neapolitan mastiff

[SillyChicken]

Any large dog, esp heavy mastiffs, are prone to hip and elbow issues!

I've also got Cane Corsos, they're considered a cousin to the Neo. Neo's are century dogs. They were made to look impressive, but not necessarily required to move or do anything. If you get a neo, drool will become a part of your life, a drool towel will become part of your everyday wardrobe, or the drool will be! LOL!

One of my CC's is very wet. She has some other issues as well steming from her epilepsy, but she's a drooler... and it's quite beautiful the way it stretches about 2 feet to the floor, and when she shakes her head, it archs from her mouth and swings around almost in full circle before it stretches out another 4 feet and plasters the ceiling, walls or window I just washed.

In other words, you gotta take it with the territory, love me, love my dog drool!! (my other CC's are dry mouthed unless there's something yummy they want)

I imagine you'll need to keep the dogs clean and dry as the folds will hold moisture and cause skin issues.

If you've not had large dominant breeds before, I would recommend starting out with a smaller or less dominant dog and work your way up, or get a good trainer to work with. 90% of training is training the owner and 10% is for the dog!

 

[tonkatuff]

Yes there are working and show lines that have different temperaments, plus geographical differences in genetics as well. I don't know that there's a difference in skin issues with those lines, I just know there's temperament differences. The skin issues they have are akin to an English Bulldog and Sharpei

I'm sorry but this is just incorrect information clearly coming from someone who has not owned the breed. I've owned Neapolitan Mastiffs forr 10 years and have produced two litters in that time. I've also been an LVT for the past 7 years. I currently have 4 Mastini and none of them with the exception of one of my males who had cherry eye in one of his eyes, has "skin issues akin to an English Bulldog and Sharpei." I also do breed rescue so I unfortunately see the worst of the worst at times. This is truly not a breed for anyone but the most dedicated of the dedicated. These dogs require much more than just routine maintenance to be kept at their best. They are very prone to orthopedic maladies/injuires.. HD, DJD, HOD,OCD,CCL tears/ruptures,Patellar luxation. There are ocular issues as well, entropion, ectropion (many Neos lower lids are ectropic "by design" due to the weight of the facial folds) & cherry eye but I don't feel as though I see them in as many cases as we do Bulldogs & Shar-peis ... in fact if I had to pick the breed with the shortest laundry list of health issues of the three it would be the Neo hands down. Sadly there are only a handful of breeders in this country striving to produce physically & mentally sound animals and their puppy prices often reflect the time & effort they put into their stock. This is the last breed you should EVER buy from a pet store or a breeder not a member of the breed club. These dogs are fiercely loyal and determined, somewhat discerning to downright intolerant of strangers. Most are very easily trained if started early though they require A LOT of repetition becasue they can be very willful. They are rather disgusting animals to live with... they drool, burp, fart, shed & require regular bathing. Thinking of getting a Neo? Think again, and again AND again till you change your mind!

 

[taraann81]

Quote:
I'm sorry but this is just incorrect information clearly coming from someone who has not owned the breed. I've owned Neapolitan Mastiffs forr 10 years and have produced two litters in that time. I've also been an LVT for the past 7 years. I currently have 4 Mastini and none of them with the exception of one of my males who had cherry eye in one of his eyes, has "skin issues akin to an English Bulldog and Sharpei." I also do breed rescue so I unfortunately see the worst of the worst at times. This is truly not a breed for anyone but the most dedicated of the dedicated. These dogs require much more than just routine maintenance to be kept at their best. They are very prone to orthopedic maladies/injuires.. HD, DJD, HOD,OCD,CCL tears/ruptures,Patellar luxation. There are ocular issues as well, entropion, ectropion (many Neos lower lids are ectropic "by design" due to the weight of the facial folds) & cherry eye but I don't feel as though I see them in as many cases as we do Bulldogs & Shar-peis ... in fact if I had to pick the breed with the shortest laundry list of health issues of the three it would be the Neo hands down. Sadly there are only a handful of breeders in this country striving to produce physically & mentally sound animals and their puppy prices often reflect the time & effort they put into their stock. This is the last breed you should EVER buy from a pet store or a breeder not a member of the breed club. These dogs are fiercely loyal and determined, somewhat discerning to downright intolerant of strangers. Most are very easily trained if started early though they require A LOT of repetition becasue they can be very willful. They are rather disgusting animals to live with... they drool, burp, fart, shed & require regular bathing. Thinking of getting a Neo? Think again, and again AND again till you change your mind!

