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Neapolitan Mastiff History
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The Neapolitan Mastiff is a direct descendent of the great Molossus war dog of antiquity, and evidence of its forebears can be seen in paintings, frescoes and statues dating to 3000 BC. Alexander the Great created the Molossus in 330 BC when he crossed giant war dogs from his native Macedonia with shorthaired dogs from India. With its short, broad muzzle and abundant dewlap, Alexander’s Molossus already looked much like the Neapolitan Mastiff we see today, and was used to fight men as well as all manners of big game (including lions, tigers and elephants) in battle.
The Romans would eventually conquer Greece and adopt the Molossus. During the 55 BC invasion of Britain, the Romans were so enamored of the even larger and more powerful British mastiffs that they bred them to the Molossus, and in the process created the prototype for the Neapolitan Mastiff, an unsurpassed warrior canine.
Over the centuries, breeders of the Mastino (Italian for Mastiff) in and around Naples would develop the breed into a highly specialized guardian of homes and estates. The dog’s massive size and alarming appearance alone were thought to be enough to deter a potential intruder, and its warrior instincts and heritage only added more assurance to home owners.
In 1946, Italians began to promote the Mastino and raise awareness of the breed abroad. The Neapolitan Mastiff had arrived in America by at least the 1970s, and was recognized as a member of the Working Group by the American Kennel Club in 2004.
