Named after the Estrela mountain region, it has been bred true to type for ages, up until the early decades of the 20th century, when the increasingly popular German Shepherd was introduced to its bloodline, although some pure strains survived in the remote rural areas. Seen by many as the worst episode in the breed's history, the first 40 years of the 20th century are referred to as the "Dark Ages for the Estrela" by some fanciers. After the WW2, the renewed interest in the working trials has helped revitalize the breed, but by the 1970's, the popularization of foreign dogs and the unfortunate decline in numbers of indigenous Portuguese breeds threatened to bring the Estrela Mountain Dog to extinction once again. Many credit the Portuguese Revolution of 1974 with saving this wonderful Molosser and thanks to a careful breeding programme conducted by dedicated breeders, the Cao da Serra da Estrela has been revived and is today back to its old self. The breed can today be seen in all parts of Portugal, as well as outside its native borders, slowly becoming a valued livestock guardian and property watchdog. Commonly encountered at Dog Shows, this handsome mountain dog is gaining popularity in many countries, including the United States, where the breed was recognized by the UKC in 1996 and the official Estrela club has been formed in 1998 to promote this great working dog and ensure proper breeding practices.

The Estrela Mountain Dog is an alert and dedicated guardian, often seen patroling the property in search of intruders, rather than calmly waiting for them. An excellent sheepdog, it has reportedly also been used in the past as a cart-pulling dog, as well as a capable wolf killer. It makes an impressive service dog, commonly employed by the Portuguese Police. Aggressive towards threatening strangers, the Estrela is much more relaxed when away from its territory, while remaining alert and focused. Gentle with children and devoted to its owner, it can be a very good family dog, although it prefers living outside. This is an athletic breed, known for its great speed and remarkable agility. Intelligent and independent, the Estrela is a reasonably easy dog to train, but it can be quite stubborn at times, needing early socialization and experienced handling. Due to its protective drive and dominant nature, this Moloss requires responsible supervision around strange dogs. This rustic breed comes in two main varieties, the popular Northern-Estrela long-coat and the less commonly found Southern-Estrela short-coat type. Reportedly, there is also another Estrela variant, the much larger, heavier, long-coated "old mountain" type, but it allows for a greater number of colour variations, preventing that type from being accepted into the modern Estrela categorization. The Cao da Serra da Estrela belongs to the lighter group of Molossian mastiffs, having a powerful and compact body, but also a perfectly balanced head-type posessing both the lupoid and molossoid facial features.

The coat comes in solid colours of fawn, yellow, wolf-gray, brown, black and brindle with or without small white markings and usually a very dark face mask, but the classic fawn is preferred for show, while the rarely seen piebald examples aren't accepted. Average height is around 28 inches, although slightly smaller examples exist.

Located between the Black Sea on the West and the Caspian Sea on the East, the Kavkaz (Caucasus) mountain range of Eastern Europe represents a true melting pot of various cultures due to a number of nations calling it their home through the ages. Today these influences are still strong and a rich source of cultural wealth of the region, as well as numerous political conflicts. Encompassing the territories of Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Daghestan, Ossetia, Turkey, Chechnia, Ingushetia and Iran, the Caucasus mountains are also home to one of the oldest living Molossers, the magnificent Caucasian Shepherd Dog. In reality the term "Caucasian Dog" should stand for a group of breeds and not for a single breed or a favored variant. There is a great variety of types among the Caucasian dogs depending on their home region, but due to the ignorance of many Westerners and strong national appetite of Russian and pro-Russian dog fanciers worldwide, a single type bearing a misleading name is being favored in the show rings and literature, at the expense of truth and other breed variants. The exotic-sounding misnomer "Ovcharka" is very popular in the West, thanks to the efforts of the Russian Kennel Club, even though it simply translates to "Sheepdog, Shepherd or Shepherd Dog", making it very unpopular and often insulting among the non-Russian Kavkaz nationals and dog enthusiasts, not only because of the Russian name, but also for the fact that this really isn't a typical sheepdog, since it is neither a herding dog nor a shepherd's companion, but strictly a guardian/protection animal. Considered a Russian breed, the Caucasian Ovtcharka is part of the Troika, a threesome of recognized Russian sheepdogs, the other two being the bearded South-Russian Sheepdog and the somewhat controversial Central Asian Shepherd Dog. 

In order to understand the issues concerning the Caucasian Shepherd Dog, a short historic overview is in order. Although its first official Western Show-Ring appearance was in the 1930's in Germany, the Caucasian Shepherd Dog has existed since ancient times and, like many Eastern Molossers, was introduced to the bloodlines of many of today's World breeds throughout history. Like the Balkans, the Armenian Plateau was one of the earliest cradles of civilization and the first appearance of dogs of this type is closely linked to that area. The Armenian Gamprs are seen as a variant of the Caucasian Shepherd Dog, and while that may be the case, it is also important to note that the Gampr comes in two distinct varieties, both of which are much older than the modern Caucasian and Central-Asian Sheepdogs. A number of researchers see the Caucasian dogs as being the living link between the sheepdogs of the Balkans and mastiffs of Asia, while some believe that the breed was a result of crossing the mountain Gampyrs with spitz-type dogs in ancient times, but these theories, although not without merit, are understandably not very popular. 

Most blame for the confusion surrounding the Caucasian Shepherd Dog should be placed on the Soviet concept, which was famous for erasing facts and re-writing histories of regions under its rule. Even though it was officially non-nationalist, the Soviet regime was obviously pro-Russian, which was manifested through forcing Russian language and cultural ideas on many non-Russian nations it controlled. It should be noted that the Russian introduction to the Kavkaz came in 1859, which goes against the theories claiming the ancient Caucasian Shepherd Dog as an indigenous Russian breed. Even Stalin himself wasn't Russian, but a Georgian native. In this respect, the Turks could lay more claim on the breed, seeing how they ruled the region before the Soviets did and are known to had used Caucasian dogs as guardians for their camps and forts as far back as the 1700's. The same case could be made for pre-Turkish rulers of the area, but this could turn into into a vicious circle of "who came first?", even further complicating the issue. Politics and nationalism should never mix with dog-culture, but unfortunately they do and oftentimes have terrible consequences for the breed. 

