Neapolitan Mastiff vs Lurcher - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Neapolitan Mastiff vs Lurcher - Breed ComparisonNeapolitan Mastiff is originated from Italy but Lurcher is originated from United Kingdom. Both Neapolitan Mastiff and Lurcher are having almost same height. Neapolitan Mastiff may weigh 47 kg / 104 pounds more than Lurcher. Neapolitan Mastiff may live 6 years less than Lurcher. Neapolitan Mastiff may have more litter size than Lurcher. Neapolitan Mastiff requires Moderate maintenance. But Lurcher requires Low maintenance

History

neapolitan mastiff - historyAn 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.

lurcher - historyThe Lurcher is a crossbreed dog that doesn’t seem to have too much certainty around it. There are stories that Lurchers may have been bred to produce a sighthound with more intelligence for hunting.

Hunters discovered that breeding certain breeds with sight-hounds produced a dog better suited for hunting and working purpose.

A Lurcher is a sighthound, a classic working crossbreed and some of the dogs used to bring about this breed were Greyhounds, Deerhounds, Whippets, Border Collies, Bedlington Terriers and Irish Wofhounds among others. This means that the Lurcher has many different looks as well. In the UK, Lurchers have their own shows, but no registry recognizes the dog.

Description

neapolitan mastiff puppy - descriptionThe 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.

lurcher puppy - descriptionIt is difficult to put a size and weight to the Lurcher, This is because of the many dogs used in his development, so that they vary in size and coat type. Generally though, he is a deep chested dog that stands roughly between 50 – 75cm and weighs 25 – 32kg.

However, because Whippet was a dog used in his development, he could be as small as a Whippet, the size of a Greyhound or Deerhound.

Generally he has a shortish coat. Colours of the coat vary greatly so you can find fawn, cream, white, grey, black, tan, silver or grey and bi-colored. The ears are usually small and can be floppy or held erect or back and the tail is usually long.

Temperament:

The Lurcher’s temperament is much like that of the sighthound – loving and calm. It is a good idea to have the Lurcher trained and socialized to help prevent both timidity or aggression.

He is an independent and intelligent dog and can be easily trained. He is a gentle dog and will get on well with children and pets in the home as he is a fairly relaxed breed with a quiet temperament, loving to spend time with his human family. Another advantage is that he is low maintenance and makes a great pet when shown love and care.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

neapolitan mastiff dog - characteristicsOlder children in their family. No toddlers or strangers.

Special talents

Protective yet quiet, calm, relaxed

Adaptability

No they won’t adapt well to apartment living or to strangers.

Learning ability

They are intelligent and trainable but must be socialized and know the human is the alpha or they will take over.

lurcher dog - characteristicsThe Lurcher is a working- and hunting dog that won’t do well in the city, as he requires large spaces to run.

He is a dog that will need you to provide him with games and other activities as well as a walk every day to keep him fit and lithe. He will therefore require an owner who loves to be active and who is consistent, firm, fair, patient and kind.

With the right human family, the Lurcher is a loving, devoted dog who will make an excellent family pet.

Health Problems

neapolitan mastiff puppies - health problemsThe Neapolitan Mastiff is prone to many of the same issues as any massive, extra large breed. The most common of these is Cherry Eye.

Other issues include:

  • Hypothyroidism – treated with medication
  • Elbow Dysplasia – can cause lameness or arthritis
  • Hip Dysplasia – can cause lameness or arthritis
  • Cardiomyopathy – heart issues
  • Bloat or Gastric Dilation Volvulus – can be fatal, needs immediate attention
  • Sensitivity to Anesthetics

lurcher puppies - health problemsEvery dog has the potential to develop genetic health problems, but the way you feed a dog and look after it will play a huge role in his wellbeing.

Lurchers are looked upon as being a pretty healthy dog breed and they can be with you for between 10 and 15 years.

Some of the main health concerns with this dog would be bloat, ear- and eye infections or heatstroke.

Remember that if you’re getting a new puppy, you can prevent some of the major life-threatening diseases by having your puppy vaccinated.

Heat Stroke:

Dogs pant heavily when they’re hot. When the panting isn’t enough, the dog’s body temperature rises and this can be fatal for your pet.

