxiety and jealousy of visitors; elevated rates of bloat, cardiac disorders, bone cancer, eye and orthopaedic problems with substantial medical bills; great sensitivity to heat, from which Neapolitans can and do die; and the fact that these traits often surface only at two or three years, at emotional maturity. Its temperament page adds that training begins the moment you bring the dog home, that the owner must be pack leader from day one, that socialisation should start before twelve weeks, and that obedience classes are always a must. The club's health page recommends hip, elbow, cardiac and eye screening and gives bloat advice — several meals a day, no raised bowls, and emergency care for pacing, restlessness or a distended abdomen.”
— United States Neapolitan Mastiff Club — Why Not a Neapolitan Mastiff? via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Neapolitan Mastiff — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Neapolitan Mastiff — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Neapolitan Mastiff — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Neapolitan Mastiff — FCI standard no. 197 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Why Not a Neapolitan Mastiff? — United States Neapolitan Mastiff Club — United States Neapolitan Mastiff Club (public breed information) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [8]Temperament & Training — United States Neapolitan Mastiff Club — United States Neapolitan Mastiff Club (public breed information) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [9]Health Studies — United States Neapolitan Mastiff Club — United States Neapolitan Mastiff Club (public breed information) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.