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/Bandogrl/8016.jpg?t=1298993920

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/Bandogrl/BandogsBMsBulldogs053.jpg?t=1298995799

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/Bandogrl/LOKICo006.jpg?t=1298995977

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/Bandogrl/PJPyro404009.jpg?t=1298996405

I think Jamie the dog trainer was saying that the neos, have skin problems of the same variety as those found in sharpeis and bulldogs, seeing as they all have loose skin, folds and wrinkles...it only makes sense the same issues effect them. I don't think she was suggesting that they are affected by the same degree as the other breeds or that they are MORE prone to these issues than bulldogs and sharpeis just that the same skin issues, and general care (cleaning between the folds) are similar between these breeds.

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Quote:
I'm sorry but this is just incorrect information clearly coming from someone who has not owned the breed. I've owned Neapolitan Mastiffs forr 10 years and have produced two litters in that time. I've also been an LVT for the past 7 years. I currently have 4 Mastini and none of them with the exception of one of my males who had cherry eye in one of his eyes, has "skin issues akin to an English Bulldog and Sharpei." I also do breed rescue so I unfortunately see the worst of the worst at times. This is truly not a breed for anyone but the most dedicated of the dedicated. These dogs require much more than just routine maintenance to be kept at their best.

This information is coming from someone who's seen several of these dogs of different quality, and knows others that have had them for a long time. Possibly the skin differences that we've experienced came from different climates and care levels the dogs got, however I can assure you I know what I have seen and what I have experienced through other dog trainers and breeders that I know. I am sure some of the Neos are not as bothered by skin issues the same way that some sharpeis never have skin fold infections. I hope this clears things up for you a bit.

I wasn't disparaging your breed, just giving the first hand information I know and sharing some second hand information.

ETA the above post is correct as well. The skin care and issues that can develop are akin to the bulldog and sharpei.

I should have been more careful of my wording.

 

[tonkatuff]

Frankly it doesn't matter the continent, climate or the care... if you've seen "a few" nonsense dogs does it give you license to liken them to a few nonsense dogs of another breed? Dogs of ANY breed that succumb to allergies or fungal infections or demodex etc have compromised immune systems and should not be bred PERIOD. I've traveled to Sweden and Italy for dogs , in these countries many breeders expect their dogs to survive on the basics, food, water & shelter. If a dog needs special food to keep it in condition or special baths & medications to keep from scratching itself raw it is not a sound animal and it is not bred. If more folks who chose to breed would just breed better animals instead of breeding excuses, ah nevermind! Just don't buy a mastino, try rescuing someone else's bright idea gone wrong.

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Well we can agree on one thing:

If a dog needs special food to keep it in condition or special baths & medications to keep from scratching itself raw it is not a sound animal and it is not bred. If more folks who chose to breed would just breed better animals instead of breeding excuses, ah nevermind! Just don't buy a mastino, try rescuing someone else's bright idea gone wrong.​

 

[scbatz33]

Not to throw myself int he fray...just wanted to share our neo/cane corso cross....he just turned two and he is a giant mush. He's not the brightest blub in the box sometimes, but he is a sweety. He is very protective of house and people. He is the kind of dog who wants to be around "his people" and will follow you everywhere. He isn't super drooly, but he will slime you if he's just ate or drank something. He does have a bit of "stink" factor. He burps and passes gas like an old man! LOL! He does have to be bathed regularly not because of the skin folds so much as he loves to eat and lay in poop...chicken poop being his favorite!

sorry the picture is sideways...stupid uploader!

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

I love the pics of your dog, they are always fun

 

[scbatz33]

More pics!

That was taken last year. He was about 16 months. Tall and lanky at the time. We are constantly being told "nice horse" so we put a 12" pony saddle on him. It fit pretty good! But he was really, really unhappy! LOL! He does wear a horse blanket in the winter to keep him warm. He does like the cooler temps.

My husband took him to Wyoming where in the first week he was bitten by a rattle snake and then two weeks later tried to play with a porcupine. Again, he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer! He's a big lug and he's NOSEY! sometimes the nosiness gets him in trouble.

Here he is with a mini donkey....

They are BIG dogs. They are stubborn dogs. It's very important to remember, you have to have control over this kind of dog. He weighs about 180. If he doesn't really want to stop doing something, you aren't gonna make him. If he goes after someone or something, you aren't physically going to stop him.

We take him everywhere. Have since he was a puppy. He is more socialized than any dog I've ever known. He doesn't startle, he doesn't freak out. He's calm and steady (although, auto sliding doors at Petsmart had him confused for the longest time!)

We did a lot of research - years of it - before we settled on this breed. We lucked into finding him. He's one of the best dogs I've ever owned and I'll never own any other breed. But there are very bad examples out there. VERY BAD. Find a reputable breeder. Do lots and lots of homework. And realize, that you are going to pay A LOT of money for this breed. The quality bred ones are not cheap and they are hard to come by.

 

[scbatz33]

Quote:
He does love the camera......

This is one of my absolute favorites! He is 12 months or so old here. My husband is 6 foot and about 170........that is a BIG dog!