Are Neapolitan Mastiffs
Good Family Dogs?

Things To Know Before Bringing One Home

by Ken Alden

If you have or want a family and you want a dog, you should consider the best dogs for that. Some dogs are better with kids than others, and you need a dog that will be good around your family. If you’re considering a Neapolitan Mastiff, you should consider if it’s a good fit.

Are Neapolitan Mastiffs Good Family Dogs?

Neapolitan Mastiffs are good family dogs when they have early socialization. They’re loyal and protective of family, but their size can be a problem with small children. Make sure the dog grows up with kids and other pets to help with socialization. Use rewards when the dog behaves well.

Whether you’re new to dogs or not, you need the right breed for your family. That way, everyone can feel safe at home, including the dog. Keep reading to learn if a Neapolitan Mastiff is a good dog for your family. Read More Below...

Pro-tip: Ever try lifting a Neapolitan Mastiff? Their weight can hurt not only your back but their joints when they hop down from cars, sofas or even your bed. To protect your back and theirs check out the best Mastiff ramps on Amazon.com now.

Neapolitan Mastiff Characteristics

When considering if a Neapolitan Mastiff is a good family dog, you should consider the dog’s typical characteristics. While some dogs will differ, having an idea of what to expect can help you decide if a Mastiff is a good family dog for you.

Neapolitan Mastiffs are very affectionate and protective of their family. Once you integrate the dog into your house, they will be loyal and loving. They’re also usually good with kids as long as they know the kids are part of the family.

These dogs need an average amount of exercise, and they can be somewhat hard to train. But they aren’t super high-energy, and they are friendly to people outside of the family that they recognize. 

Are Neapolitan Mastiffs Good With Other Dogs and Cats?

Neapolitan Mastiffs can be good with other dogs and cats, but they aren’t always. Some Mastiffs can be aggressive toward other dogs of the same sex. If you have another dog, make sure they’re the opposite sex to avoid any potential aggression.

Neapolitan Mastiffs can do well with cats, but they can also run after the cat. If your cat runs away, the Mastiff’s predatory instincts can kick in, and they’ll run after your cat.

While chasing and some play-fighting can be okay, the Neapolitan Mastiff’s size makes it a bigger issue. The dog can cause serious harm to your other pets. However, you can socialize your Mastiff with the other pets to let them know the other animals are okay.

Pro-tip: Neapolitan Mastiff anxiety, aggression, destructive chewing, jumping up, fearfulness, and other behaviors can be controlled with the right training program.

Here’s a great course that addresses these issues along with many other dog training basics: Check it out now!

Are Neapolitan Mastiffs Good Guard Dogs?

If you want a dog to protect your family, the Neapolitan Mastiff is an excellent option. They’re naturally loyal and are quick to protect their family from strangers and intruders. Their appearance can sometimes be enough to scare off strangers. But they can also act out when necessary. That way, they can protect their family when you’re in trouble.

As with any other trait, some Mastiffs will act more like guard dogs than others. Still, any Neapolitan Mastiff possesses the strength they need to protect the people they love. 

Are Neapolitan Mastiffs Easy To Train?

Neapolitan Mastiffs aren’t always easy to train. They can be very stubborn and want to be the boss. That can make it hard to train a Neapolitan Mastiff, and it can take more time for them to learn from you and do what you want.

The earlier you start training the Neapolitan Mastiff, the better. When you start young, they won’t have as much time to become stubborn, so you can train them like any other puppy. You may still need to be strict with them, but you shouldn’t be mean.

When training, offer praise and treats when the dog does something good. And if others in your family are training, you all need to be consistent with how and when you train the dog. That way, your Neapolitan Mastiff will learn what is okay.

Do Neapolitan Mastiffs Shed and Drool Much?

When asking are Neapolitan Mastiffs good family dogs, something to consider when bringing home a Neo is their shedding and drooling tendencies. Fortunately, Neapolitan Mastiffs shed about as much as the average dog. 

They have shorter coats that are easy for you to maintain, and they don’t have as much fur to get rid of each week. While they aren’t hypoallergenic, you won’t have to worry about the dog leaving fur all around the house.

However, they do drool a lot more than the average dog. The drooling is especially common around meals as they salivate more. A Neapolitan Mastiff can also drool a lot after drinking water.

Pro-tip: Neopolitan Mastiff's (and their owners) love dog crates…and for good reasons. Crates keep dogs from mischief while you're away, are perfect for house training, for traveling by car, and provide the dog a place to de-stress. Check out the best Mastiff crates on Amazon.com now.

Neapolitan Mastiff Grooming...Do They Need A Lot Or A Little?

While Neapolitan Mastiffs don’t shed a ton, you should still brush them once a week. That will help loosen fur that may be trapped in their coat but is ready to come out. Brushing can also keep your dog’s coat looking and feeling good.

You don’t need to take your Mastiff to a groomer, which makes them a great low-maintenance pet. As long as you have a sturdy dog brush, you can do it at home. Then, you can bathe your Neapolitan Mastiff whenever the dog needs it.

They don’t need a bath each week, but regular bathing can also help with the shedding. You can get rid of loose furs that would otherwise end up around your home.

Learn More...
Just what does it take to groom a Mastiff? Learn more here.

Prepare for Drool

Before you bring home a Neapolitan Mastiff, you should prepare for all of the droolings. You won’t be able to stop it, but you can prepare your space. Make sure that your furniture can handle a lot of drooling. 

You can also keep your Mastiff off certain furniture if you don’t want to ruin it. But that will be an essential part of the training. Either way, you should have towels around your house where your dog will be. That way, you can quickly soak up any excess drool.

Put some towels near their food and water bowls as well as near their bed and any other common spaces. You should also make time for more laundry when your dog gets drool all over your clothes. Are Neapolitan Mastiffs good family dogs

Are Neapolitan Mastiffs Good With Kids and Babies?

Neapolitan Mastiffs can be very loving towards children and babies. However, their sheer size can make Mastiffs dangerous around babies and small kids. They can easily cause accidents even if they don’t mean to.

Because of that, you should always supervise your dog when they’re around young kids. That way, the dog can get to know your kids and learn that they’re okay. It also helps if you have kids when you get a young Neapolitan Mastiff so that the dog can grow up around kids.

The earlier you socialize your Neapolitan Mastiff with kids, the better they will be around kids later on. If you don’t have kids now, you can get a Neapolitan Mastiff, but make sure you train it to behave around smaller kids and babies.

How To Socialize a Neapolitan Mastiff With Kids

When you get a Neapolitan Mastiff, make socializing them with kids part of their training routine. You don’t have to spend a lot of time on it. But the more you do it; the more your dog will learn the kids are part of the family.

Eventually, the dog will start to be loyal to and protective of your kids. Make sure that you supervise any interaction, especially when the dog is larger than the kid. Then, you can intervene if your dog gets aggressive or accidentally hurts your kid.

Learn More...
Here's a helpful in depth article of ours on how to socialize your dog

Are Neapolitan Mastiffs Good Family Dogs?...Final Thoughts

Neapolitan Mastiffs can be very good family dogs, but it takes some socialization and training. Before you get a Mastiff, make sure you have the time to devote to training. That way, you can make sure your dog won’t cause problems for you, your kids, or other pets. 

Return to the top of this Are Neapolitan Mastiffs Good Family Dogs page

1. Mastiff Guide Home
›
2. Neapolitan Mastiff Dog Info
›
3. Are Neapolitan Mastiffs Good Family Dogs?

I’m Ken Alden. This website
is a labor of love from years of research and personal experiences with Mastiffs.

         More About Me

Mastiff Guide is an Amazon Associate. As an Amazon Associate we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.