Neapolitan Mastiff vs Peruvian Hairless - Breed Comparison

Neapolitan Mastiff vs Peruvian Hairless - Breed ComparisonPeruvian Hairless is originated from Peru but Neapolitan Mastiff is originated from Italy. Peruvian Hairless may grow 20 cm / 7 inches shorter than Neapolitan Mastiff. Peruvian Hairless may weigh 54 kg / 119 pounds lesser than Neapolitan Mastiff. Peruvian Hairless may live 3 years more than Neapolitan Mastiff. Peruvian Hairless may have less litter size than Neapolitan Mastiff. Both Peruvian Hairless and Neapolitan Mastiff requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Miscellaneous dogs
Molosser dogs
undefined
Peru
Italy
Height Male:
25 - 50 cm
9 - 20 inches
60 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
Height Female:
25 - 50 cm
9 - 20 inches
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
4 - 25 kg
8 - 56 pounds
61 - 79 kg
134 - 175 pounds
Weight Female:
4 - 25 kg
8 - 56 pounds
51 - 69 kg
112 - 153 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
7 - 9 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
6 - 12
Size:
Medium
Giant
Other Names:
Peruvian Inca Orchid, Perro Sin Pelo de Perú, Inca Hairless Dog
Can'e presa • Italian Mastiff • Italian Molosso • Mastino • Mastino - Mastini plural • Mastino Napoletano • Neo
Colors Available:
grey, mottled, Dark brown
black, mahogany and tawny, blue, chocolate, gray
Coat:
Hairless except for some hair on the head
straight, dense, short
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Alert, Courageous, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Quiet, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
No
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

History

peruvian hairlessThis is an ancient breed, and he even looks like he comes from ancient times. This particular dog, the Peruvian Hairless, was part of the Inca Empire and it is amazing that depictions of Peruvian hairless dogs have been seen around around 750 A.D.

It is believed the dogs were a meal for many in those ancient times, and that together with the Spanish conquest of Peru resulted in the dog almost being wiped out.

Today the dog is held in esteem in Peru and it is looked upon as the national dog of Peru – an accolade this dog received in 2001. The Federation Cynologique Internationale has accepted this breed and also adopted an official breed standard.

neapolitan mastiffAn 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.

Description

peruvian hairless puppy - descriptionThere is no doubt that the most important feature of this dog is its hairlessness, but there is nearly always a little bit of hair on top of its head and on the tip of the tail.

The color of the dog’s skin can be dark brown, mottled or a grey shade. They can be a solid color or grey or brown but with pink spots. The eyes of the dog are brown and the ears can be floppy or erect and the tail is long.

He stands at anything between 25 to 50cm, depending on whether he is a small or medium sized Peruvian. Weights can vary too but can be 4kg for the smaller type, going up to 25 kg for the larger dogs. The dogs are always slim.

Temperament:

Peruvian Hairless dogs love their human families, being somewhat wary around strangers. They are lively, intelligent, alert and protective.

Lean and agile, they can be quick too. Just like with any other dogs, he will require training and socialization if you want him to be obedient and well behaved. He gets on well with other pets in the house and will get on well with disciplined children. This is a quiet dog but even so, he makes a good guard dog.

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.

Characteristics

peruvian hairless dog - characteristicsFrom ancient times, the Peruvian Hairless has been man’s best friend, and June 12th is the official day of the Peruvian Hairless Dog. These dogs love being surrounded by their human family. They are cheerful, playful, social dogs and they make great playmates for children when the children don’t rough play too much so as to injure him.

He is also a good watchdog and when he isn’t protecting you or playing he can be calm and quiet, and slot easily into life in the countryside or the city. Treat him well and you'll enjoy excellent friendship from this hairless canine friend.

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.

Health Problems

peruvian hairless puppies - health problemsLike all breeds there will be some health problems with your Peruvian Hairless, although with good care care this dog can live to be 12 years of age or maybe even a little older. Some things to look out for include -

Irritable Bowel Syndrome:

You may notice your dog not eating his food, having an upset stomach and vomiting. Irritable bowel syndrome in a dog is a persistent upset stomach, resulting in diarrhea and bloating. IBS isn’t reserved for older dogs, and it can affect any breed or sex. You’ll notice your pet being listless and without energy. In severe cases of IBS, you may notice blood in your pet’s feces. Don’t allow your canine friend to suffer – get him to the vet.

Seizures:

Also known as epilepsy, it can be disturbing for you to see your canine friend having a seizure. Uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in your dog’s brain cause these seizures which are a mix of twitching and shaking. The seizure can last for less than a minute or for several minutes. A number of things can cause these seizures in dogs – head injuries, anemia, kidney disease, liver disease, electrolyte problems, brain cancer among others.

Skin Problems:

Many dogs suffer with one or other skin problems and these can be painful and frustrating. Hairless breeds are more likely to suffer with skin issues and they require special grooming and skin care to prevent dryness, insect bites, sunburn etc.

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

Caring The Pet

peruvian hairless dogs - caringFor some, the lack of hair is appealing to some people who battle with allergies. The skin of the dog will need to be washed to remove dirt. You’ve got to be careful however, what you wash your dog with because these dogs are known to get blackheads and acne because of blocked pores.

Then again, the skin can become quite dry, so you need to strike a balance. Talk to a dog expert or your vet on how to care for such a dog’s skin.

You’ll also need to consider your dog when he goes outside into the sun. Protection against sunlight is recommended and once again you might want to find out about sun blocks. Because of the lack of hair, he may also be sensitive to the cold.

Make sure this unusual pet gets the right diet. You want to be sure that whether you feed him commercially manufactured foods or he gets some home-made food it is full of vitamins and minerals. Steer away from spicy, unusual foods as dogs love simplicity and consistency.

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.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Neapolitan Mastiff vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Neapolitan Mastiff vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Neapolitan Mastiff vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Neapolitan Mastiff vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Neapolitan Mastiff vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Neapolitan Mastiff vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Peruvian Hairless vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Peruvian Hairless vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Peruvian Hairless vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Peruvian Hairless vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Peruvian Hairless vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Peruvian Hairless vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Peruvian Hairless vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Peruvian Hairless vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Peruvian Hairless vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Peruvian Hairless vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Peruvian Hairless vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Peruvian Hairless vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Peruvian Hairless vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Peruvian Hairless vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Peruvian Hairless vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Peruvian Hairless vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Peruvian Hairless vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Peruvian Hairless vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Peruvian Hairless vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Peruvian Hairless vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Peruvian Hairless vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Peruvian Hairless vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Peruvian Hairless vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Peruvian Hairless vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Peruvian Hairless vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison