has only been in the last 200 or so years that dogs have been bred for their looks. Before
this dogs were bred to help man. Dogs where bred because they could handle or do chores well. So they in turn bred to the opposite sex to dogs that could match wits with the other
dog. ( Hence our modern breeding Ch. to Ch. )
Our Neo's in early history was bred to fight
in Roman Coliseums, Against
man, lion,
bears even elephants, for the entertainment
and endeavor to gain wealth off the fights
winners. When people began to notice the power
of these molosser type dogs,
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hounds" existed. These were used to chase down game. Our Euro centric history indicates that for thousands of years these two basic types of dogs were kept. One for finding and
chasing the game and one to bring it to a halt. This is how they helped aid man with the hunt.
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countries, This is when the different molossers went to different parts of the country. Each mastiff evolved into the mastiffs of today. They acquired their own characteristics from
each country in which they remained.
The Italian Molossian more commonly referred
to the Mastino Napoletano or
Neapolitan Mastiff. In 1949 after World War
II Piero Scanziani reintroduced this canine
monument to antiquity, It was named the Neapolitan
Mastiff.
The Mastino has carried it primitive instincts
and primitive looks into the 1990's
trying to find history of the Neapolitan Mastiff
from the Roman Era up to 1946 is difficult.
We have early paintings, writings and terra
cotta pottery. The molossers that stayed in the original region more than
likely kept their original features. It was these Roman Molossers that
Piero Scanziani was aid with Dr. Ruggero Soldati and other dog fanciers.
They wrote the standard for the Mastino and
publicized the breed and made it a
recognized breed allowed to be shown at the
Italian Kennel Club Shows.
The late Mario Querci, one of the most renowned
breeders of the mastino, His kennel
name "Di Ponzano". He and his great dogs made
an awesome contribution to the evolution of the breed. Mario bred from
the late 1950's until his untimely death in 1990. Mario bred Toscano Di
Ponzano, He was a small not much to look at dog. but he has sired more
champions than any other Neapolitan Mastiff to date.
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