Neapolitan Mastiff

Kimberly

2/7/2007

Rating: TBA (42vote/s)

I have a 9 month old Neo who is not really what the standard says that he is supposed to be. He is already 170lbs and he is taller than most adult neos get to be. He is a picky eater and has to be coaxed to eat sometimes. He is incredibly aggressive. He has 10 times more aggression in him than any pit bull terrier or rottweiler I have ever seen.

I socialized him twice a week from 10 weeks- 6months old and it only made him worse. He figured out that he can really intimidate people through that time. His loathing for others dogs only intensified. There is not doubt he would kill another dog if given half a chance and possibly kill a human. Needless to say I can't take him in public anymore, except to the vet. Off of his territory (at the veternarian) he is only slightly tolerant of humans if they do not pet him and do not make eye contact with him (basically ignore him) On our next visit he will probably need to be muzzled the entire time for the safety of others. He doesn't much care to be outdoors and cries pitifully when he is away from my side. He was crate trained (which took months) only to grow out of the largest crate made (for great danes) by the time he was 6 months old. I can never leave the house except for his nap times due to his stress levels becoming too high and then getting diarrhea. (nervouse stomach) I can't let him out all day due to the fact that the neighbors children teased him thru the fence one time for about 1 minute till I came running out to give them heck and he remembers it like it happened his whole life and despises young children and may even kill them, if given half the chance. So, he is only allowed outside when I am in the kitchen watching every move he makes in the backyard.

It works out okay since he loves to be inside, anyway. (we live in a hot state) I would never recommend neos to families with young children. My 12 year old twin girls have treated him with great respect. One time one of them just leaned against him while he was laying on the floor. He gave her a very hard stare like he does when he is about to growl and then he looked at me with panic in his eyes because he thought they greatly disrespected him. I told him it was okay and had a long conversation with my twins on how they must respect him at all times. On the good side, he is very intelligent . . . there is nothing jughead about him. He adores the ground I walk on and I always feel safe around him. The best thing about him is that he has an incredible sense of humour. He makes me laugh everyday. But his humour stems from his dominant nature and the fact that he is a one big SOB. He is like an intelligent bully with a great sense of humour. I can own him successfully because I never underestimate how dangerous he is. He is not happy going out in public or for walks which is a good thing, since he is too dangerous to take anywhere. I am more dominant than he is and I had to pin him down on his back with my hands at his throat twice when he was young, since he was kind of growling at me when I made him stop chewing my back door when I wouldn't immediately let him in. I don't do that now, since it is impossible physically and I can just talk to him and use fluctuation in my tone and use different eye contact and body language to get the point across.

He basically looks at me with digust and basically says "yeah I get it already." You will ruin this breed if you use excessive discipline techniques, if you put them outside away from you for long periods of time and certainly if you tie them up. This breed is not for most people . . . no young children or male dogs (if you get a male neo) One of you will have to be a stay at home person. You will have to have very strong fencing. You will need to be dominant in nature and confident around your neo. You must prepare to feed them the best quality food you can buy, since they may become crippled if you don"t. It is extremely important to crate train them just to submit them and then submit them every day by making them sit for their food and treats, etc. Always show you are the boss in a kind but firm way. I am highly committed to my neo until the day he dies. There is a great bond and a tust between him and I. He and I both read each other like a book and we adore each other. You neo will probably be the best dog you have ever owned but I would never reccoment neos to most people, especially the males . . . but boy are they beautiful and impressive! I hope this helps you.