What is Neapolitan Mastiff?
[[File:Larger Lucy.jpg|thumb|right|250px|{{Center|Neapolitan Mastiff}}]] The '''Neapolitan Mastiff''' or '''Italian Mastiff''', ({{lang-it|Mastino Napoletano}}) is a large, [[wikt:ancient|ancient]] [[dog breed]]. This large breed is often used as a [[guard dog]] and family [[wikt:protector|protector]]. [[Despite]] their looks, they are a big gentle dog with family and friends.<ref name=Pugnetti67>Gino Pugnetti; Elizabeth Meriwether Schuler, ''Simon & Schuster's Guide to Dogs'' (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1980), p. 67</ref> They can be trained as [[guard dog]]s to protect [[people]] or [[property]].<ref name=Pugnetti67/> Neapolitan Mastiffs need a lot of daily [[exercise]].<ref name=Pugnetti67/> They are directly [[wikt:descend|descend]]ed from the [[Tibetan Mastiff]], one of the oldest dog breeds.<ref name=Pugnetti67/> == Standards == According to [[American Kennel Club]] (AKC) standards,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.akc.org/breeds/neapolitan_mastiff/index.cfm |title=American Kennel Club Neapolitan Mastiff Breed Standards |publisher=Akc.org |date= |accessdate=20 February 2015 |archive-date=9 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209080909/http://www.akc.org/breeds/neapolitan_mastiff/index.cfm |url-status=dead }}</ref> male Neapolitan Mastiffs should measure 26&ndash;31&nbsp;[[inch]]es (66&ndash;79&nbsp;[[centimetre|cm]]) at the [[withers]]. They should weigh 130&ndash;155&nbsp;[[pound (mass)|pound]]s (60-70&nbsp;[[kilogram|kg]]). Females should measure 24&ndash;29&nbsp;inches (61&ndash;74&nbsp;cm). They should weigh 110&ndash;130 pounds (50&ndash;60&nbsp;kg). Body length should be 10&ndash;15% greater than height. == References == {{commons}} {{reflist}} [[Category:Dog breeds originating in Italy]] [[Category:FCI breeds]] [[Category:Molossers]]