When Russians started importing Caucasus dogs to Moscow, they separated them into two types, the mountain dogs receiving the name "Trans- Caucasian Ovtcharka" after the Trans-Caucasus region, consisting of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, while the shorter-haired and lighter-built type steppe dogs were labeled as the "Kavkaskaya Sobaka". Because of the immense variation in sizes and temperaments within the two "official" types, the Soviets started a standardization programme which resulted in an official standard change in the 1970's, when the Russian Kynological Federation made the decision to promote a single type, under the name of " Caucasian Ovtcharka", abandoning their earlier definitions. They agreed that the "best" type is the Georgian bear type, as supposedly favoured by Stalin. The Russian-favored Georgian type is actually a hybrid, created by crossing the Nagazi and Mt.Kazbek variants, both of which still exist in Georgia. The strong influence of some Central Asian bloodlines shouldn't be ignored. Modern incarnation of the Russian show type also has a small percentage of St.Bernard, Sarplaninac, Leonberger, Moscow Watchdog and even Scottish Collie and Tibetan Mastiff blood running through its veins, courtesy of ambitious Soviet breeders trying to create a more agreeable personality, richer coats and a greater variety of colorings in their "Ovtcharka" stock. When the Soviet military was developing the Moscow Watchdog in the post WW2 years, they imported Armenian and Azerbaijan mountain dogs and crossed them with St. Bernards, resulting in an excellent service dog, but also in a demise of certain bloodlines of Caucasian dogs. During the Cold War, the Caucasian Shepherd Dog was a breed commonly seen wherever the Soviet Army was stationed, including many areas of Central Asia and some parts of Europe, such as east Germany, where they were famously used as patrol dogs guarding the Berlin Wall. Many of these working strains have been crossed with indigenous breeds of these regions over the years, affecting both the native dogs and the CO breed. For instance, in Germany there was an increase in size and coat length within some lines of the German Shepherd Dog, effects of which can still be observed in certain types of the modern GSD breed today, but also in some Caucasian Ovcharkas on occasion. After the fall of the Wall, over 7000 of these dogs are believed to had been disbanded and left behind, where they were adopted by many German families and dog enthusiasts, becoming one of the building blocks for the modern Caucasian Ovtcharka, along with the Russian show type. Because military bloodlines come in a variety of colors, sizes and temperaments, they aren't favored among some modern Russian breeders who are pushing for a single type, the aforementioned bear variant of the Georgian dogs, preferred in shades of wolf-gray colours. 

The main Russian bloodlines can be traced to Moscow, Perm, Ekaterinburg, Tambov, Orenburg, Magnitogorsk, Celjabinsk, Novosibirsk, Donjeck, Lugansk, Ivanovo, Nizhi-Novgograd and St.Petersburg, even though there are many different Caucasian strains still found in the Caucasus mountains. In recent years, the term "Aboriginal" is being used to describe older, non-show mountain bloodlines, but this is very misleading and often used as a trendy marketing ploy by some breeders. Even though most dogs in the Caucasus are working hybrids between various types, there are still some distinguishing characteristics among regional variants. For instance, the Georgian dogs are divided into the large, longhaired and often multicoloured Mkinvartsveri Kazbek type and the slightly smaller wolf-grey Nagazi dogs of medium-length coat with longer muzzles, but there is also a separate breed known as Tushetian Nagazi or Georgian Caucasian Sheepdog in Georgia, which represents the original Gruzian population of the breed, with the pure white dogs being the most valued. Daghestan dogs are tall, wide-headed and athletic, always short-haired and multicoloured. Astrakhan type is found in the Kabardino-Balkarian region and is believed to be a cross between the Russian show type and the old Circassian and Kazbek dogs, but Balkarian Molossers are also rooted in the Sarmatian Mastiff.

The Turkish Caucasus dogs are divided into 4 types, those being the Garban, the Akhaltsihnske type, the Circassian variant and the Kars Dog. The large, short-muzzled, shorthaired fawn, brown, red, with or without white markings and extremely vicious Garban (Gorban) was developed from the Kars and the Kangal, as well as other Turkish dogs being crossed with the Armenian and Kazbek types. The Akhaltsihnske type was then created from the Garban crosses with the Georgian Nagazi variant and possibly Turkish Akbash, resulting in longhaired, lightly built solid-coloured white, fawn and grey dogs. The Circassian variant is believed to be a result of crossing the Kangals with the Cherkes dogs introduced to Turkey after the Russian-Circassian wars. The Kars Dog is a variety closely associated with the Kars province of modern Turkey and is today seen as a separate breed. The Armenian Gamprs are usually slightly smaller than the Georgian dogs and are shorter-necked and more squarely built, also allowing for a great variety of colours, even brown or black. The Azerbaijan Volkodav variant also comes in two types, with the longhaired mountain and short-coated steppe dogs both being smaller than Georgian and Armenian types, always having black masks. A result of matings between the dogs of southern Kavkaz with the Sage Mazandarani and the Kars Dog of Turkey, the Iranian Sage Ghafghazi is a lean, powerful and richly coated mastiff, used as a caravan protector of the Shahsavan nomads, who have been breeding it since the 17th century. These Iranian Caucasians come in a variety of colours, both solid and bicoloured. There is also a rare shorthaired Kavkaz mastiff, known as the North-Caucasian Volkodav, which is on its way to receive a separate breed recognition. It should be noted that even the legendary Alaunt, the breed considered to be the key progenitor of all western bulldogge breeds, is also rooted in the East and closely connected to this Caucasian stock of working dogs. 

As mentioned above, most working Caucasian dogs are hybrids between established types, as well as some lines of the Central Asian dogs, in effect making the Russian show type appear to be a superiourly-bred dog in the eyes of the West. This is of course due to in part to the main difference between the Eastern and Western ways; the dogs being bred strictly for work in the East and primarily for show and companion life in the West. Apart from the obvious influence of the Central Asian Shepherd, the fighting strains of the Caucasian Ovcharka can also contain a drop or two of blood of some European and American breeds, from certain mastiffs, such as the Mastino Napoletano and English Mastiff to even some smaller working bullies like the Pit Bull Terrier and Bandogge, but these crosses are not as prevalent in the CO as they are in the CAO breed and are rarely seen outside of the fighting circles. The Caucasian Molossers were used for centuries to protect properties, guard livestock, kill wolves, hunt bears and for many other duties, but today and especially in the West, they're most commonly employed as companion animals and watchdogs. Most prized as an aggressive property guardian, the mightyCaucasian Ovcharka is an intimidating and committed protector with no equal. The Caucasian Shepherd Dog is generally a low activity dog, seemingly lethargic when not working, but extremely agile and convincing when it feels its family is threatened. Although certain strains are more vicious than others, all Caucasians are very territorial and fairly dog-aggressive, needing early and careful broad socialization, as well as firm, but never forceful handling.

Powerful and massive, the Kavkaz Volkodav can prove to be a serious problem for an inexperienced owner, because it respects and obeys only those dominant and fair members of the family that it deems superiour to itself. Gentle companions and playful clowns when relaxing with their human "pack", these dogs are generally good with children, although they will not see them as their masters. The great Kavkazec develops a strong bond with its owner and is quite trainable, but will rarely be completely submissive and blindly follow orders, for this is truly a thinking dog, which relies primarily on its own instincts, sometimes even disregarding its master's directions in certain situations. Being a true protection dog, famous for having well-developed guardian instincts, strong defense drive and lightning-fast reflexes, the Caucasian may become too aggressive and even dangerous when owned by weak-willed, ignorant and unsuitable owners who fail to properly control their dogs or recognize the breed's true nature. 

The Caucasian Shepherd Dog also differs from the majority of other LGD breeds when it comes to its primary drives, because it is more than just a typical livestock guardian which is governed by basic defense drive. Alongside only a handful of other Molossers known for being a "step above" when it comes to the seriousness with which the job of defense is regarded by such dogs, the CO also has an elevated prey drive, which is not a common characteristic of most livestock guardian breeds. Unlike many LGD's whose job was mainly centered around being a deterrent primarily and a "last resort" combatant in addition, the Caucasian Ovtcharka was not only kept to protect the flock and property, but was also expected to chase, engage and even kill those predators that refuse to back off immediately. This addition of prey drives and kill drives to its already intense defensive attitude is what sets the breed apart from most of its relatives and makes the CO an outstanding worker, but it also creates some controversy among the breed fanciers, some of which refuse to acknowledge the breed's legendary temperament for what it really is and what it has been for centuries. When faced with the dilemma of breeding these dogs to be true to their heritage or whether to "soften" them up, an alarmingly numerous portion of modern breeders opt for the latter route, mostly due to difficulties concerning the "marketability" of the breed. As the Caucasian Shepherd keeps getting more popular outside of eastern Europe, the breed's true nature is steadily becoming less talked about and at times downright negated, which is not only disrespectful to its heritage, but also potentially dangerous for its constantly growing number of fans, most of whom are enamoured with the size and beauty of the dogs, instead of the actual temperament characteristics of the breed. Although not all modern bloodlines have identical aggression levels, the breed as a whole is known for its outstanding guarding abilities and is by definition immensely protective. It has even been unfairly described as somewhat of a "loose cannon" by its detractors in recent years, although most such dogs are a result of either poor breeding, irresponsible ownership or bad upbringing. Still, with proper care, handling and training, the Kavkazskaya Ovcharka can be a well-behaved and obedient companion to those who understand this majestic Molosser. While this wonderful ancient breed makes an amenable family dog, it certainly isn't the same thing as a Newfoundland, a Bernese or a St.Bernard and potential owners should be aware of the breed's history and temperament before deciding to tackle the task of raising a Caucasian Shepherd Dog. 

A well-bred Caucasian Shepherd Dog should be a healthy, strongly-boned, muscular and even-tempered Moloss, but some of today's bloodlines are prone to hip-dysplasia, obesity and too soft, as well as overly-vicious temperaments. The body is powerful and strong, with a broad, straight back, a wide, deep chest and a short, muscular neck. Depending on whether the dog belongs to the Mountain or Steppe type, the length of the strong sturdy legs can vary, with the Steppe variety of the breed having longer legs, as well as being overall leaner and oftentimes taller than its Mountain type counterpart, whose legs tend to be slightly shorter and thicker. The heavy Mountain type, while less athletic and rarely found performing the breed's traditional livestock guarding duties in the Caucasus, is today seen as more impressive and thus much more popular than the Steppe variety, especially in Russia and the West, where it is often presented as the "correct" Caucasian Ovcharka, while the true rustic leaner representatives of the breed are usually overlooked in literature and rarely encountered in Dog Shows. Although the popular "bear" type is known for having massive, at times enormous heads, the CO of any variety must have a large head, with a broad skull, flat forehead, fairly soft stop, a slightly tapered strong muzzle, which is somewhat shorter than the length of the skull. However, females shouldn't resemble male dogs, having lighter heads with strong feminine features. The nose must be strongly pigmented, preferably black, although a dark brown nose is permitted for white-coated dogs. The lips are quite heavy, but shouldn't ever be overly loose. The deep set eyes are moderately small, dark and oval in shape. The ears of the Kavkaskaya Ovtcharka are set high on the head and have traditionally been cropped, although a large number of modern dogs can be seen unaltered. The tail is high set, usually curled over the dog's back. It should be noted that in some regions, working Caucasians can have their tails cut off, which leads neophytes to the breed to mistake them for Central Asian Ovcharkas, even though a docked tail is allowed by the breed Standard and accepted for Shows. 

True working Caucasian Shepherd Dogs will generally have shorter coats, but even though many coat-types and beautiful colours exist, such as golden-yellow, fawn, brindle, reddish-brown, creamy white, pearl white and various piebald shades, the preferred Show-types are the long-coated grey dogs with or without some white markings present. No black or black-n-tan dogs are accepted for Show, but they do exist and are just as ancient as the other traditional colourings. However, tan dogs with a black "saddle" are undesired, since they are thought to show the influence of the German Shepherd, while such markings on gray-coated dogs are naturally common and completely acceptable. Occasionally, blue-coloured Caucasians can be encountered, but aren't accepted for Shows, with some fanciers suspecting the Tibetan Mastiff and even Neapolitan Mastiff influence in such examples, although this unusual colouring can also occur naturally at times in purebred breed representatives. The height ranges anywhere from 23 to 34 inches among working specimens, but most modern dogs are around 28 inches tall. 

Named after the valleys of Bergamo, this old working breed is believed by some to come from the region of Milan in Italy, even though it has traditionally been found in the Alpine region of the country, most notably in Lombardy, but also a few neighbouring areas, where the Bergamasco was used for herding sheep and protecting livestock since ancient times, when the breed's ancestors were introduced to the area by the Phoenican traders and Persian settlers. True origins of the Bergamasco are not clear, but it is very likely that its ancestry is rooted in the great mastiffs, sheepdogs and wolfhounds of Central Asia, all of which counted bearded types in their populations, alongside the more common shortcoated and longhaired examples. Once isolated from other varieties and bred for recognizable physical traits on top of specific working qualities, dogs of this type have eventually become pure breeds associated with the regions in which they were developed, such as the famous Komondor and Puli of Hungary, for instance. While the connection between the Komondor and the Bergamasco may very well exist, it should be noted that in southern Russia, parts of Romania and Bulgaria, as well as throughout the rest of the Balkans, bearded shepherd dogs have always been common, leading some to link the Bergamasco to those roots, rather than to the Hungarian dogs. However, the overall appearance and temperament traits of the Italian breed which differ from the breeds sometimes believed to be its ancestors, coupled with the isolation of the gene pool, emphasis on the importance of purity, as well as the somewhat secretive breeding practices of the Alpine herdsmen which bred the Bergamasco exclusively for centuries, may also be seen as indicative of a separate and possibly older history altogether. Instead of being a derivative of a derivative of a derivative of the original population of working dogs from Central Asia, the Cane Pastore da Bergamasco could've simply been part of that original stock of dogs which, upon settling in the Italian Alps with the nomads, continued to develop independently and thrive on its own. The breed itself may have been influential in the developments of other European dogs of similar type, such as the bearded breeds of Poland, France and Great Britain.

After centuries of maintaing the working abilities, coat type, resilience, health and purity of the breed, the keepers of the Bergamasco noticed a decline in size of their dogs, due to the appearance of shorter legs and lighter frames in some lines, leading some of those breeders to resort to the practice of outcrossing in order to improve the size and health of their stock. However, the crossbreeding practices got out of hand soon, especially during and after the 2nd World War, when only a small number of pure Bergamasco dogs was left in existence, with the majority of other examples in the region having a fair ammount of German Shepherd blood in their background. This was also a period during which the need for sheep-herding dogs was minimal, due to the severe decline in demand for what was a primary economic resource in the region, this being production of wool. Abandoned by its traditional keepers during the post-WW2 modernization era, the Bergamasco was in danger of becoming extinct, but thanks to the dedication and hard work of a small group of breed fanciers, a sufficient number of dogs was collected and the revival programme was started in the 1960's, eventually proving successful in maintaining the traits which were still preserved and restoring the ones that had been lost. One of the most important figures of the revival programme was Luigi Guidobono Cavalchini, a celebrated authority on the Bergamasco and a respected breeder to this day, especially in Italy. Another great admirer of the breed, Dr.Maria Andreoli studied the genetic characteristics of the dogs in the region, worked on the establishment of a uniform type and became the most respected breeder of the Bergamasco Sheepdog in the world in the process. The breed enjoyed moderate support in its native country, but once the breeders started promoting their dogs outside of Italy, the popularity of the Bergamasco increased greatly. Thanks to the four decades of great commitment to the breed, Dr.Maria Andreoli is widely credited by non-Italian fanciers as the main reason that the Bergamasco still exists today, since most bloodlines in the world lead back to her own Dell' Albera kennel.

