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Original poster

neapolitan mastiff?

46 replies

hercules · 14/02/2006 16:46

anyone got one? We're looking for a child friendly dog with short hair due to possible allergies and came across this one. We have a 2 year old and a ten year ol kid.

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Gizmo · 14/02/2006 16:51

No no no no no no no no!!!!

Sorry, but not a good choice for household with young children. Some, not all, bloodlines are outright aggressive and all have a powerful guarding instinct, which includes strangers in the household, ie other small children coming to visit.

I'm sure there are many households with lovely neos. I'm also sure they have put a huge amount of effort into making and keeping them so, and if there was one in my house I would never, ever, be able to relax.

Gizmo · 14/02/2006 16:58

Alternatives - thinking very short haired, more relaxed tempers and not much shedding here - whippet? Pharoah hound? Boxer (still need to be careful to find proven temperament with these, I think), Great Dane, Visla/Pointer/Weimeraner, Dalmation?

Do you want a dog that's generally clean or is it just the hair issue?

MamaG · 14/02/2006 17:12

I would suggest you checked out the allergy situation for sure and if they are ok, you just can't beat a labrador. Such good natures. Ours is 2 1/2 and is lovely. My DS (23 mo) pulls his ears, tail, jowls etc (obv I stop him!) and the dog just sits there!

I would not get a mastiff, or a Dalmation, Visla etc - and a Great Dane needs TONS of exercise.

A boxer is a good compromise, but take it to puppy school early and it should be a lovely dog

PeachyClair · 14/02/2006 17:19

I was surprised you mentioned Boxers as well- they are exhuberant, but with training are absolutely fantastic dogs, a definite fave of mine.

If you search dog temeperament you can get searchable lists, I did try to copy and paste but mine is playing up at the mo.

I would also suggest talking to an allergy charit for advice- I know with cats, some people are allergic to diiferent types, so you may find a wire haired dog is OK, you need to ask. Or perhaps a Bassett Hound.

How about this chap
here (copy working now- that's also a searchable dog breed list).

Personally I think fab, guess some may disagree!!!!!!

Squarer · 14/02/2006 17:21

Have you considered a Staffy?

Very child friendly, can be not dog friendly, so don't introduce them to any Neopolitan Mastiffs...

I realise they are not everyones cup of tea - if you can overcome the image problem though (both walker and dog )they are fabulous.

Shocking guard dogs though...

Original poster
hercules · 14/02/2006 17:27

thanks - just been researching your suggestions. What anout irish wolfhound? how is the hair?

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Original poster
hercules · 14/02/2006 17:30

great dane I thought had a heart size of a jack russell so couldnt have much exercise.

We want a medium/large to very large dog btw. Keep comments coming please. dh and I reading with interset!

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Squarer · 14/02/2006 17:35

Oh, perhaps Staffy a bit small and piddling for you then - they are the only ones of the Bull breeds I would be keen to have around children.

Friends of mine have an Irish Wolfhound - he has a 3 seater settee for a bed and they have something akin to a stately home to house him. He is just a big docile thing - not sure how he would take to my toddler rampaging over him and pulling his fur though.

PeachyClair · 14/02/2006 17:51

Irish Wolfhounds are great, can be v v boisterous though- sis used to Nanny in a family with one, forever retrieving him as he'd jump fences!

Shame the hair is an issue otherwise I'd say Chow or burmese mountain.... lovely.

Original poster
hercules · 14/02/2006 19:23

bumop

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Squarer · 14/02/2006 21:09

Actually, now you mention it Peachy, I recall meeting said Irish on walk with my dog... dogs say hi (envisage staffy and wolfhound having a sniff - guess who gets the most sniffs ) and I stay chatting with staff whilst 6'5" friends husband goes running down street attached to bored irish wolfhound....

allyco · 15/02/2006 14:28

herc i've posted about this on your irish wolfhound thread, and can only say again, get one, get one, get one, and if ever you need a dogsitter call on me!!!!!!!

popsycalindisguise · 15/02/2006 14:30

sorry - read thread title as neopolitan mastitis

Original poster
hercules · 15/02/2006 15:03

We're going to see some neapolitans at the weekend to see what they are like as adults. Cant wait!

