The biggest, ugliest dog ever seen at Westminster made its debut in 2005 and instantly made a hit with the crowd. His large lumbering feet seemed to be twice the size of what any feet on any dog ought to be....and the pendulous flopping jowls and undulating flaps of skin which wobbled and waved beneath his chin as he moved were a sight to behold. Huge streams of slobber dripped from his jowls as he stood before the Judge. The world had just been introduced to the Neopolitan Mastiff (Mastino Neopolitano) The Neopolitan is a Mastiff that is said to be one of the most ancient of breeds, a real relic that goes back to the Roman Empire in its heyday. This is an immensely bulky dog giving the impression of great power and strength. His body is covered with loose skin which hangs in wrinkles and folds, especially on the brisket, chest and head. The head on the dog is huge, the skull is two thirds as deep as the muzzle and the muzzle is broad with widely flaring "open" nostrils and deep jowls. The ears are small and nearly always cropped and the tail is tapered and short. The Neopolitan in movement seems to be even more massive and lumbering, appearing much like a slowly moving and thoughtful bear as it gaits. The legs appear short even though the dog is relatively tall, at 26-28 inches, because of the depth of his massive chest, which extends to well below the elbow. In the history of the breed, it is believed that he was one of the fighting dogs that were used in the Gladiator battles of wild animals fought for the entertainment of the Roman crowds. The wrinkles around the neck served to protect the chest and throat from the bites of predatory animals and the dog's massive and punishing jaws were brutal weapons. In the middle ages , after the downfall of the Roman Empire, nearly all of the Mastiff breeds were again used in another type of battle, in the pits, fighting against other dogs for sport and wagering. Throughout Europe and Great Britain, dog fights were a huge entertainment and were quite popular. Gradually the terrier and "pitbull" breeds replaced the larger Mastiff breeds in this sport and the Mastiff became more useful as a family and property guarding dog. Actually, the Neopolitan Mastiff, (and nearly all the Mastiff breeds) do not possess the temperament to START a fight, however they of course make a strong and fearsome foe when they are inclined of necessity to protect themselves. Because they are not naturally inclined to be aggressive, they are loyal and affectionate companion dogs, being good house dogs, except for their innate messiness in terms of slobber and drool. The Neopolitan Mastiff of the modern world has a large number of fans. He is a dog whose ugliness is almost endearing. The old saying "he has a face only a mother could love" is definitely true of this breed. |