Independent, smart and resilient, the Bergamasco makes a good family companion, but it can be quite stubborn and overly protective, needing early socialization and training. Although not very tall, this is a powerful breed, with a strong neck, broad shoulders, a deep chest, sturdy legs and a fairly large, rounded head, with a powerful muzzle and jaws. However, this handsome sheepdog is most famous for its characteristic matted coat, which sets the Bergamasco apart from similar breeds. There are 3 distinct types of hair within what is regarded as the typical Bergamasco coat, all of which are to be found on the same dog.

Like the majority of longhaired breeds, the Cane Pastore da Bergamasco has an undercoat and an outer coat, but unlike most dogs, it also has a "middle coat", referred to as a layer of goat hair by the breed fanciers. While the dense undercoat is short and fine, the "goat hair" is long and rough, with the top coat being slightly softer and wooly. Because the top coat and the "goat coat" aren't evenly distributed, they form the large matted flocks all over the body that give the Bergamasco its trademark appearance. The accepted coat colours are grey, fawn and black, with or without small white markings. Average height is around 23 inches.

Also Know As:
Cane da Pastore Bergamasco, Bergamese Sheepdog, Italian Alpine Herder - Bergamasco, Pastore Bergamasco

As its name implies, this famous mastiff breed comes from Naples and surrounding areas in Italy. Descended from the legendary wardogs of the Assyrians and Roman arena fighters, the ancestors of the Mastino Napoletano are believed by some to had been the legendary wardogs of Alexander the Great, but seeing how the old Molossers that Alexander took with him on his war campaigns were longhaired, mountain type dogs, like the breeds of Macedonia and Greece, such as the Hellenic Mastiff, Sarplaninec, Molossos tis Epirou, as well as his own famous strain of such dogs known as the Skilos tou Alexandrou, it is more likely that these large shepherd dogs came into contact with existing Roman cattledogs, guardians and fighting dogs and from then on went through generations of crossings and inbreeding, without much attention given to appearance or standards of purity, with ferociousness and working ability being the only qualities of importance. It is claimed by some that the Romans brought old English mastiffs from the British Isles which were supposedly introduced to the bloodlines of their arena dogs, but it should be noted that the Mastin Espanol also played a much more important role in the development of the dogs of Naples, as did the Spanish and Sicilian working bulldogges. For centuries this breed was considered to be just one of the regional types of the working Cane e Presa population of Italy, alongside the Cane Corso, Bucciriscu Calabrese, U Vucciriscu and other varieties used for guarding, fighting and hunting duties prior to the World Wars. The Neapolitan Mastiff finally received its name in the 1940's.

Today, the Neapolitan Mastiff looks and acts very different than it did in the past. The modern version of the breed was developed by Dr.Pierro Scanziani in the years following WW2, when there were very few original proto-Neos left. Some outcrosses with larger Cane Corso, English Mastiff, Deutsche Dogge, Saint Bernard, Newfoundland, Bloodhound, Fila Brasileiro and others were reportedly made to increase the number of specimens for breeding. Scanziani and his supporters exaggerated the initial population's extreme physical features through planned perpetual inbreeding, as well as occasional introduction of other breeds into the Neo's bloodline, with the English Mastiff becoming everyone's favourite outcross. Soon, the present-day incarnation of the Mastino Napoletano began to take shape and other breeders joined the revival efforts, at first within Italy and later in other European countries, as well as the United States. The first Standard was written in 1946 and the breed was officially recognized in 1949. Since then, the Standard has been changed a few times, starting in 1965, then in 1968 and once again in 1989, following the changes in appearance within the breed. The breed's unusual looks and highly romanticized history of origin have enamoured a great number of fanciers wordwide, many of which are led to believe that their breed of choice is an ancient and pure Molosser, while in reality being a fairly young creation without much purity to speak of. Although inbreeding is used to set type within the breed, utilizing the blood of other breeds when breeding the Mastino Napoletano is a practice that has never been abandoned by the majority of breeders and is a method still widely used today, the English Mastiff still being the most common choice, with the Dogue de Bordeaux, Presa Canario and the Great Dane occasionally being employed as well, while the use of breeds such as the Bullmastiff, Cane Corso and even Shar Pei has been rumoured for quite some time. Of course, most breeders deny such allegations and maintain that their Mastini are not only pure, but also the same breed as their ancient Roman progenitors.

A very popular breed all over the world, this seemingly lethargic and slow breed makes an excellent watchdog, as well as a remarkable family pet when raised properly. The charming Mastino Napoletano is a relaxed, but alert and intuitive property protector. While not as active or energetic as some other guardian breeds, it is a very intelligent dog, conserving its energy for the appropriate situations, when its lightning-fast reflexes, fierce personality and intimidating stature are employed to protect its master and property, which a well-bred Neo is more than capable of doing. Gentle, loving and famously loyal to its owner, the Neapolitan Mastiff is naturally reserved and aloof with strangers, as well as being unfriendly to other dogs at times, needing broad socialization from an early age and responsible handling by an experienced owner. Although not as agile or ferocious as its ancestors, this is still an immensely powerful Molosser, with strong guarding instincts and a punishing bite.

Sadly, the breed has a short lifespan and a number of health issues, likely due to the long history of inbreeding and the current preference for overly heavy and oftentimes ridiculously wrinkled dogs. Its trademark loose, hanging skin and massive body have been the breed's instantly recognizable physical characteristics for a very long time, although not as exaggerated as they are presently. The proper head type is an important part of the overall appearance of a correct Neo, but many extreme examples can be encountered today, with overly short muzzles, excessive wrinkles and having breathing problems, eye issues, movement difficulties and poor temperaments. Large-headed, wide-chested and well-boned, the proper Mastino has a nicely balanced and moderately short muzzle, with a defined stop and strong jaws, but its facial features shouldn't be reminiscent of neither bulldogges nor bloodhounds. The ears are usually cropped and the tail is docked, although unaltered examples are commonly found as well.

The coat is short, soft and glossy, coming in solid shades of grey, blue, black, tawny, red and mahogany, some brindled, with or without small white markings on the chest. There was also a rare all-white variety in the past, thought to be an influence of the old Dogo Siciliano and the Abruzzese Mastiff, but this colouring is no longer found and not accepted by the Standard. Average height for the modern Mastino Napoletano is around 28 inches, but much smaller, as well as taller dogs can be seen too.