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Original poster
hercules · 15/02/2006 15:30

anyother thoughts on a mastiff?

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allyco · 15/02/2006 15:34

have always had/been around big dogs (parents bred Great Danes) but Mastiffs, now, I feel a bit threatened by them. Wolfies just basically have stupid sweet looking faces but Mastiffs to me anyway always look as though they could rip you to shreds whenever they feel like it...

Original poster
hercules · 15/02/2006 15:43

From what I've read and spoken to people, it seems they look scary but are not agressive at all.

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Original poster
hercules · 15/02/2006 15:44

allyco, how are great danes? Dh has always wanted one.

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Kelly1978 · 15/02/2006 15:51

I found this on a breeder's page:

When it or it's master is threatened, this dog can move with alarming speed and energy! Whereas another breed of dog might bite the arm of a perceived assailant, the Neo might leave with the arm.
Due to its power and mass, many question the advisability of having this dog in a house with small children. Though the family dog would not purposely injure a child, the Neapolitan Mastiff could easily knock one down. Just the weight of the paws on a sensitve body part could permanently injure a youngster.

Personally I would go for something safer, like a lab, or a staffie with kids. Too much to risk. There are so many breeds taht are good, waht about a husky? They are gorgeous and have lovely temperants. Bernese mountain dogs, Newfoundlands, and Bloodhounds are big too.

Aero · 15/02/2006 15:56

We had an English pointer when I was little. He was very gentle. Big, but not massive. Not sure how they'd be on the allergy front, but they are very short haired AFAIK.

allyco · 15/02/2006 16:06

I like Great Danes, but I LOVE Wolfies!!

Temperament-wise a Dane should be fine IMO, otherwise I don't suppose my mum and dad would ever have bred them with us kids in the house!!

The only thing I really do/did dislike about them is they slobber (at least ours did). Great big long snotty strings of drool at either side of their jowls and they would always always wipe it on someone. Funny but I don't remember our Wolfie ever drooling. Also when they drank they would lift their heads out of the water bucket and rivers of drool and water would go everywhere....

Danes also have their own health problems though, cancers of the bones and stuff, and they too don't live as long as smaller breeds.

Are you any nearer a decision??

Original poster
hercules · 15/02/2006 16:35

Yes, also going to see some adult greatdanes as well!

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Original poster
hercules · 15/02/2006 16:36

trouble is Kelly - we have allergies in the family and not enough time to give the exercise a more energetic dog would need. We need a short haired dog that doesnt really moult and needs little exercise.

Am being put off though the neapolitan mastfif.

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allyco · 15/02/2006 16:49

maybe a Dane then, as they are v. short-haired? Wolfies longer-haired so might need more care (we rarely did much to ours ) but she only really moulted twice a year. Friends with labs/retrievers etc often moan about the amount of hair produced all over everything....

Gizmo · 15/02/2006 16:49

Well, if you want large, you could try a bloodhound

Sorry about that...my mother breeds them and I was bought up in the pack . Still judge bloodhound field trials and shows. I love 'em to bits, they're great dogs, but slobber enough to drown a small baby, need a lot of exercise and manage to shed quite a lot for a short haired dog. Most are good with kids, though (or maybe I was good with dogs...)

I think Great Danes could be a good choice, from the sound of things. Sure, they have health problems but all the really big breeds do: they're not going to live much past 10-12 years. I guess a lot of the hounds (except possibly the sight hounds - Wolfhounds, Greyhounds etc) will need too much exercise for you and while I do like Mastiffs (friend used to breed 'em) .... well, I've already expressed my reservations.

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