Welcome to Hunter Kennel
Here at Hunter kennel we believe form follows function, not the other way around.
I have long been enamoured with the neapolitan mastiff and remember as a young boy looking in awe at these powerful serious family guardians. Up until the 1980's the neapolitan had remained relatively unchanged for centuries, though upon reaching sudden demand the breed has since undergone massive change. Many people prefer the modern "typey" neapolitan, and the breed has changed from a rugged and capable guard to a slow and cumbersome excessively wrinkly and drooly dog. Likewise the breed's health has deteriorated drastically. I do not wish to criticise such breeders as they are only breeding to popular demand. The average person wants a bigger and more impressive neo, so its understandable that good-thinking breeders will try to breed such dogs. The problem being that they are being bred purely for conformation - to "look" big and impressive; I call these neo's "show neo's" though it isn't limited to the show rings. With this form of breeding it is only natural that health and working ability will deteriorate, as it isn't the primary breeding focus.
Too many have lost sight of the fact that neapolitan is foremost a guard.
link to a wide cross section of modern show type mastino's
When I was finally in a financial situation to have a property with decent land and was able to acquire a neapolitan of my own I visited many shows and breeders and realised that the neo as I knew it no longer existed. I was saddened to see the breed had become excessively "typey", meaning the more wrinkles the better and jowls down to the elbow. The neo was never meant to be an athlete, but most of the dogs I came across could hardly move faster than a trot let alone catch an intruder. I was very much in the minority as this new neo seemed to be massively popular & breeders would brag about 100kg neos (that could hardly walk).
Still to this day I say each to their own, and there are a few beautiful neo's in the show world that I can appreciate for what they are.
Ultimately I came to the conclusion that rather than complain about the way I saw the breed going I would be better to do something about it. To cut a long story short Ive spent the last several years researching and acquiring neo's with as many of the traits that I look for as possible. I do not posses a single dog that I would consider to "hit the nail on the head", though they are all a good step in the direction of what I am trying to achieve.
I still wish for many of the things that show breeders breed for, though the significant difference is my priorities. My main priority is performance… how effectively does the dog perform its role? …What are the weak points within the dog? …And how best to breed the dog to emphasise the qualities that make it perform its role well? I do keep mind of cosmetics such as the dog's appearance, but only from a functional point of view.
Ive long been of the belief that when one strives for function, beauty will follow…. Look at any wild predator and you will see what I mean.
So what do I want from my neo's?
To me the neapolitan is all about power and explosive energy. He should be calm and gentle natured with the family and close friends, yet aloof with strangers. I think far too many have lost sight of the fact that neapolitan is foremost a guard. Therefore in a sprint he should be able to catch an intruder with ease. I agree that the neo should be calm and not a high energy cane corso type, though many neo's lack the physical ability (and temperament) to guard when called upon. A male lion is a good example of how I wish for a neo to be, calm and relaxed yet able to explode with energy. They should be able to move with grace and power and be able to jump a bare minimum of a 3ft fence. Solid nerves are very important, and the neo should be self-assured without fear.
They should possess the trademark neo intelligence that makes them able to differentiate between friend and foe. Most importantly of all they should have the characteristic strong bond to their family, willing to defend with its life if called upon. I like my neo's to be tight skinned on the body, slightly looser on the neck and a sensible jowl / dewlap. The hind legs should have decent (but not excessive) angulations; the back should be solid, powerful and straight. The feet should be tight and cat like, not sloppy and splayed.
The shoulders and rump should be powerhouses with plenty of hard conditioned muscle. The neck should be thick and well set on the shoulders. The head should be well muscled with a very powerful jaw. The neo should be kept in good condition so that 2 to 3 ribs are visible on the ribcage (Im tired of seeing fat neos that breeders make excuses for). The face should have a serious expression opposed to looking like a happy Saint Bernard that's just found its favourite bone. Their coat/skin should be thick and protective and should be fairly free moving. The eyes should be tight. I have a preference to black dogs as they truly camouflage into the night when guarding the property. In my opinion the coat colour should be functional like everything else.
In size I believe in breeding to the standard, females should be 50-60kg, males should be 60-70kg, anything over 80kg is IMO too big (form impeding function). First and foremost they should have the ability to perform. If you look in the show rings, you will see a disregard for performance with 90+kg males with no athletic ability winning trophies - my trophy is breeding dogs that can perform the role they are supposed to.
Original Neo Breed standard documentation.
1965 Neapolitan Mastiff Standard (translated to English)
Molosso: Neapolitan Mastiff, Cane da presa, Cane corso.
Nationality: Italian
Functions (Use): excellent watchdog and personal defense dog, particularly suitable as a war or police dog, or as a sled dog, easily adaptable to any use, imposing and a devoted companion and walking dog.
Height: From 60 to 75 cm.
Weight: 45 - 70 kilos.
Coat: short haired, shiny.
Colors: Black, blue, lilac, fawn. the color can be uniform or with streaking. normally, there are large white spots on the chest and feet.
Anatomy Characteristics: powerful, massive, reliable and kind hearted with friends, frightening and terrifying for the ill intentioned.
Head: Molossoide.
Teeth : Generally level-bite, sometimes slight undershot.
Eyes: Round, brown in the black breed, clear chestnut in the blue and fawn dogs, amber in the lilac dogs.
Ears: Cropped very short.
Body: Almost long, correct legs, tail cropped so that cover its genitals.