Also known as:
Mastino Napoletano, Neapolitan, Cane di Napoli, Neopolitan Mastiff, Naples Mastiff, Mastino di Napoli

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The 2nd Group

ABLE BULLDOG
(Able Bulldogge)

ADRONICUS MASTIFF
(American Adronicus Bandog)

AFGHAN BULLDOG
(Afghan Gawi Bulldog, Gawi, Afghan Gawi)

AFRICAN GORILLA DOG
(Gorilla Dog, New African Gorilla Hunter)

ALANO ESPANOL
( Alano, Spanish Dogge, Spanish Alano, Dogo de Burgos, Mastin de Pelo Corto, Alano de Carnicero, Mastin de Jabalines, Chato Salmatino, Tambien Llamado Chato de Presa, Perro de Presa Espanol, Dogo Espanol)

ALAPAHA BLUE BLOOD BULLDOG
(Otto, Georgian Alapaha Bulldogge, Alapaha Bulldog)

ALAUNT
(Kavkaz Alaunt, Caucasian Alaunt, Alan Dogge, Persian Alaunt, Continental Alaunt, English Alaunt, French Alaunt, Spanish Alaunt, Alan Dog, Arnaut Dogge)

ALTMAN'S WHITE ENGLISH BULLDOG
(Altman Bulldogge)

ALUBULL
(Alubull Bulldogge, Alubull Mastiff)

AMBULLNEO MASTIFF
(Ambullneo)

AMBULLWALKER

AMERICAN ALAUNT
(American Alaunt Dog)

AMERICAN BOARHOUND
(Old American Boarhound, American Pioneer Hound, Old Southern Boarhound, Pioneer Bulldogge)

AMERICAN BOXER

AMERICAN BULLDOG
(Old Country Bulldogge, American Bulldogge, Southern Bulldogge)

AMERICAN BULLEN- BOXER
(Bullen- Boxer)

AMERICAN BULLMASTIFF

AMERICAN BULLY
( American Bully Dog, Giant Pit Bull, American Pit Bulldog, Razor's Edge Pit Bull, Gotty Bulldog, American Pull Dog)

AMERICAN BULL DOGUE DE BORDEAUX

AMERICAN BULL MOLOSSER
(American Molosser, American Brabanter, American Bullenbeisser)

AMERICAN BULL RIDGEBACK
(Bull Ridgeback, American Bull-Ridgeback)

AMERICAN CANE CORSO
(American Corso Dog, Americorso)

AMERICAN DOGGE
(Pioneer Mastiff, American Pioneer Dogge, Price-White Dogge, American Dane, Gran Alano Americano, Yankee Pioneer Mastiff)

AMERICAN LO SZE PUGG
(Lo Sze Pugg, American Pug, American Carlin)

AMERICAN MINI PEI
(Mini Pei, Miniature Shar Pei)

AMERICAN PANJA MASTIFF
(Panja Mastiff, American Rock Dog, Panja, American Mastiff, Detroit Pit-Rott)

AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER
(Pit Bull, Pit Bull Terrier, Pit Bull Dog, A.P.B.T.)

AMERICAN ROTTWEILER

AMERICAN STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIER
(AmStaff, American Stafford Dog, American Staffordshire Bull Terrier, A.S.T.)

AMERICAN TUNNEL TERRIER
(Tunnel Terrier)

AMERISTAFF BULLDOG
(Ameristaff Bulldogge, Colorado Ameristaff, Amrist Aff Bulldog)

AMLISH BULLDOG

APPENZELL CATTLEDOG
(Appenzeller Sennenhund, Appenzeller, Appenzell Mountain Dog)

ARKANSAS GIANT BULLDOG

ASSYRIAN MASTIFF

AUSTRALIAN BANDOG
(Australian Bandogge Mastiff, Aussie Bandogge, Australian Giant Bandog, Australian Mastiff)

AUSTRALIAN BULLDOG
(Aussie Bulldog)

AUSTRALIAN BULLTERRIER
(Outback Bullterrier, Outback Bully)

AUSTRALIAN BULLDINGO MASTIFF
(Bulldingo, Australian Bulldingo)

AUSTRALIAN PARDOGGE
(Aussie Pardog)

AUSTRALIAN BULLY DANE
(Australian Bullmastiff-Dane)

AUSTRALIAN BULLY GREYHOUND

AUSTRALIAN MASTIFF
(Australian Bushman Mastiff, Bushman Mastiff)

AZORES CATTLEDOG
(Cao de Fila de Sao Miguel, Azores Cowdog, Fila de Sao Miguel, Sao Miguel Bulldog)

BABYLONIAN MASTIFF

BANDOGGE
( Bandog, Old English Bandogge, American Bandog Mastiff, Pitbullmastiff)

BANTER BULLDOGGE
(Banter Bulldog, American Brabanter Bulldog)

BARRENBEISSER/ BULLENBEISSER
(Baerenbeisser, Bear Biter, Bear Fighting Dog, Bull Biter, Bull Baiter, Bulldogge)

BASTARD PUG

BAT TERRIER
(American Bat Terrier)

BELGIAN MASTIFF
(Matin Belge, Chien de Trait, Old Belgian Watchdog)

BENSON MASTIFF
(Benson Bulldogge, Benson's Tibetan Bulldog)

BLACK SWAMP BULLDOG
(Black Swamp Bulldogge)

BLOODAFILA

BLOODAHOULA

BLOODHOUND
(Blood-Hound, British Bloodhound, Saint Hubert Dog, Chien de St.Hubert, Hubert Bloodhound, English Bloodhound, Continental Sleuth-Hound)

BLUMENWEILER
(Bluminweiler, Bloominweiler, South African Rottweiler)

BOERBOEL
(Boer Boel, South-African Bandogge, Boer Mastiff, African Bullmastiff, South-African Boerboel, African Farm Mastiff)

BOERBOXER
(Boer- Boxer)

BOSTON TERRIER
(Boston Round Head Bulldog, American Round Head Bullterrier, Round Head, Round Head Terrier)

BOULEDOGUE DU MIDI
(Midi Mastiff, French Midi Boxer, Midi Bulldog, Dogue de Midi, Midi Bullenbeisser)

BOXER
(German Boxer, Boxer Dog)

BOXTON
(Boxton Terrier, Boxton Bulldogge)

BOXWEILER

BRABANTSE BULLENBIJTER
(Brabanter, Brabant Bullenbeisser, Brabant Bulldog)

BRAZILIAN BANDOGGE
(Bandogue Brasileiro, Brazilian Bandog, Olde Brazilian Bandogge, Brazillian Bandogge)

BRAZILIAN CABECUDO CATTLEDOG
(Cabe�udo, Cabe�udo Boiadeiro das Minas Gerais, Cabe�udo Brasileiro, Onceiro Brasileiro, Boiadeiro Brasileiro, Brazilian Big-Headed Cattledog, Fila Onceiro, Fila Cabecudo, Cabe�udo Ox-Driver, Cao da Fila Cabe�udo, Big-Headed Fila Brasileiro, Minas Gerais Cattledog)

BROHOLMER
(Danish Broholmer, Danish Dogge, Danish Mastiff, Jaegersprishunden, Frederik VII's Dog, Broholm Dogge)

BUCCIRISCU CALABRESE
(Calabrian Bucciriscu, Calabrian Dog, Calabrian Cane Corso)

BUG
( Bug Dog, Bug Terrier)

BULL ARAB
(BullAraber, Bullarab, Australian Pig Dog, Aussie Bull-Arab)

BULL-BOXER
(English Bull-Boxer)

BULDOGUE SERRANO
(Brazilian Mountain Bulldog, Serrano Bulldogge, Brazilian Bulldog, Buldogue Brasileiro, Brasilian Serrano Bulldog)

BULDOGUINHO BRASILEIRO
(Miniature Brazilian Bulldog, Buldoguinho, Brasilian Buldoguinho, Brazilian Miniature Bulldogge)

