Serbian Mountain Hound vs Neapolitan Mastiff - Breed Comparison

Serbian Mountain Hound is originated from Serbia but Neapolitan Mastiff is originated from Italy. Serbian Mountain Hound may grow 20 cm / 7 inches shorter than Neapolitan Mastiff. Serbian Mountain Hound may weigh 57 kg / 125 pounds lesser than Neapolitan Mastiff. Serbian Mountain Hound may live 3 years more than Neapolitan Mastiff. Serbian Mountain Hound may have less litter size than Neapolitan Mastiff. Serbian Mountain Hound requires Low maintenance. But Neapolitan Mastiff requires Moderate maintenance

History

Known as the Srpski Planinski Gonic dog and coming from Yugoslavia, the Serbian Mountain Hound is one of two modern hounds that was once known as the Yugoslavian Mountain Hound or Jugoslovenski Planinski Gonic.

There isn't much information on the origins of the dogs. These two dogs are considered similar breeds, only varying in region. Its a hunting dog thought to have descended from Asian search dogs.

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.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Molosser dogs
Origin:
Serbia
Italy
Height Male:
46 - 50 cm
18 - 20 inches
60 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
Height Female:
46 - 50 cm
18 - 20 inches
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
18 - 22 kg
39 - 49 pounds
61 - 79 kg
134 - 175 pounds
Weight Female:
18 - 22 kg
39 - 49 pounds
51 - 69 kg
112 - 153 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
7 - 9 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 8
6 - 12
Size:
Medium dog
Giant dog
Other Names:
Srpski Planinski Gonic dog
Can'e presa • Italian Mastiff • Italian Molosso • Mastino • Mastino - Mastini plural • Mastino Napoletano • Neo
Colors Available:
Black and tan
black, mahogany and tawny, blue, chocolate, gray
Coat:
Short and thick
straight, dense, short
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Alert, Courageous, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Quiet, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
No
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Description

The Serbian Mountain Hound is about 46 to 50cm in height and weighs around 18 to 22 kilograms. This Yugoslavian hound breed has been used in Serbia as a hunting dog and they are thought to be rare outside of Serbia.

The coat of the newer Mountain Hound is fairly short and thick and mainly black with some tan marks around the paws and muzzle. The dog has floppy ears and a long tail.

Temperament:

This is a hardy scent hound that is confident and bold. They are used to hunting on rough terrain in the Balkan region. They are independent dogs and training and socialization will refine them, making the dog obedient and well mannered.

When he isn’t outdoors, he becomes a good-natured, gentle amiable dog that is good with children in the home.

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

The Serbian Mountain Hound is such a social, happy, friendly kind of dog that he makes a wonderful family pet.

He learns well, he likes to please, he gets on well with children and dogs in the home, he is independent and not a noisy barker. He is also fairly low maintenance.

Take good care of him and you’re guaranteed to have a wonderful pet and companion.

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

Nobody wants their dog to be sick and lethargic, after all they are our best friend’s. Some ways to check the status of your dog’s health -

Breath:

Check his breath, as a bad breath, just like as with a human being, can be a sign of illness. It can also be indicative of dental problems, digestive or kidney problems.

Skin and coat:

Spread his fur and check that the skin is a healthy color – pink, grey or black. Make sure there is no crusting or itching with red, inflamed areas. Make sure the coat is thick and lustrous – not falling out and thinning.

Paws and Nails:

Make sure the nails aren’t split, flaking and broken and that the paws aren’t cut so that the dog is constantly licking them.

Super thirsty:

Every dog drinks a lot of water after hectic exercise, but if your dog suddenly becomes very thirsty more than usual, it could be indicating a medical problem, and you will need to discuss it with your vet.

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

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. Serbian Mountain Hound vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Border Collie - Breed Comparison
  3. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Sakhalin Husky - Breed Comparison
  4. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  5. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  6. Serbian Mountain Hound vs German Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  7. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Portuguese Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  8. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  9. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Puli - Breed Comparison
  10. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Griffon Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  11. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Borador - Breed Comparison
  12. Serbian Mountain Hound vs German Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  13. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Canadian Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  14. Serbian Mountain Hound vs McNab - Breed Comparison
  15. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Porcelaine - Breed Comparison
  16. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Finnish Lapphund - Breed Comparison
  17. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Berger Blanc Suisse - Breed Comparison
  18. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Griffon Nivernais - Breed Comparison
  19. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Hokkaido - Breed Comparison
  20. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Petit Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  21. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Pumi - Breed Comparison
  22. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  23. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Griffon Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison
  24. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  25. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Istrian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  26. Neapolitan Mastiff vs English Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  27. Neapolitan Mastiff vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  28. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Gaddi Kutta - Breed Comparison
  29. Neapolitan Mastiff vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  30. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Cao de Gado Transmontano - Breed Comparison
  31. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Broholmer - Breed Comparison
  32. Nebolish Mastiff vs Neapolitan Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  33. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Great Dane - Breed Comparison
  34. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Bernese Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  35. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Newfoundland Dog - Breed Comparison
  36. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  37. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Leonberger - Breed Comparison
  38. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Alaunt - Breed Comparison
  39. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Bully Kutta - Breed Comparison
  40. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Irish Wolfhound - Breed Comparison
  41. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Alangu Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  42. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Francais Blanc et Orange - Breed Comparison
  43. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Mountain Burmese - Breed Comparison
  44. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  45. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Pyrenean Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  46. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Bisben - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds