Neapolitan Mastiff

The Neapolitan Mastiff is very affectionate towards their family members, they can sometimes be too clingy and don’t hesitate to jump up on the sofas in order to get all the attention.

Although not full of stamina, this Mastiff enjoys short play sessions, especially with children. As a puppy, they are more dynamic and up for playing.

Very calm, the Neapolitan Mastiff can sleep for hours at a time, whilst keeping an alert eye on what’s going on around them. Undeniably, they can completely switch if they feel a danger approaching their environment.

The Mastino Napoletano’s (as they are known in their native country) intelligence is reflected in their ability to analyse situations. In fact, in a short time, they can judge the dangerousness of a situation and act accordingly. Put simply, they are never aggressive for no reason and do not rush without forethought.

Although they can pursue small prey in the garden, this Mastiff is not a great predator. They never cease to hunt harmful individuals on their property, but not necessarily to catch them, just to keep them away.

Very loyal to their family, the Neapolitan Mastiff is naturally suspicious of strangers. If they do not feel threatened, they will not be aggressive. On the other hand, if provoked, they can be very dangerous and can bite.

The Neapolitan Mastiff is a dog that can be independent but still needs human contact to flourish. They are extremely protective, and their guardian side implies a strong attachment to their loved ones.

Despite their tough appearance, this dog is particularly sensitive and needs to be around their owners to feel content. In fact, they absolutely do not tolerate being excluded from their social group. It’s therefore not a possibility to tie the dog up or to make them constantly live outside.
If left alone for too long, this dog can quickly develop some overbearing behavioural disorders: separation anxiety, destruction, aggression etc.

Able to be quite stubborn at times, the Neapolitan Mastiff is not to be put in the hands of a beginner, who could quickly be overpowered. Sometimes temperamental, this dog needs clearly defined boundaries from an early age. Given their imposing size when fully grown, the Neapolitan Mastiff puppy must conform to the needs of their adoptive family.
The key points to work on positively, consistently and early on are: walking on a lead without pulling, avoiding lagging behind the dog during walks and to prevent their very protective nature from excessively impacting their owner’s daily lives, especially during socialisation.
Although firm, training methods must always be positive. The slightest cruelty would only destroy the dog-owner relationship that must be based on mutual respect and trust.

The Neapolitan Mastiff has a very deep bark, but they aren’t excessively vocal with it. Their stature is often enough to intimidate anyone who has bad intentions.

Even if their outside area is not fenced off, this dog will stay quietly in their familiar territory in order to keep watch.