| Mastino Napoletano Neapolitan Mastiff "Living Antique" "Guardian" "Protector" "Molosser Dog" "War Dog" "Loyal Friend" Specimens of the breed had become scarce in war-torn Italy during World War II. The country was devastated and the people were trying to recover from hunger, poverty and the ruin of their beautiful towns and country. No one had time, food or money for dogs because they had to feed their family first. But, luckily some farmers hid and saved a small number of Mastini. The numbers are reported to be as low as "less than 14 dogs". Piere Scanziani, known as "The father of the breed" was a well known writer and journalist. Back in 1946 at a dog show in Naples, Italy, he saw a Neapolitan Mastiff, which was a rare occurrence at the time. In his well known quote he wrote:" I recognized it instantly, it was one of the hundred that Paolo Emilio, the Macedonian, had brought to Rome in his triumph. It was the great dog of Epirus from the height of his centuries, he stared at me imperturbable; his eyes were not hostile, yet not kind. It was a gaze that does not give, yet does not ask anything, it simply contemplates." After this rediscovery, Piere Scanziani and Mario Querci were two of the most important people for the reconstruction of this breed. Mario Querci started breeding; he generously sold or gave puppies and dogs to other breeders. The breed was reconstructed. Using measurements from real dogs, from that time period, a standard for the ideal Neapolitan Mastiff constructed. Dr. Guido Vandoni did the final revision for the standard in Italy. |
| More History of the Neapolitan Mastiff at the AKC site |
| FAMOUS MASTINI Album by Neapolitan World |
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