Before You Rescue Neapolitan Mastiff dogs

The very definition of the word humane

characterized by tenderness, compassion, and sympathy for people and animals, esp. for the suffering or distressed: humane treatment of horses.

originating from the very word that defines us “human”, plays a vital role in our impulse to rescue any living animal and to come to it’s assistance.

While this is a characteristic showing great moral attributes, it is arguably a way of helping to enable irresponsible breeding, ownership (most cases) and selling of the Neapolitan Mastiff breed.

In the United States and Great Britain millions of dogs are euthanized in a endless cycle of supply and demand, with little oversight and lack of education to the general public. What a better solution to the puppy millers and unethical suppliers than endless lines of rescue owners ready to adopt their next Neapolitan Mastiff. Therefore the question remains, are you helping the situation or enabling a system of churning out dogs for a profit? How many of us have given a dollar to a homeless person begging for money on a traffic light? The sign say’s “for food”, yet we perfectly know that the money will likely be used for something else. But perhaps this is not such a bad thing, ex-US Surgeon General Vice Admiral C. Everett Koop, USPHS created quite a controversy when he admitted he would give money to a homeless man even if he knew that money was for buying a bottle of liquor, “anything to help him get through the day”.

The best way to support the breed and look out for the breeds best interest is to study, research, and buy your Neapolitan Mastiff from an ethical Neapolitan Mastiff breeder. This however is not the only way, truth be told, whether you are enabling or not, the wellness of an individual dog in rescue can not be denied. Therefore if you are looking to save a Neapolitan from rescue, you are in fact helping the need of that individual dog. To rescue Neapolitan Mastiff’s visit the  Neapolitan Mastiff Rescue Program in the US and Neapolitan Mastiff Rescue in UK.

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A One of a Kind Neapolitan Mastiff

Unico after surgery

On a day when people tend to cover more bad news then good news; bad economy, the war, crime, corrupt politicians. We are no different many times in the Neapolitan Mastiff community. Early death of a dog, bad judging, bad breeder, politics getting in the way, the list goes on. However today comes a story of a truly unique dog, a one of a kind dog, whom just happens to be named

Unico

of Patrizio De Vitalle. »See his story here»
You see, not too long ago in the first days of spring 2008. Unico suffered a truly devastating injury, one that can be compared to an athlete’s career ending injury. Unico had suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament, and it was not known if he would ever recover not least be lame for the rest of his life. However the fight for Unico, started the second his injury took place, with his devoted owner Katriina miraculously getting the 72 Kilos Unico out of the deep woods to find help and to get him home.
The news was devastating to Katriina that day, but there was hope, and soon a successful surgery fallowed by days, weeks, months of little to no sleep making sure Unico would not re-injure his fragile knee during post surgery care. The endless nights with no sleep soon were replaced by long trips to Helsinki, and long hours of rehabilitation stretches and exercise.
Perhaps that “one of a kind” Neapolitan Mastiff, also has a “one of a kind” master in Katriina, because today we are glad to hear the “good news” that Unico has won BOB, Helsinki Winner 2008 and has qualified for 2009 Crufts. Brava Katriina Hagg, Patrizio De Vitale breeder of Unico, is no longer with us but he would be proud of his unique

Unico

Unico of Patrizio de Vitale BOB December 2008 with owner Katriina Hagg.

Neapolitan Mastiff Italian Champion Achille del Regno di Sicilia

Already an Italian champion, Achille del Regno di Sicilia was crowned A.T.I.MA.NA. 2008 Champion, not only this but taking on this title in the mother country of the Neapolitan Mastiff breed, Italy. There is no question that

Achille del Regno di Sicilia is the complete package.

Achille is a product of a Sicilian Mastinari Giovanni Di Blasi, with the kennel label of Mastino Conca d’Oro. This Mastini is a result of by in large two separate bloodlines coming together to make that near perfect specimen that is rare in the dog world. Achille’s father is a proven stud, named Sicano Sine Die, a son of an Italian Champion Vilardo Arke Kunon Ronaldo, whom is also a son of another Italian Champion and much famed Brigante Del Castellaccio. These two affixes, Vilardo Arke Kunon, and Del Castellaccio representing very important bloodlines and kennels in the history of southern Italy. On the bottom of this pedigree you will also see important dogs from Palazzo, but again dogs from Sicily from Vilardo Arke Kunon.

The mother of Achille, Saetta Dello Stradone Vesuviano, are different bloodlines from Naples. A daughter of Goliath, whom in turn was a son of famous reproducer Taison Della Grotta Azzurra (grey). On the bottom of this side of the pedigree you will also see a selection based on Gennarino, whom is also a son of Taison.

The combination of the two lines, Sicilian, with bloodlines from Naples, is perhaps a modern day breeding of Di Ponzano lines bred to dogs from Napoli, making this champion at least in my eyes more appealing and interesting.

It is not only a pleasure to see such results from such breeding, and only a plus when one hears of the splendid Mastini temperament that Achille displays and inherited from it’s ancestors.

But what’s a champion of beauty if there are those other special characteristics missing in our breed? Achille represents to us Neapolitan Mastiff fanciers, a way to silence our critics, with out having to say a single word to the ignorant or haters of the breed, Achille del Regno di Sicilia is the complete package. Beauty, functionality, and Mastini temperament.

A.T.I.MA.NA. 2001 Leishmaniasis of the Neapolitan Mastiff

NeapolitanWorld has launched the re-publication of A.T.I.MA.NA. 2001 Leishmaniasis of the Neapolitan Mastiff, a disease first traced back as early as 1885, and making a devastating impact on the Neapolitan Mastiff since the 1990’s, and in the years of 2000 to 2006 ending the life of many important Mastini in the breed, to mention one name Bobo Dello Stradone Vesuviano, owner Salvatore Scherma.

