INT.S.UCH Swedish Winner 92-Flora di Ardea, owned by Ingridh Kral, Sweden.
Picture taken at 8 years old.
The Mastino of Italy is believed to be a direct descendant of the dogs used to fight in the Roman gladiator arenas, with its roots at the
the giant war dogs of the Assyrians.
The breed have survived in the region of Naples in the south of Italy, but it is clear that it have not looked like the Mastino of today. When judging pictures from the late 1800's and the early
1900's it can easily be seen that the pre-Mastino was not at all so large and extreme as today. The Dutch Dave Johnson Scheepe have some interesting photos at his exellent site.
Even the most enthusiatic Mastino lover have to agree that the current version of the breed have been developed in the 1900's.
According to Mastino fanciers the Romans adopted the Molossus dogs of Greece, making the breed their own. When the Romans invaded Britain they got access to even greater wardogs, who easily defeated their own. The Mastiff of Britain were
then crossed into the Roman dog, making it the ultimate wardog.
The beautiful "Zeus", owned by by Mr. A.P. van Doremalen, Belgium.
The standard of the Mastino was not set before 1948, by Dr. Piero Scanziani, but the first time the breed was exhibited was two years earlier,
and already in 1949 the FCI recognized the breed. Dr. Scanziani made a search through the Naples region and purcased stock from several breeders, collecting various type, and started a breeding program who makes him regarded as the father of the modern Mastino.
The Mastino's type is a result of years of inbreeding, creating its wrinkles, loose skin and enormous bone, as especially can be seen in the "Zaccaro" type, who is distinct heavy, short legged and having an additional strong head.
To breed the correct show type Mastino is not easy, and such quality as on the Mastinos at this page is even today seldom met at dogshows.
A good show quality Mastino have lots of lips.
You should expect much drooling!
As mentioned above the Mastino has a lot of loose skin and wrinkles, with the massive head no exeption regarding the wrinkles. The powerful body is carried by legs with enormous bone, often the legs too have wrinkles.
This all over massive dog is protective as a guarddog and the sight of a angry Mastino in front of you should be taken seriously. The breed is nevertheless peachful, even in temperament and devoted to its human family. Strangers
should beware. Never walk straight toward a unknown Neo, trying to pet him!
The breed sleeps a lot, like many other large Molossers, but can, if it is required, get on their feets uncredible fast, investigating the environment with no fear.
A lot of good stock have been obtained by breeders outside of Italy, and we can now find quality
Neo's in all parts of the world. Italy, and other European countries, is however still leading in the breeding of Neo's, not surprisingly.
If you want to buy yourself a Neo puppy you should take the time to research the breeder and his stock properly. It is a HUGE difference in a poor Neo and
a good one. Don't pay less and expect to get a show quality dog. Do your homework and it will pay off.
At right Ragazzo and at left Adon,
both from the Norwegian kennel "Of the Witches Meltingpot".
The ears are usally cropped short and the tail is often cropped by 1/3, according to tradition, in countries where still allowed.
The accepted colours of the Mastino is black, tawny, mahogny, blue and grey, all with or without brindling. Small white patches are allowed on the chest and on the feet.
The Mastino male is 65-75 cm. (25,5-29,4 in) at the withers, the females 60-68 cm. (23,5-26,7 in). 2 cm. (0,7 in) more or less are tolerated.
The weight of the male should be 60-70 kg. (132-154 lbs), while the smaller female should weight 50-60 kg. (110-150 lbs).
If you want to reed the whole standard you can follow the ENCI-link at the bottom at the page.
Clubs/Associations:
Scandinavia:
Europe:
Africa, Asia & Australia:
America:
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