BULLMASTIFF
(English Bullmastiff, Gamekeeper's Nightdog)

BULLNESE
(American Bullnese)

BULLPUG

BULL-ROTT
(American Bull-Rott)

BULLTERRIER
(English Bullterrier, Bull Terrier, British Bullterrier, Standard Bullterrier)

BULLY KUTTA
(Pakistani Bully Kutta, Bully Cutha, Pakistani Fighting Dog, Pakistani Bully Mastiff, Bohli Kutta, Pakistani Mastiff)

CA DE BOU
(Majorca Bulldog, Perro de Presa Mallorquin, Dogo Mallorquin, Majorca Mastiff, Alano Mallorquin)

CAMPEIRO BULLDOG
(Campeiro Bordoga, Bordoga, Burdogue Pampeano, Buldogue Campeiro)

CANADIAN BULLDOG

CANE CORSO ITALIANO
( Cane Corso, Cane Guzzo, Sicilian Mastiff, Cane di Carretierre, Italian Bullmastiff, Cane di Macellaio, Cane da Presa Pugliese, Mastino Pugliese, Sicilian Bulldog, Corso Dog, Italian Cane Corso, Italian Corso Dog, Italian Mastiff, Can' Guzzo, Italian Molosser)

CANIS PANTHER
(American Canis Panther, American Panther Dog)

CARLIN PINSCHER
(Miniature Rottweiler, Pug-Pin)

CARMANIAN MASTIFF

CATAHOULA BULLDOG
(Catahoula Bulldogge)

CATAHOULA BULLTERRIER
(Catahoula Bull Terrier, Catahoula Bull And Terrier)

CATAHOULA LEOPARD DOG
(Louisiana Leopard Dog, Clearwater Mastiff, Catahoula Dogge, Louisiana Leopard, Catahoula)

CATAHOULA PIT BULL DOG
(Catahoula Pit Bull)

CATAHOULA RIDGEBACK
(Catahoula Ridgeback Dog)

CHINESE BULLDOG
(Chinese Fighting Chow, Chinese Fighting Dog)

CHINESE BULLTERRIER
(Chinese Fighting Shar-Pei, Chinese Fighting Dog)

CHINESE CHONGQING DOG
(Chongqing Dog, Chinese Bamboo Ratter)

CHINESE SHAR-PEI
( Shar Pei, Hong Kong Shar-Pei Dog)

COLORADO BULLDOG
(Colorado Bulldogge, Colorado Mastiff, Colorado Bandogge)

CONTINENTAL BULLDOG
(Swiss Bulldog, Pickwick Old Type Bulldog, Pickwick Bulldog, Angehrn Bulldog, Pickwick Bulldog Old Type)

CORDOBA FIGHTING DOG
(Viejo Perro de Pelea Cordobes, Perro de Presa de Cordoba, Cordoba Bulldog, Cordoba Dog, Perro de Presa Argentino, Perro Peleo de Cordobes, Old Cordoba Fighting Dog)

CORSICAN MASTIFF
(Matin Corse, Mastino Corsicano, Alano Corsicano, Corsican Dogge, Old Corsican Mastiff, Dogo Corsicano, Cane E Presa Corsicano)

CORSO PUGLIESE
(Canadian Cane Corso, Cane Corso Pugliese, Canadian Cane Corso Mastiff)

COYPU TERRIER
(Coypu Hunting Terrier)

CROSSBOW OLDE BULLDOGGE

CUBAN BLOODHOUND
(Cuban Hound, El Gran Cubano Negro, Sabueso Cubano, El Gran Perro Cubano, Mastino Cubano)

CUBAN DOGGE
(Dogo Cubano, Cuban Bulldog, Cuban Bullmastiff, Perro Cubano Blanco, Cuban Bulldogge)

CYPRO KUKUR
(Indian Cypro Kukur, Uttaranchal Mastiff, Kumaon Mastiff, Indian Cyprus Dog)

CZECH BULLDOG
(Czesky Reznicky Pes, Reznicky Bulldog)

DANZIGER BULLENBEISSER
(Danziger Bulldog)

DEUTSCHE DOGGE
( Great Dane, German Dogge, German Mastiff, Ulmer Dogge, Alano Aleman, Kammerhunde, German Alano)

DOBERMANN PINSCHER
(Dobermann, Doberman, German Doberman, Doberman Terrier, Giant Pinscher)

DOGO ARGENTINO
(Argentinian Mastiff, Argentinian Dogge, El Gran Perro Argentino)

DOGO BELGRADO
(Belgrado, Belgrade Dogge, Belgrade Bulldogge, Beogradska Doga, Belgrade Mastiff)

DOGO GUATEMALTECO
(Guatemalan Bullterrier, Guatemalan Bulldog)

DOGO ROMANO
(Mastino Romano, DeMarco Mastiff)

DOGO SARDO
(Dogo Sardesco, Cani Pertiatzu, Sardinian Cattledog, Sardinian Dogge, Canis Pertiatzus, Sardesco Bulldogge)

DOGO SICILIANO
(Mastino Siciliano, Sicilian Dogge, Alano Siciliano, Sicilianer, Dogo Bianco, Sicilian Watchdog, White Sicilian Mastiff)

DOGUE BRASILIERO
(Brazilian Bullboxer, Brazilian Dogge, Dogue Brasileiro, Brazilian Bulldog)

DOGUE DE BORDEAUX
(French Mastiff, Bordeaux Dogge, Bordeaux Mastiff, French Dogge, French Alano)

DOGUIN d'AQUITAINE
(Bouledogue Bordelais, Aquitaine Bullenbeisser, Bouledogue de Bordeaux, Bordeaux Bulldog, Aquitaine Bulldog, Butcher's Doguin)

DONOVAN PINSCHER
(American Pinscher, Donovan's Pinscher)

DORSET OLD TYME BULLDOGGE
(Dorset Bulldog, Barnett Bulldogge, Old Tyme Bulldogge)

DUDLEY TERRIER
(Dudley Bullterrier, Black Country Bulldogge, Dudley Staffordshire Bull Terrier)

DUTCH MASTIFF
(Old Dutch Mastiff, Dutch Bullenbeisser)

ELYMAEAN MASTIFF

ENGLISH BULLDOG
(Bulldog, British Bulldog)

ENGLISH BULLEN BORDEAUX TERRIER
(Bullen-Bordeaux Terrier, English Bull Bordeaux Mastiff)

ENGLISH MASTIFF
( Mastiff, British Mastiff, Old English Mastiff)

ENGLISH MASTWEILER
(Mastweiler, Rottstiff, British Mastweiler)

FILA BRASILEIRO
(Brazilian Mastiff, Fila Braziliero, Brazilian Bloodhound, Cabecudo, Cao da Fila Brasileiro)

FLYING W MASTIFF
(American Mastiff, American Flying W Ranch Dog, American Anabull Mastiff, American Wagner Mastiff)

FRENCH BULLDOG
(Bouledogue Francais)

FRENCH BULLMASTIFF
(Boulemastino Francais)

GEORGIA BULLDOGGE
(Georgia Bulldog, Olde Georgia Bulldogge)

GERMAN BOAR HOUND
(German Suliot Hound, Old German Boarhound, Teutonic Suliot Dog)

