MyDogBreeds
Schipperke is originated from Belgium but Neapolitan Mastiff is originated from Italy. Schipperke may grow 37 cm / 14 inches shorter than Neapolitan Mastiff. Schipperke may weigh 70 kg / 154 pounds lesser than Neapolitan Mastiff. Schipperke may live 6 years more than Neapolitan Mastiff. Schipperke may have less litter size than Neapolitan Mastiff. Schipperke requires Low maintenance. But Neapolitan Mastiff requires Moderate maintenance
The Schipperke is a small dog which hails from Belguim and where he is known as a Spitz.
There are however different theories regarding the Schipperke’s origin. It was however during the late 1800s, that Belgian Schipperke fanciers set a standard for the breed.
It was in 1888 that the first Schipperke was imported to the United States and a specialty club for the breed founded in 1905.
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.
This little Belgian dog stands at between 25 and 33cm in height and weighs between 3 and 9kg.
The double coat of the dog is fairly short, but thick and it comes in a range of colors, but always solid, from chocolate to apricot to black.
A typical characteristic of his is the longer-haired ruff around his neck. He also has this longer hair around the hind legs. He has sharp, erect ears and the tail is a natural bobtail or long. Most people choose to have the tail docked.
These little dogs are no pushover. He is stubborn, strong-willed and confident. They are lively, intelligent, curious and energetic and will require plenty of exercise.
Small though he is, he will certainly need training and socialization, otherwise he just goes his own way. Training him will ensure he is obedient and not so strong-willed. They get on well with children, but they tend to be aggressive with other dogs that they haven’t grown up with.
Bring him up the right way and he makes a splendid pet.
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.
With his bright little face, the Schipperke dog is a surprising dog, being fearless, confident, protective and devoted – everything people looking for in an excellent pet want.
His small size makes him able to slot into life in the city or the countryside. He is also looked upon as low maintenance. Add to this the fact that he is intelligent too. He is a feisty dog, and that’s why we say he is surprising because while he can be your sweet companion dog, he can turn into a robust, feisty, daring little panther. He’s got everything going for him to make you a splendid pet.
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 Schipperke has no real health problems that he specifically gets, and he can live to be 13 years or older.
Over-feeding, bad food choices and lack of exercise are going to shorten the lifespan of this dog. Some dog illnesses to be aware of with the Schipperke is cancer, bloat, epilepsy, dental problems and luxating patella.
This is a condition where the knee cap of the dog moves out of its natural position. The patella moving out of the normal groove of the thigh bone can be because of genetic or traumatic reasons.
The symptoms of luxating patella include limping, skipping along as well as an abnormal sitting posture. Arthritis can also set in. Strangely, many small dogs live all their lives with luxating patella and they live like that free of pain. However for many other dogs it can mean pain and it can require surgery.
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.
Dry kibble is always a good choice for dogs as its helps to keep the dog’s teeth clean. You want to make sure you buy one of the best quality foods, full of minerals and vitamins as opposed to fillers, colorants and preservatives. The food you give your Schipperke can have a huge impact on his health.
Your puppy will require 4 meals a day but later this becomes 2 bowls of food. To add some variety to your pet’s diet, feed him some home made food occasionally which can be added to his dry kibble twice a week.
Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your Schipperke.
Try and include some raw meat into the diet as this can help in fighting off horrible skin diseases. Make sure he has constant access to fresh, cool water.
Ensure regular vet checks for your dog, particularly when he is showing signs of being sick.
Check your pet for ticks and fleas. Parasites can be very bad for your pet’s health. Your dog will need all his vaccines to stave off deadly canine illnesses.
Brush your Schipperke twice a week to make sure you get rid of loose hairs. A Schipperke doesn’t shed a lot.
Keep his nails trimmed. If you are unsure on how to do this, professional groomers can do this for you.
Ears and eyes should also be checked.
He’s an energetic little dog so make sure that he gets lot of excellent forms of exercise from walking to hikes to ball games, frisbee – you name it, you won’t tire him out easily.
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.