This animal’s bearing is just impressive. He has a massive, sturdy and majestic aspect. With powerful muscles and a large and well developed chest, his gait is peculiar – heavy and with a “bear-like” swing.

         The Mastiff has the biggest dog head ever. And its aspect is so peculiar that his head is considered the breed’s most important characteristic. The skull is wide and flat, particularly between the ears. The muzzle generally doesn’t protrude beyond the outer vertical line of the lips, but it is voluminous with large, well opened nostrils. Wrinkles and folds all over the body and loose skin specially around the neck (which forms a double dewlap) also contribute for his giant appearance. In general his coat, of the same length all over, is dense, rough and hard and its preferred colors are: gray, leaden gray and black, but also brown, fawn and deep fawn with, sometimes, little white patches on the chest and on the tip of the toes. His height is something between 1,95 and 2,50 ft and his weight, between 110 and 155 lb.

         The Neapolitan Mastiff is endowed with a very curious particularity: his “finger print” is on its head and muzzle, standing for wrinkles and folds. No Mastiff has those wrinkles and folds exactly alike any other. The shape of the folds is unique for each animal.

         This ancient breed (dated from 3.200 B.C.) comes from the big molossian of the Roman Empire age. Despite of his “fighting” past, the Mastiff is generally quiet, calm and friendly, specially with those he is close to. We use to say the Mastiff knows how to distinguish the bad intentioned ones (characteristic called “cussienza” by the Italians – the innate danger’s sensibility and the capacity to recognize friends and enemies). In a nutshell, whenever it is necessary, this dog fights as any other and courageous interferes to protect his owner and family.