Do you know that Mastiff Hercules is the largest dog in the world? What did you hear about this breed?
Dog professions
Neapolitan mastiff, or mastino napoletano, or just mastino - service breed. This is a descendant of fighting dogs, which participated in battles and hunting for wild animals in riding grounds in Ancient Rome. Mastino was a warrior and a gladiator, an assistant to the police and an accomplice of criminals, a personal bodyguard and watchman. Now mastino - pets and family members.
Description
Mastino very rarely barks. Having a huge size and strength, he is able to drive anyone away, but he does not attack without a team: he is friendly and peaceful. Very attached to the owner. Does not tolerate loneliness and content in an aviary. The dog is characterized by good memory and high intelligence. Mastino napoletano has a coarse powerful skeleton and strong muscles. Dogs are characterized by a massive head and a wide skull with saggy skin forming folds. Mastino have a short neck, a wide muscular back. The dog’s belly is taut. One third of the thick tapering tail stops. Males have a height at the withers of 65-72 centimeters, and females - 60-68. They weigh from 50 to 68 kilograms. The Neapolitan mastiff has black, blue, gray or tiger short hair. White spots on chest and fingers are allowed.
Disease
Mastino Napoletano may suffer from hip dysplasia and bloating. When puppies are born, caesarean section is almost always used.
Origin
Mastino napoletano originates from the Tibetan mastiff. In the south of the Apennine Peninsula, he has been known for a long time. Mastino was brought by Alexander the Great from Asia to Greece. Over time, dogs were brought from Greece to Italy. In the seventies of the twentieth century, the mastino breed became widespread in Europe, becoming very prestigious and expensive. In 1946, Pietro Scanciani brought eight mastino dogs to the exhibition. As a result of selection, he obtained an exemplary male. In 1949, the breed standard was written from this dog.
The largest dog in the world
Neapolitan mastiff Hercules - the largest dog in the world, which is included in the Guinness Book of Records. He got into it in 2001. The owner of the dog is the Englishman Mr. Flynn. The Neapolitan mastiff Hercules in his four years has an amazing size. The dog is distinguished by huge paws the size of a softball ball and a neck circumference of almost a meter (0.96 meters). Mastiff Hercules weighs 128 kilograms. He doubled the standard of his breed. Mr. Flynn says that Mastiff Hercules has a natural weight: he was not fed any special diets. Wendy, Flynn's wife, wanted to find a dog that would grow bigger than their previous favorite, Bullmastiff. Mastiff Hercules turned out to be the largest puppy in the brood and grew very quickly. A neighbor boy found on the Internet that the largest dog of this breed died. He thought that the mastiff Hercules could replace him in the ranking of dogs of this breed. The boy told Flynn. He sent an application - and soon Mastiff Hercules was listed in the Guinness Book of Records. After this, the dog and its owner are not left alone by reporters and journalists. Everyone is interested in Mastiff Hercules. Photos with his image are placed in newspapers, magazines and on the Internet. The master of Hercules is also rather big. It weighs 122 kilograms.