MyDogBreeds
Neapolitan Mastiff is originated from Italy but Drever is originated from Sweden. Neapolitan Mastiff may grow 32 cm / 13 inches higher than Drever. Neapolitan Mastiff may weigh 63 kg / 139 pounds more than Drever. Neapolitan Mastiff may live 6 years less than Drever. Neapolitan Mastiff may have more litter size than Drever. Neapolitan Mastiff requires Moderate maintenance. But Drever requires Low maintenance
An ancient breed, the Neapolitan Mastiffs are massive dogs with a history of protecting their family and their property. The breed has deep rooted protective instincts and they are very frightening in appearance. The Neapolitan is of the Molosser group of dogs, all of whom probably came from the same line. It is known that all the mastiffs in Europe are descendants of the Tibetan Mastiff. The Tibetan Mastiff is considered the most ancient of all canines.
The Asian Mastiffs came from India to Greece around 300 BC with Alexander the Great. Then the breed was brought to the Romans by the Greeks and then introduced them in their circus in fights. Another possibility is that around 500 BC the mastiffs came to Britain from the Phoenicians. Either way the Roman Molossus is the ancestor of the Neapolitan Mastiff.
The Romans crossed the breed with the English Mastiff around 55 BC and developed a premiere war dog that was called a Mastini.
The breed eventually became extinct in Europe with the exception of Campania. The breed was recognized in 1946 with the standard accepted in 1949. However, it is believed that the Neapolitan Mastiff has been continuously present in Campania for over two thousand years. The breed was initially developed as war dogs and for the Roman coliseum spectacles.
In 1946 Dr. Piero Scanziani established a program to breed them in Italy. He wrote the breed standard in 1949.
Today the Neo is a farm dog, an army dog, a police dog and a guard dog. They were shown in Italy for the first time in 1946 but only in 2004 was the breed recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). It was 1973 when the Neapolitan Mastiff Club of America was born and 1996 when the standard was approved by the AKC. They are still a rare breed in the United States.
The Drever dog hails from Sweden, being brought from Germany to the Scandinavian country in 1910. As a scenthound, in spite of his short legs, he was once used for hunting purposes, having a keen nose.
The dog was developed from the Westphalian Dachsbracke and then crossbred with other Swedish hounds.
By the 1940s there were two distinctive sizes of this Dachsbracke dog and the larger one was named Drever. It was in 1947 that the Drever was then recognized by the Swedish Kennel Club as a separate breed. It was also recognized by a number of other clubs and registries.
The Neapolitan Mastiff is a massive dog , so powerful and very intimidating in his looks. With an incredibly large head and hanging folds and wrinkles, the Neo is an impressive animal. His inner nobility and dignity is evident in his stance and the way he holds himself. He is relaxed, calm, quiet yet imposing none the less. His coat is dark whether black, tawny, gray or mahogany. He is muscular beyond imagination. The Neo is 10-15% longer than he is tall.
On his massive head his eyes are deep set and covered by his eye lids that droop. His eyes are blue as puppies then dark and coordinated with his coat. and his nose is large and the color of his coat. Ears are natural or can be cropped, and they carry their tail straight and curving back. The Neo has round paws and arched toes.
Looking quite similar to the Beagle, the Drever is a medium sized dog which stands at about 32 – 38cm and weighing between 14 and 16kg.
He has a fairly long body but unlike the Dachshund his short legs are straight and aren’t bent. The nose of the dog is fairly large and black and the ears are quite long, much like a Beagle dog.
The eyes are bright, alert and dark and the expression on the dog’s face is amicable and gentle.
He has a short, dense coat and is looked upon as a moderate to heavy shedder. The coat can be in several colors such as brown or tan and black with white markings over the face, neck, chest and feet. He has floppy ears and a long tail carried downwards.
Older children in their family. No toddlers or strangers.
Protective yet quiet, calm, relaxed
No they won’t adapt well to apartment living or to strangers.
They are intelligent and trainable but must be socialized and know the human is the alpha or they will take over.
The Drever dog is an easy dog to have around, not requiring any special treatment to keep him happy.
He gets on well with every member of the family as well as any pets in the home and fits easily into city- or country life.
He is an active dog however, and will require exercising to avoid him becoming frustrated.
Treat your amicable Drever with the attention he deserves and you’ll have a friendly, calm and devoted pet who wants to be your best friend.
The Neapolitan Mastiff is prone to many of the same issues as any massive, extra large breed. The most common of these is Cherry Eye.
The Drever is a dog which enjoys good health generally, and with good care he can reach 12 to 15 years of age. The Drever, similar to other dogs, may be susceptible to some common health concerns that any healthy dog can experience such as back pain, hip dysplasia, eye diseases, obesity, diabetes and others.
Veterinary care is an important part of a dog’s health – from puppyhood to the senior years. However, the frequency of visits you make to your vet with your adult dog will depend on his health.
Neapolitans grow fast and so don’t overfeed when they are young. Lower protein and higher fat content.
Don’t overfeed the adult as they can become obese.
This big hearty breed needs exercise but not too much. They overheat easily. The puppy will push himself, so you have to make sure he doesn’t over do it. No tug of war games. They need a long walk twice every day.
It is important to feed your dog food that will cater to his digestion. That is why some of the best commercially manufactured foods are so good – they cater specifically for a dog’s age, his size, his activity levels and for any illnesses he may have.
In terms of activity levels, the Drever is an active dog, quite capable of chasing prey for long distances without tiring. This is why some dog foods are breed- and activity specific.
A good brand of kibble mixed with some cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken will be excellent for your pet. Remember, if at all possible, to include some raw meat into the diet from time to time. Cool, fresh water should be available at all times.
Maintaining your Drever’s short, coarse coat won’t be a hassle, and you can call him a low maintenance dog. All that is essentially required is for you to give his coat a good brush twice a week. Nails will also need to be checked as well as his ears. Ignoring his ears can lead to wax build up and dirt and this can result in infection.