Post Featured Image
Post Featured Image

The Neapolitan Mastiff

These massive dogs, an ancient breed, are known for their imposing size—they weigh up to 150 pounds—and the loose folds of skin that cover their large frames.

Last Updated:

Share:
Read Caption
Featured Photo Madrabothair/Bigstock

Neapolitan Mastiff breed statistics

These massive dogs, an ancient breed, are known for their imposing size—they weigh up to 150 pounds—and the loose folds of skin that cover their large frames. They can be traced back to ancient Egypt, Persia, Mesopotamia, and Asia, and were used as dogs of war in the Roman army. In this role, they are thought to have worn spiked leather harnesses to disembowel the enemy’s horses. More recently, one took a starring role in the Harry Potter movies as Hagrid’s pet, Fang, and no wonder; with its massive head, huge body, and wrinkly skin the Neapolitan is an awe inspiring figure falling just short of cinematic invention. Steady, loyal dogs, they are protective of their families and, due to their size, strength, and temperament, require socialization to ensure they are not aggressive with strangers. They rarely bark unless provoked and, as such, are renowned for sneaking up on intruders.

Neapolitan Mastiff puppy

melis/Bigstock

» Read Your Breed For more breed profiles, go to moderndogmagazine.com/breeds

Tags:
Share:
Comments (0)

Join the newsletter and never miss out on dog content again!

"*" indicates required fields

Consent*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

By clicking the arrow, you agree to our web Terms of Use and Privacy & Cookie Policy. Easy unsubscribe links are provided in every email.