The signs of heatstroke in dogs include vomiting, diarrhea, dullness and loss of consciousness. Being locked in a hot car, being over-exercised or left in a yard without shade and water can bring on heatstroke.

It is imperative to remove the dog from the hot place immediately and cool him down by spraying cold water gently over him while making sure no water enters the mouth or nose. Get him to the vet if you can because of shock and the fact that other problems could have developed.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

neapolitan mastiff dogs - caringNeapolitans grow fast and so don’t overfeed when they are young. Lower protein and higher fat content.

Feeding the adult

Don’t overfeed the adult as they can become obese.

Games and Exercises

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.

lurcher dogs - caringBrush your pet’s coat at least twice a week.

The Lurcher just loves to run and be free, so this is a dog that will want a long walk every day.

Check his eyes and inside his ears for ear infection. Find out how to clean inside the ears and make sure they are kept dry.

Keep his nails clipped, as long nails can hook and cause painful injury to the paw area. Check his teeth too and brush them because dental disease is the root cause of many other diseases.

Make sure your dog has a comfy, dry, warm place to sleep.

Encourage health and longevity by giving your pet high quality food full of vitamins and minerals. If you’re going be giving him commercially manufactured food, make sure its one of the better ones. Try and add in homemade food such as boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables and add this to his kibble as a tasty treat. Some raw meat added in when you can afford it will also be to his advantage.

Basic Information

Group:
Molosser dogs
Working dog
Origin:
Italy
United Kingdom
Height Male:
60 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
50 - 75 cm
19 - 30 inches
Height Female:
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
50 - 75 cm
19 - 30 inches
Weight Male:
61 - 79 kg
134 - 175 pounds
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
Weight Female:
51 - 69 kg
112 - 153 pounds
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
Life Span:
7 - 9 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 12
3 - 8
Size:
Giant dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Can'e presa • Italian Mastiff • Italian Molosso • Mastino • Mastino - Mastini plural • Mastino Napoletano • Neo
None
Colors Available:
black, mahogany and tawny, blue, chocolate, gray
white, grey, cream, black, tan, All colors - fawn, silver or grey and bi-colored
Coat:
straight, dense, short
Short- or long haired
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Alert, Courageous, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Quiet, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
No
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Neapolitan Mastiff vs English Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  2. Neapolitan Mastiff vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  3. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Gaddi Kutta - Breed Comparison
  4. Neapolitan Mastiff vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  5. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Cao de Gado Transmontano - Breed Comparison
  6. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Broholmer - Breed Comparison
  7. Nebolish Mastiff vs Neapolitan Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  8. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  9. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Bernese Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  10. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Newfoundland Dog - Breed Comparison
  11. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  12. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Leonberger - Breed Comparison
  13. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Alaunt - Breed Comparison
  14. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Bully Kutta - Breed Comparison
  15. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Irish Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  16. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Alangu Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  17. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Francais Blanc et Orange - Breed Comparison
  18. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Mountain Burmese - Breed Comparison
  19. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  20. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Pyrenean Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  21. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Bisben - Breed Comparison
  22. Samoyed vs Lurcher - Breed Comparison
  23. Presa Canario vs Lurcher - Breed Comparison
  24. Mackenzie River Husky vs Lurcher - Breed Comparison
  25. Pyredoodle vs Lurcher - Breed Comparison
  26. Lurcher vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  27. Lurcher vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  28. Lurcher vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  29. Lurcher vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  30. Lurcher vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  31. Lurcher vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  32. Lurcher vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  33. Lurcher vs Great Pyrenees - Breed Comparison
  34. Lurcher vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison
  35. Lurcher vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  36. Lurcher vs Labrador Husky - Breed Comparison
  37. Lurcher vs Argentine Dogo - Breed Comparison
  38. Lurcher vs Giant Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  39. Lurcher vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  40. Lurcher vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  41. Lurcher vs Goldador - Breed Comparison
  42. Lurcher vs Bandog - Breed Comparison
  43. Lurcher vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison
  44. Lurcher vs Dogo Cubano - Breed Comparison
  45. Lurcher vs Dogo Sardesco - Breed Comparison
  46. Lurcher vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds