Neapolitan Mastiff Welfare UK
Neapolitan Mastiff Rescue in the UK
Are you the right person for this unique breed?
There are several issues that you should consider when determining if you are ready to adopt a Neapolitan Mastiff. Careful and honest consideration will help to ensure that your family, you and your dog have the correct harmony you all deserve. We want to place every dog that comes through rescue into their forever homes so you must be 100% sure that this is the breed for you.
These dogs make wonderful companions. They are not dogs that should be left outside or chained up all day long. They are loving animals that need human companionship.
They slobber, so are you willing and prepared to wash your walls, ceilings etc after the slobber flies when they shake their heads? 
They snore, so if you are a light sleeper then maybe you need another breed?
An adult male Neapolitan can go through 20kgs of dried food a month.
Do you have a vehicle large enough to transport a Neapolitan if you need to take it to the vet in an emergency?
Veterinary bills for this size of dog are normally much higher than in smaller breeds and we normally recommend insurance from a reputable provider, however premiums are of course higher than normal too.
Most rescue cases are from broken homes and the average age seems to be between 2 and 3 years of age. At this stage they are over their major growing stage and will eat two large meals twice a day preferably from stands. Their food must be of good quality and low in protein (under 26% in a dry food) - it makes an enormous difference if they are on good quality food!
Mastini can be generally good around children especially if brought up around them but as they can be clumsy and excitable we cannot rehome to families where there are children under 12yrs of age.
They can be very good around other dogs and cats if they have been raised around them.
They can be very confident and dominant towards other dogs so if you already have an adult male, you should only consider rehoming a female and vice versa.
The correct type of training is essential as you must be in control of your dog at all times. Basic behaviour and training advice can be provided through DogPsyche UK (please see in the links section) free of charge for mastini rehomed through Neapolitan Mastiff Welfare UK. These dogs are not attack dogs but they are - as most mastiff-types - a guarding breed and will display natural guarding behaviours to raise the alarm if something alerts them or they feel threatened in any way.
Above all if you treat them right they will respond devotedly to you. We have had many a dog in rescue that has had a bad start in life only to become the most wonderful dog in the right home.