GERMAN BANDOGGE
( Deutsche Bandogge, German Bandog, Germanische Bandogge)

GERMAN BULLTERRIER
(Deutsche Bullterrier, German Pit Bull, German Bulldogge)

GIANT MASO
(Maso Mastiff, American Maso Mastiff, Maso)

GREAT LAKES BULLDOGGE
(Olde Northern Bulldogge, Old Northern American Bulldog)

GREATER SWISS MOUNTAIN DOG
(Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund, Greater Swiss Farm Dog, Greater Swiss Cattle Dog)

GREEK BULLDOG

GREEK CATTLEDOG
(Ellinikos Poimenikos Booeidon, Greek Cattle Dog, Hellenikos Poimenikos Booeidon, Greek Bobtailed Cattledog, Greek Pinscher)

GRIFFIN BANDOG

GULL DONG
(Pakistani Bulldog, Gull-Dung, Guldong, Guldung, Gulldong, Bully Gull Terr, Bullygulterr, Bullygulterr Hound, Bully Gulter, Bully Gulldong, Pakistani Bullygulterr)

GULL TERR
(Pakistani Terrier, Gulter, Gullterr, Pakistani Bullterrier)

GWYLLGI MASTIFF
(Welsh Mastiff, Welsh Black, Black Gwyllgi Mastiff)

HAITIAN BULLDOG
(Creole Pit Bull Dog)

HERMES BULLDOGGE
(Hermes Bulldog, Hermes Olde Bulldogge, Hermes Olde English Bulldogge)

HYRCANIAN MASTIFF
(Hyrcanian Tiger Dog)

IMPERIAL U.S.A. BULLDOG

INDIAN ALANGU MASTIFF
(Alangu Mastiff, Sindh Hound, South-Indian Mastiff, Thanjavur Mastiff, Kutch Hunting Mastiff)

INDIAN BEARDOG
(Combai, Indian Bear Hound, Indian Combai)

INDIAN BOARHOUND
(Rajapalayam, Indian Rajapalayam, Rajapalayam Dogge, Rajapalayan, Rajapalayam Boar Hound)

INDIAN BULLTERRIER
(Bull Terr, Indian Terrier)

INDIAN SINDH MASTIFF
(Indian Mastiff, Rajasthan Fighting Dog, Sindh Mastiff)

INU NUSTO
(Japanese Inu Nusto, Japanese Bull Terrier, Japanese Street Dog)

IRISH BULLDOG
(Old Irish Bulldog)

IRISH STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER
(Irish Bullterrier, Irish Pit Bull, Irish Staff)

ITALIAN BULLDOGGE
(Italian Bulldog, Giacobbe Italian Bulldogge)

ITALIAN BULLTERRIER
(Italian Bully, Italian Bull Terrier)

ITALIAN PARDOG
(Pardogge Italiano)

JAPANESE TOSA
(Tosa Inu, Tosa, Japanese Fighting Dog, Tosa-Ken, Japanese Mastiff, Tosa Token)

KANAWAR DOG
(Indian Kanawar Dog)

KANDA BULLDOGGE
(Kanda, Kanda Bully, Kanda Mastiff, Pakistani Kanda)

KING DANE
(King Great Dane, King Bull-Dane)

KING DOBERMAN
(King Dobermann Pinscher, Giant Doberman)

KOHATI BULLDOG
(Kohat Bully, Kohat Kutta, Kohati Hound, Kohati Bully Kutta, Kohat Bulldogge)

KOREAN DOSA MASTIFF
(Mee-Kyun Dosa, Dosa Inu, Korean Mastiff- Dosa, Beauty Tosa)

KOREAN TOO-KYUN FIGHTING DOG
(Korean Tosa, Too-Kyun Dosa, Korean Too-Kyun Mastiff)

LAKOTA MASTINO
(Supernatural Bandogge, Light Mediterranean Mastiff, Shiloka's Bandogge)

LARSON LAKEVIEW BULLDOGGE
(Larson Bulldogge, Lakeview Bulldog)

LEAVITT BULLDOG
(Leavitt's Olde English Bulldogge, Leavitt Bulldogge)

LOTTATORE BRINDISINO
(Brindisi Wrestler, Cane Lottatore Brindisino, Lottatore Pugliano, Brindisino Pit Fighter, Wrestler Dog)

LYME MASTIFF
(Lyme Hall Mastiff, Cheshire Mastiff)

MAJORCA SHEEPDOG
(Ca de Bestiar, Mallorquin Shepherd, Perro de Pastor Mallorquin)

MAJORERO
(Bardino Majorero, Perro de Ganado Majorero, Majorero Watchdog, Majorero Cattledog, Perro Majorero)

MALCHOWER
(German Malchower)

MALTESE BULLDOG
(Kelb Tal-Gliet, Maltese Bull)

MALTESE MASTIFF
(Mastino Maltais, Malta Watchdog)

MARSHALL WATCHDOG
(Marshall's Bulldogge, Marshall Mastiff)

MASTERSON BULLDOGGE
(Masterson Hog Dog, Masterson's Bulldog)

MASTINO FONNESE
(Mastino Sardesco, Fonnese Mastiff, Pastore Sardesco, Sardinian Mastiff)

MEDIAN MASTIFF
(Median Fighting Dog)

MEXICAN BULLDOG
( Perro de Toro Mexicano)

MOLOSSIAN BULLDOG

MEZZOCORSO
(Cane della Murgia, Mezzocorso Italiano, Murgia, Mezzocorso Pugliese, Murgia Dog)

MINIATURE BOXER
(Pugrat, Mini Boxer, American Miniature Boxer)

MINIATURE BULLDOG
(Miniature English Bulldog)

MINIATURE BULLMASTIFF

MINIATURE BULLTERRIER
(Miniature Bull Terrier)

MINIATURE MASTIFF
(Pugmastiff, Mini Mastiff, Brindle Pug)

MOSCOW MASTIFF
(Russian Dogge, Moscow Dogge, Russian Alano, Moskovskaya Doga, Russian Mastiff, Soviet Dogge)

NAGI BULLDOGGE
(Nagi, Nagi Bully, Nagi Hound, Nagi Bully Kutta, Nagi Boarhound, Nagi Mastiff, Pakistani Nagi)

NEAPOLITAN MASTIFF
(Mastino Napoletano, Neapolitan, Cane di Napoli, Neopolitan Mastiff, Naples Mastiff, Mastino di Napoli)

NEBOLISH MASTIFF
(Nebolish Bulldogge)

NEW ALAUNT
(Plummer Alaunt, British Alaunt, The New Alaunt Dog, New British Alaunt)

NEW ZEALAND BULLDOGGE
(Maori Mastiff, Manukau Pit Dog, Kiwi Bullterrier)

NIVERNAIS MASTIFF
(Mastino Nivernais)

NORTHWOODS BULLDOG
(Northwoods Bullterrier, Lattimer Bulldog, Wisconsin Pit Bulldog, Northwoods Bulldogge)

NUNLEY OLDE ENGLISH BULLDOGGE
(Nunley Bulldog)

OKEECHOBEE BULLDOG

OKLAHOMA BULLDOG
(Oklahoma Bulldogge)

OLDE BOSTON BULLDOGGE
(Boston Bulldog, Boston Bull, Boston Bulldogge)

