Neapolitan Mastiff

The Neapolitan Mastiff was believed to have descended from the giant war dogs of Asia and the Middle East. These are ancient dogs, large, powerful and muscular, bred to guard homes, livestock and fight lions, elephants and men. In 356 B.C, Alexander the Great brought some of these native war dogs to regions he conquered where they were cross-bred with shorthaired Indian dogs, developing the "Molossus," the ancestor of several modern breeds.

When the Romans conquered Greece among the spoils of war were the Molossus dogs that they cross bred with the courageous mastiffs of Britain in 55 B.C. Crossing these two breeds resulted into the "Mastini," which were soon further developed in the Neapolitan area in Italy. The Mastinis served as guard dogs of homes and estates.

In 1946, the breed was displayed for the first time at a dog show in Naples where it enamoured the breeder, Dr Piero Scanziani, who later established the breed standards and renamed the breed "Mastino Napolteno" or the Neapolitan Mastiff. It is Kennel Club registered.

The Neapolitan Mastiff wears a short and dense coat that is smooth to touch. Its coat comes in shades of blue, black, mahogany, reverse brindle, or tawny. Despite its large form, is low maintenance when it comes to grooming, thanks to its short and glossy coat. However, the folds and wrinkles around the face must be checked, cleaned and dried regularly to avoid bacteria setting in and developing infections.

Like most dogs, Neapolitans shed throughout the year and more during spring and autumn, which may require frequent grooming. It's also important to pay close attention to other basic grooming needs. Check the dog's ears regularly and clean them when necessary to avoid ear infections. Brush its teeth often to keep gum disease and bad breath at bay. Also, make sure to trim its nails to prevent overgrowth, splitting and cracking, often painful for the dog.

Neapolitan Mastiffs crave human contact and will develop negative behaviours when left alone for too long. Thus, they are more suitable for homes where one family member stays at home. Then again, this large dog breed is not suited to families with toddlers because of its size, which can easily knock down small children. They have more affinity with older children who know how to behave around big dogs, although any interaction must still be supervised.

In the presence of other male dogs, the male Neapolitan Mastiff may become a little aggressive. However, female Neapolitans tend to get on well with all dogs especially when they are socialised from a young age. With regard to small pets, care should be taken when around the Neapolitan Mastiff as it won't hesitate to chase cats, rabbits and other small furry creatures. Although this dog breed seems to co-exist with family cats that they grew up with.

• Senior and less active: up to 2655 calories daily
• Typical adults: up to 2990 calories daily
• Physically active/working dogs: up to 3320 calories daily

Are you planning to buy a Neapolitan Mastiff puppy? It does sound simple: find a reputable breeder where you can buy one, but the truth is, it is not as simple as that. Taking home a dog, most especially a massive one, requires a hefty sum if you plan to care for it throughout its lifespan. It means setting aside a monthly budget for its food, veterinary care, pet insurance, supplies and more. If you're not sure what the figures look like on a monthly basis, below is the average cost on a few important pet-related financial obligations.

When you buy a Neapolitan Mastiff, you will have to spare about £1,300 to £1,400 for a well-bred puppy. Selecting an affordable pet insurance will be tricky as there is no specific premium. Pet insurance cost will depend on your location, the dog's age and health but on average, it may cost you around £57 to £110 a month. Food is vital to keep your dog healthy, and for a huge dog like the Neapolitan, you will have to spend a bit more around £70 to £80 a month. Veterinary care is as important as food especially to make sure that your dog is not suffering from any health conditions. Vet costs will set you back at least £1,200 a year.