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When the Romans conquered Greece, they adopted the Molossus dogs and also used them in battle,
in the hunt, and in the arena. The Roman invasion of England gave them access to the even larger
giant Mastiff dogs there which the Romans crossed with their own now formidable war beasts. The
several different breeds that are descended from these dogs have many traits in common: they are
large powerful animals, are devoted to their masters, and are superior defenders of person and
property.
Over the centuries, breeders of the mastino in the Neapolitan area of southern Italy, focused on
breeding guards for the homes and estate. They created a breed which retained the giant size, heavy,
loose skin and dewlap. This was an animal which was a stay-at-home type, and was good with the
family but was bred to detect unwanted intruders and to deter them from the property under their care.
Indeed, many say that the Neapolitan Mastiff's serious looks alone are enough to deter any intruder.
After the second World War, several Italians began to organize and promote the breed. The first
exhibition was held in Naples in 1946, with six Neapolitan Mastiff being presented. The standard was
first codified in 1948 by Dr. Piero Scanziani and the breed was recognized by the FCI (Federation
Cynologique Internationale) in 1949. The standard was rewritten again for greater precision in 1971.
By the early 1970's the breed had representatives in most other European countries and had acquired
significant footholds in Germany and the USA, where a few fanciers became fascinated by the art of
breeding this uniquely looking and moving dog; and we say art because the breeding of the
Neapolitan Mastiff is truly an art.
To quote Giusseppe Alessandra, president of the A.T.I.M.A.N.A., (the International Association of the
Neapolitan Mastiff), "there are three important and equal aspects to the Neapolitan Mastiff: its type, its
size, and its soundness". The Mastino's type, its unique appearance, was created in the Neapolitan
countryside by years of inbreeding. As a result, the traits that make the Neo an unusual dog: its
wrinkles, dewlap, loose skin, enormous bone, and distinct lumbering gait, are created by an
accumulation of recessive genes. To breed a sound dog with these attributes is truly an art...and a
challenge.
In those countries where the Neapolitan Mastiff has achieved a steady population, the breeders have
tended to focus on that aspect of the breed which adheres to cultural ideals.
For instance,
* Italy, the focus is on type over size and soundness.
* Germany, the focus tends to be on size first, then type then soundness.
* United States, the focus has been on soundness, then size, then type.
Only in the last five years we have, US breeders regularly been able to produce formidable dogs of
the splendid type that amazes and awes true Neapolitan Mastiff fans world-wide. As proof of this we
offer two examples. The A.T.I.M.A.N.A. hosts a prestigious annual show attended by hundreds of
Neapolitans from all of Europe. In 1994, for the first time an American-bred Neapolitan Mastiff
competed. Ironstone Islero II, owned by Mr. Harry Booker, and bred by Dr. Sherilyn Allen, took
third place. It was a victory for the Americans in a traditionally Italian-dominated event, and a
significant victory for this dog as he was adversely affected by the long flight over.
The judge commented that he would have picked the dog to win had he (the dog) been feeling better.
As a second example, in the Summer of 1995, Dr. Theo Kjelstrom, an AKC judge who has studied the
Neapolitan Mastiff both here and abroad judged a Neapolitan Mastiff specialty in Illinois. His
comments after the show were "These dogs are on par with the best dog's I've seen while judging in
Europe, excellent bone and type. Furthermore they have the advantage of being quite sound."
History of the Neapolitan Mastiff Breed in the United States
The Neapolitan Mastiff has been documented as being in the United States at least since the early
1970's, although it is believed that individual dogs were brought over with their families all during the
great waves of immigration which started in the 1880's and continued into the first half of the 20th
Century.
The USNMC historical archives has the Italian Pedigree papers on a blue male, Ercole Di Miranopoli,
imported in 1973 by Ms. Jane Pampalone from Paolo Testa. These papers provide the earliest
verifiable documentation of a purebred Neapolitan Mastiff being imported into the United States. In
addition, we have a copy of an ad taken out in the New York Times in 1973, which offers a
"Neapolitan Mastiff -- Italian Bulldog, 6 wks, big boned, male / females. Excellent temperament." which
shows that someone else had also begun to breed and sell Neo's.
The Neapolitan Mastiff Club of America (NMCA) was formed around 1973 by Michael A. Sottile,
Sr. who became and remained president of this organization. Mr. Sottile and his family imported
Neapolitan Mastiffs, bred many wonderful dogs, and converted many people into lovers of the
Neapolitan Mastiff as well as educated many new fans of this breed. The NMCA ran a registry of
pedigrees for the Neapolitan Mastiff in this country, and kept pedigrees, lineage, and ownership
information for most, if not virtually all Neapolitans in the country at that time.
Mr. Sottile died in November of 1994. His influence on the progress and status of the breed in this
country is recognized by all true breed aficionados. His son, Michael A. Sottile, Jr. has taken over the
operations of the NMCA registry.
Around 1990 there were several movements across the country to form alternative clubs and registries
to the NMCA. Sometime in 1990, the American Neapolitan Mastiff Association was formed, centered
in Quinlan, Texas. The ANMA ceased its registry operations January 1, 1999.
After many meetings and planning sessions by many people in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania
area, the United States Neapolitan Mastiff Club was formed in late 1990, and began operations. The
USNMC was officially incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1991.
The Neapolitan Mastiff population in this country has grown steadily. We estimate that at this time,
there are over 6000 living dogs across the USA, with the greatest populations being along the Eastern
Seaboard, from New York, through Pennsylvania and New Jersey, down through both Carolinas, and
into Florida.
Neapolitan Mastiff entered the AKC effective July 1, 2004
