Comparison: Neapolitan Mastiff and Spanish Mastiff

Neapolitan Mastiff and Spanish Mastiff are marked as similar in our database. The table compares only the data we have on the breeds.

Neapolitan Mastiff
Photo: Mastino_Napoletano_Rüde.JPG : 3268zauber derivative work: Anka Friedrich ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Spanish Mastiff
Photo: http://delamonteeducol.chiens-de-france.com/, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Neapolitan MastiffSpanish Mastiff
FCI group2. Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossoid breeds, Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs2. Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossoid breeds, Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs
Country of originItalySpain
CategoryLarge–
Height at withers60–75 cm–
Weight50–70 kg–
Recognition features
  • Large, heavy, massive dog with a long body and abundant loose skin
  • Head with pronounced wrinkles, hanging lips and dewlap
  • Short, hard coat in grey, lead, black, brown or fawn, also brindled
  • Giant, powerful, muscular dog with a massive head and heavy bone
  • Semi-long, dense coat in many colours, solid colours most appreciated
  • Deep, sonorous bark audible from far away
CoatShort, hard, dense coat of uniform length all over (1.5 cm max), without fringing; grey, lead grey, black, brown, fawn and deep fawn, often brindled; a small white chest patch is allowed.Dense, medium-length, smooth coat over the whole body; colour is not decisive, with self-coloured yellow, fawn, red, black, wolf and deer most appreciated.
PurposeAn Italian protection and guard dog, descendant of the Roman Mastiff; massive, with loose skin and wrinkles.A giant Spanish flock guardian that accompanied merino flocks on their migrations and defended them from wolves.

Breed page: Neapolitan Mastiff · Breed page: Spanish Mastiff

Learn to recognise this breed and many more

In the Dogtice quiz you practise breeds on photos and see the differences between look-alike breeds.

Try the demo quizComing soon to Google Play

The information is indicative. Texts are based on available sources and may contain inaccuracies; for binding details (e.g. for breeding or shows) use the official breed standard.