Personality: Courageous, stoic to pain, affectionable and loving to its master, a terrible adversary with enemies, stable, very intelligent, easily trainable for all aspects of a work dog.
Current Neapolitan Mastiff KC Standard
I have highlighted several notable points on the breed standard that I feel modern neapolitans are far removed from. When one takes the time to study the actual standard it becomes apparent that the ugly behemoths promoted by show breeders aren't even remotely correct to the standard. The standard itself is removed from the original breed standard (Which can be viewed at the bottom of the "Neo Home" page on this site.), which states the two distinct types of neapolitan; the Cane corso (hunting/running type) and Cane da presa (protection/gripping type). The current standard completely skirts over the protective aspect of the correct neapolitan and original standard. There is a current fashion amongst mastino breeders of the exaggerated type to state that they breed towards the Italian type. The irony being that the Italians are breeding to popular demand for the pet market, as there is more money in it than breeding true mastino's. A correct mastino isn't suitable for inexperienced first homes, it is a dominant and powerful breed with manstopping capability; and therefore it isn't as marketable as a lazy soft tempered wrinkly pet dog that can be sold for £2,000+ per pup.
General Appearance: Well boned, large, muscular and strongly built. Body slightly longer than height at withers. Majestic bearing with noble expression.
Characteristics: Loose fitting skin over body and head, not to be excessive, with a double dewlap.(n.b. the standard states loose fitting, though it does not state wrinkling, furthermore it states body & head… not legs!)
Temperament: Steady, loyal, devoted and vigilant. Slightly aloof.
Head and Skull: Head large with broad short skull, broad across cheeks. Head proportion: skull length two thirds, to muzzle one third. Skull flat and parallel to topline of muzzle. Well pronounced, definite stop, nose should not protrude beyond vertical line of muzzle. Nose large with well open nostrils. Lips fleshy and thick. The upper lips form an inverted 'v' when viewed from the front. Muzzle deep and square when viewed from the front, with deep flews. 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 head, 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, dewlap from lower jaw reaching mid-point of neck.
Forequarters: Shoulder long, slightly sloping with well developed and definite muscle. Elbows not too close to body to allow very free action. Pasterns slightly sloping, legs vertical when viewed from front.
Body: Longer than height at withers. Broad, well muscled chest, ribcage reaching at least to elbow. Ribs long and well sprung. Topline straight, slightly lower than withers, line of belly parallel to topline.("belly parallel to topline." is something I disagree with, historic studies show traditional neapolitans with a degree of tucking up.)
Hindquarters: Broad loin, well let into backline, slightly rounded with well developed muscle. Croup broad, muscular, with slight slope. Thighs long, broad, moderate stifle, powerful hocks. Dewclaws (single or double) removed.
Feet: Oval; close, arched toes. Pads thick, hard and dark coloured. Nails curved, strong and dark. Hindfeet slightly smaller than front.
Tail: Customarily docked by 1/3 of length. Thick at root, set on slightly lower than topline. Tapering towards the tip. Never carried up or over back, but may be carried level with topline when moving.
Undocked: Thick at root, set on slightly lower than topline. Tapering towards the tip. Never carried up or over back but may be carried level with topline when moving. In overall balance with the rest of the dog.
Gait/Movement: Slow, free, bear-like. Slow trot, long steps covering ground well. Rarely gallops.
Coat: Short, dense, even, fine, hard texture, with good sheen. No fringe.
Colour: Preferred black, blue, all shades of grey, brown varying from fawn to red. Brindling on either of the latter colours. Small star on chest and white on toes permissible. Pigmentation to tone with coat colours.
Size: Height: 65-75 cms (25½-29½ ins); Weight: 50-70 kgs (110-154 lbs). Some tolerance allowed. Bitches somewhat less.
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 and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
To me the neapolitan is all about power and explosive energy. He should be calm and gentle natured with the family and close friends, yet aloof with strangers. I think far too many have lost sight of the fact that neapolitan is foremost a guard. Therefore in a sprint he should be able to catch an intruder with ease. I agree that the neo should be calm and not a high energy cane corso type, though many neo's lack the physical ability (and temperament) to guard when called upon. A male lion is a good example of how I wish for a neo to be, calm and relaxed yet able to explode with energy. They should be able to move with grace and power and be able to jump a bare minimum of a 3ft fence. Solid nerves are very important, and the neo should be self-assured without fear.
They should possess the trademark neo intelligence that makes them able to differentiate between friend and foe. Most importantly of all they should have the characteristic strong bond to their family, willing to defend with its life if called upon. I like my neo's to be tight skinned on the body, slightly looser on the neck and a sensible jowl / dewlap. The hind legs should have decent (but not excessive) angulations; the back should be solid, powerful and straight. The feet should be tight and cat like, not sloppy and splayed.
The shoulders and rump should be powerhouses with plenty of hard conditioned muscle. The neck should be thick and well set on the shoulders. The head should be well muscled with a very powerful jaw. The neo should be kept in good condition so that 2 to 3 ribs are visible on the ribcage (Im tired of seeing fat neos that breeders make excuses for). The face should have a serious expression opposed to looking like a happy Saint Bernard that's just found its favourite bone. Their coat/skin should be thick and protective and should be fairly free moving. The eyes should be tight. I have a preference to black dogs as they truly camouflage into the night when guarding the property. In my opinion the coat colour should be functional like everything else.
Original Neo Breed standard documentation.