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Breed Standard

NEAPOLITAN  MASTIFF  BREED  STANDARD  PROPOSED BY:

The Neapolitan Mastiff Club

                                     

                                      

 

 

GENERAL APPEARANCE

Well-boned, large, strongly built and muscular. Body slightly longer than the height at withers. Majestic bearing with noble expression..

 

CHARACTERISTICS

Loose fitting skin over body and head not to be excessive, with a double dewlap.

 

TEMPERAMENT

Steady and loyal, devoted and vigilant, slightly aloof.

 

HEAD AND SKULL

Head large, broad short skull. Broad across cheeks and flat between ears. Head proportion: skull length two thirds to muzzle one third. Top of skull flat and parallel to top line of muzzle. Well pronounced definite stop. Nose should not protrude beyond vertical line of muzzle. Nose large with well-opened nostrils. Lips fleshy and thick. The upper lips form an inverted ‘V’ when viewed from front. Muzzle deep and square when viewed from the front with deep flews. The head has loose skin forming wrinkles and folds but without excess.

 

EYES

Clean eyes set forward, well apart rather rounded. Rims fairly tight without excessive haw. Rim pigmentation to tone with nose colour. Free from obvious eye problems.

 

EARS

Small for size of dog, set forward, high and well apart. Triangular, hanging flat towards cheeks, but not reaching beyond line of throat.

 

MOUTH

Scissor bite, i.e upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws or level bite.teeth white and regular. Strong well-developed jaws.

 

NECK

Short, stocky, very muscular, double dewlap from lower jaw reaching mid-point of neck and slightly arched when viewed from the side.

 

 

 

FOREQUARTERS

Shoulder long, slightly sloping with well-developed and definite muscle.  Elbows not to close to body, must allow for very free action. Pastern slightly sloping, legs vertical when viewed from front. A degree of loose skin on elbows is a common characteristic of this breed but should not be excessive.

 

BODY

Its length is 10% greater than the dog’s height at the withers. Broad, well-muscled chest, the breastbone reaching at least to elbow, ribs long and well sprung. Top line straight and long, only withers rise above it. Line of belly to be parallel to top line.

 

HINDQUARTERS

Broad loin, well let into backline, slightly rounded with well-developed muscle. Croup broad, muscular, with slight slope. Thighs long, broad, moderate stifle and angulation, powerful hocks. Dewclaws (single or double) removed.

 

FEET

Round, close arched toes. Pads thick, hard and dark coloured. Nails curved, strong and dark. Hind feet slightly smaller than the front.

 

TAIL

Customarily docked to the articulation of the hock. Wide and thick at the root, set slightly lower than topline, tapering towards tip. At rest the tail is carried slightly downwards and curved in a sabre fashion. When moving it is carried level or slightly higher than top line but never carried up or over back.

Undocked: Wide and thick at root, set slightly lower than topline, tapering towards the tip. Never carried up or over back but may be carried level or slightly higher than topline when moving.  In overall balance with the rest of the dog.

 

GAIT/MOVEMENT

The movement of this breed is unique and should not be confused with lameness. The typical breed characteristic of movement is at walk; the gait is slow, free and resembles that of a bear or the propulsion of a large feline due to the unique construction of the breed. The trot has strong drive of the hindquarters with good extension of the front legs. The preferred gaits are walk and trot, pacing is tolerated, the dog rarely gallops. Lameness is not to be tolerated.

 

COAT/SKIN

Short 1.5cm maximum, dense, even, fine texture, with good sheen, no fringing.

 

COLOUR

All shades of grey, black, mahogany or ash blond, all these coats may be brindled. Small white patches on chest and tips of toes permissible.  Pigmentation to tone with coat colours.

 

SIZE

Males - Height: 65-75 cms (25 ½”- 29 ½”ins); Weight: 60-70 kgs (132-154 lbs). Females – Height: 60-68 cms (23 ¾” – 26 ½”ins); Weight 50-60 kgs (110-132 lbs)     

Height tolerance allowed of 2cm plus or minus allowed for both sexes (3/4”).

 

FAULTS

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

 

 

NOTE: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

 
 


 
Breed Standard

FOREQUARTERS

Shoulder long, slightly sloping with well-developed and definite muscle.  Elbows not to close to body, must allow for very free action. Pastern slightly sloping, legs vertical when viewed from front. A degree of loose skin on elbows is a common characteristic of this breed.

 

BODY

Its length is 10% greater than the dog’s height at the withers. Broad, well-muscled chest, the breastbone reaching at least to elbow, ribs long and well sprung. Top line straight and long, only withers rise above it. Line of belly to be parallel to top line.

 

HINDQUARTERS

Broad loin, well let into backline, slightly rounded with well-developed muscle. Croup broad, muscular, with slight slope. Thighs long, broad, moderate stifle and angulation, powerful hocks. Dewclaws (single or double) removed.

 

FEET

Round, close arched toes. Pads thick, hard and dark coloured. Nails curved, strong and dark. Hind feet slightly smaller than the front.

 

TAIL

Customarily docked to the articulation of the hock. Wide and thick at the root, set slightly lower than topline, tapering towards tip. At rest the tail is carried slightly downwards and curved in a sabre fashion. When moving it is carried level or slightly higher than top line but never carried up or over back.

Undocked: Wide and thick at root, set slightly lower than topline, tapering towards the tip. Never carried up or over back but may be carried level or slightly higher than topline when moving.  In overall balance with the rest of the dog.

 

GAIT/MOVEMENT

The movement of this breed is unique and should not be confused with unsoundness. The typical breed characteristic of movement is at walk; the gait is slow, free and resembles that of a bear or the propulsion of a large feline due to the unique construction of the breed. The trot has strong drive of the hindquarters with good extension of the front legs. The preferred gaits are walk and trot, pacing is tolerated, the dog rarely gallops. Lameness is not to be tolerated.

 

COAT/SKIN

Short 1.5cm maximum, dense, even, fine texture, with good sheen, no fringing.

 

COLOUR

All shades of grey, black, mahogany or ash blond, all these coats may be brindled. Small white patches on chest and tips of toes permissible.  Pigmentation to tone with coat colours.

 

SIZE

Males - Height: 65-75 cms (25 ½”- 29 ½”ins); Weight: 60-70 kgs (132-154 lbs). Females – Height: 60-68 cms (23 ¾” – 26 ½”ins); Weight 50-60 kgs (110-132 lbs)     

Height tolerance allowed of 2cm plus or minus allowed for both sexes (3/4”).

 

FAULTS

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

 

 

NOTE: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

 

Copyright of the Kennel Club UK

 
 

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©The Neapolitan Mastiff Club Uk.