Bobo Dello Stradone Vesuviano

Besides the clinical condition and the suffering of our breed, it has likely played a vital yet negative role by adding fuel to the fire for those whom already dislike and disapprove and are critics of our breed. To further explain this point, US and other countries have over the past decade dramatically increased the number of imports from Italy, a hot bed of the disease, yet Leishamiasis testing previous to 2008 has been nonexistent despite common Leishmaniasis symptoms in the overall population, which means that many conditions that could have been from a result of a parasite, were instead blamed on genetic problems and extreme breeding. It has recently became popular to trash the Neapolitan Mastiff, as a monster, a type of

Frankenstein

created by bad breeders, even within our own community as was the case of a USNMC Board of Director publicly trashing Bobo Dello Stradone Vesuviano for being a bad example, and a dog with “raging demodex”, despite common knowledge this particular dog suffered and died from Leishmaniasis, instead he was labeled another monster another Frankenstein by the critics of the breed. I believe it is time to turn the page on those days and that wrongly placed hate and critique, with more knowledge of owners on symptoms, free testing, and continued research perhaps this disease will soon be a problem of the past.

How to find a good Neapolitan Masitff Breeder

How to find a good breeder is mostly a question to many newbies. However we were all newbies at one point, so it is a very important subject. The following questions on

How to find a breeder

is presented and contributed by Il Colosseo Member Adrienne Powers (mookiebones), please take the time to thank our fellow member for the time and effort given, also thanks to Il Colosseo Breeder friend whom contributed to this article as well.

1. Ask about the health issues in their lines. If they answer that there are no health issues, this is an indicator that they don’t test, or are unwilling to tell you. Some new breeders do not know the health issues of their line, but should be able to find the answers from a mentor in some cases.

2. Ask about what happens if there is serious health issue, and what the breeder will do if one were to occur. Will they replace the dog? Will they give you your money back? Will they want the dog back? Make sure you get this in writing when ever possible.

3. The breeder will either microchip or tattoo all of their dogs, including their puppies. This should be done before you get the puppy.

4. The breeder will interview you as much as you interview them. If they do not ask you questions, they are just looking for a quick sale. They may give you a questionnaire about your experience with dogs, past dogs, how you care for your dogs, etc. etc. This is to weed out buyers that want their dogs for less than ethical purposes, or are clueless how to deal with a large breed dog.

5. The breeder will give you the papers (AKC) on the pup when you purchase it. You should have papers and puppy in hand when leaving the breeders house, or when the puppy is being shipped. The AKC is the “gold” standard for registration. Do not accept anything less! Sometimes with multiple sire litters or DNA litters and/or imports the paperwork (ENCI papers normally take up to 6 to 9 months) will not come with the dog when you purchase it. Make sure that is in writing that you will receive papers on your puppy.

6. Have the grandparents or parents (may not yet transpire) had any health problems that have/will seriously affected their lifespan?

7. All the dogs on the breeders premises should be well socialized, not overly aggressive, and in good condition. You should be able to view most if not all the dogs on the breeder’s premises. However do not mistake “aggressive” behavior with guarding behavior.

8. A good breeder will demand that you spay/neuter a pet quality dog, those that are pet quality should come with limited registration. While this is unenforceable, there will be a contract signed saying that the dog is of pet quality. There should be a price break for those that are pet quality.

9. A good breeder will show their dogs in conformation. Many are interested in competing against others of the same breed to see if their dogs are in line with the standard. They should be familiar with the breed standard. Some do not like the “political” aspect of showing in the AKC and may not show their dogs. This does not mean that their dogs are less desirable. Ask the breeder if any of their prior puppies are being shown and how they are doing in the show ring. Keep in mind that AKC show success does not necessarily mean good Neapolitan’s. Many AKC dogs win simply because of good handling, or if they just show up to a lot of shows where there is little competition. Also many AKC judges do not know the breed well, and are still learning how to judge the breed.

10. The breeder will keep in contact with you and answer any/all of the questions that you have for them (not in all cases). They will be interested in helping you with your dog/puppy, throughout the dog’s life. They will be interested in how your dog is doing to help them with their own breeding program.

11. The breeder will tell you why they did this breeding. If they are breeding to breed, this is a sign that they do not really care about the lines of their dogs, and are looking to make a quick buck. Many breeders will not divulge this information with just anybody, but they should be able to give you a short why as to why they did a particular breeding i.e. to bring in more height, to bring in a better top line, to try to eliminate certain faults.

12. How many litters did the breeder breed last year? and the year before that? Did they breed the same two dogs more than once? If so, why? They may not divulge their entire breeding philosophy, but they should be able to give you a short answer.

13. Be patient in your search. If the breeder does not get back to you immediately, please realize that good breeders field many calls/emails a day

A.T.I.MA.NA. 2002 Scientific Conference

With great pleasure we are excited to share A.T.I.Ma.Na. second installment publication of 2002, Neapolitan Mastiff selection: inbreeding and fertility analysis. Our Editors Team is currently working on bringing you more studies in the near future.

A special thank you to the President of this Neapolitan Mastiff organization Giuseppe Alessandra for allowing NeapolitanWorld to publish it’s studies.

I believe that our members and breed fanciers will not only find this study interesting, bur rather alarming, with the fast majority of our community likely reading this study for the first time. The study shows our breed going in a downward spiral which it has yet to recover in health related problems as a result of excessive inbreeding. The conclusion, is clear and gives a direct warning in 2002 against to much inbreeding, six years later, it seams the warning has hardly been heard.

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