OLDE ENGLISH BULLDOGGE
(Old English Bulldog, OEB)

OLDE IRISH BULLDOGGE
(Olde Irish Red Bulldogge, Irish Red, Old Red, Old Irish Bulldog, Olde Tyme Irish Red Bulldogge)

OLDE TYME AMERICAN BULLDOGGE
(Olde Tyme American Bulldog, Olde Tyme Southern Bulldogge)

OLDE TYME STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER
(Olde Staffordshire Bull And Terrier)

OLDE VICTORIAN BULLDOGGE
(Woody Bull, Woods Victorian Bulldogge)

OLD ISTRIAN BOARHOUND
(Istarski Svinjar, Mletacki Svinjar, Staro-Istarski Molos, Veprash, Istrian Mastiff)

ORI PEI
(American Ori Pei, American Shar-Pei Dog)

PAI DOG
(Pai, Chinese Pai Dog, Pai Pug)

PATTI

PAKISTANI BOARHOUND
(Shikari Kutta, Pakistani Boar Dogge, Shikari Hound)

PAKISTANI SINDH MASTIFF
(Sindhi Bully Kutta, Sindhi Bully, Pakistani Sindhi Bully Kutta, Pakistani Mastiff)

PERRO DE PRESA BOLIVIANO
(Bolivian Bulldog, Presa Boliviano, Bolivian Mute Bulldog)

PERRO BRAVO
(Bravo Bulldog, Colombian Brave, Bravo, Colombian Bulldog)

PERRO PAMPA
(Argentinian/Paraguayan Bulldog, Pampa Dog, Pampa Bulldog, Perro Pampa Argentino, Perro Pampa Paraguayo)

PERSIAN MASTIFF

PODOLIAN BOARHOUND
(Cossack Boarhound, Ukrainian Beardog, Cossack Hound)

PORTUGUESE CATTLEDOG
( Cao de Castro Laboreiro, Portuguese Castro Laboreiro Dog)

PORTUGUESE XOCHASO
(Madeira Xochaso, Madeira Watchdog, Xochaso, Madeira Farm Dog, Perro de Presa Madeira, Banana Dog)

PRESA CANARIO
(Dogo Canario, Perro de Presa Canario, Canary Dog, Canary Island Dogge, Canary Bulldogge, Canary Island Fighting Dog)

PUERTORICAN MASTIFF
(Gran Mastin de Borinquen, Borincano, Gran Mastin de Borinquen, Perro Barsino de Hacienda, Becerillo de Borinquen, Mastin de Borincano, Gran Mastin de Puerto Rico, Puertorican Borincano)

PUG
(Chinese Pug, Pug Dog, Mops, Carlin)

QATAR WATCHDOG

RED CLOUD BANDOG

RED SMUT
(Scottish Red Smut, Glasgow Smut, Scottish Red Bulldogge)

RENASCENCE BULLDOGGE
(Renascence Bulldog)

RENEGADE BULL

As a hunting dog, the Kunlun Hound goes through an extremely rigorous and seemingly cruel training procedure. When the puppies turn 3 months old, they are tied to their mother's collar via individual leashes and slowly walked by the hunter. Once the mother dog spots her prey, the hunter releases her and allows the hunt to start. During this, the puppies are being dragged behind their mother for the length of the chase. Those that survive get to do it again. Only the strongest and smartest puppies are able to run and keep up with their mother without getting choked or trampled underfoot. This ensures that only the best working dogs get bred and pass on their excellent working genes to the next generation.

The Tibetan Hunting Dog is extremely rare outside its native country and most specimens that found their way into the West were "mislabeled" as Tibetan Mastiffs. Territorial, stubborn and aggressive, this powerful breed doesn't make a good urban pet.

The lean, muscular and long-legged body is covered with a dense, harsh medium-length coat, coming in solid shades of fawn, brown and grey. Average height is around 23 inches.

Also known as:
Kunlun Hound, Tibetan Kunlun Hound

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It is highly doubtful that the Tibetan Mastiff is the ancestor of all Molossers, but this popular myth is still widely spread today. More likely to be descended from early Euro-Asian breeds, the Tibetan Mastiff shares its name with quite a few breeds, mostly of Himalayan origin. The popular name for the Tibetan Mastiff is Do-Khyi, meaning "Tied Dog", although many different types exist, like the Naj-Khyi, Dzy-Khyi, Sgo-Khyi, Tsang-Khyi and others, differing in size, coat and temperament. As mentioned above, even some breeds that aren't just types of the Tibetan Mastiff are often lumped under this name, like the Amdo Mastiff, Bhotia, Bangara, Kunlun, Khonch Nokhoi, Shan Mastiff, Kham Sheepdogs and many others. There is also a bearded variant of the Tibetan Mastiff, called Kyi-Apso. However, the Do-Khyi is the most popular type of the breed and is commonly considered to be the "real" Tibetan Mastiff in the West, even though its true origin is anything but native.

With the recent interest of American and European breed fanciers in Chinese-bred Tibetan Mastiffs, the impact of somewhat authentic bloodlines is becoming more noticeable in Western stock, but it should be noted that the modern Tibetan Mastiff is a European creation and not an indegenous Tibetan breed. Descended from a limited stock of various Asian and eastern-European dogs imported to Britain in the late 1800's, the breed was developed in England, with its Standard written in the 1930's. In its ancestry it counts as strong of an influence of English Mastiffs, Newfoundlands and Saint Bernards as it does that of authentic Asian dogs. Although many historical accounts of giant ferocious black and black-n-tan dogs were assumed to had been descriptions of Tibetan Mastiffs and have been used to substantiate the breed's claim to antiquity, the truth of the matter is that such attitude has much more to do with the desires of the Tibetan Mastiff's fans than with reality. From the initial descriptions of powerful livestock guarding, property protecting and large game hunting dogs which measured 35 inches at the shoulder to the mighty wardogs brought to the Balkans by Alexander the Great and fierce Roman arena performers, these then-called Indian Dogs which were assigned the Tibetan Mastiff name eventually became massive, yet short Newfoundland-like animals which were likened to black Saint Bernards and "wooly" English mastiffs by the time the British and western-European dog fancy became interested in breeding and promoting them. It is much more likely that those early accounts were describing the original Sylvan population and its various proto-Molossian subtypes derivatives than the large Chow-type animals that the true dogs of Tibet and the Himalayas really were and still are in their indigenous form. Some would even go as far as to claim that the dogs regarded as native Tibetan Mastiffs were nothing more than random crosses between the Sylvan and the Chow, but such statements are obviously not appreciated by those who choose to believe the "official" versions of the breed's origin. There is so much romanticizing and propaganda involved with the Tibetan Mastiff, but it is very clear that the overwhelming majority of the breed's supposed history has been fabricated for simple marketing purposes by its true creators, these being the English, Swiss and French cynologists, whose "product" eventually became so appealing worldwide that even the Chinese breeders decided to jump on the bandwagon and promote their poorly bred mastiffs as the oldest and most valuable breed of dog on the planet, as is reflected in ridiculously high prices they've been demanding for their dogs from naive westerners in recent years.

Regardless of its true heritage, the ever-popular Tibetan Mastiff is an independent, reserved and aloof Molosser, protective and fairly territorial, although seemingly lethargic. The American and European bred Do-Khyi dogs are not quite as aggressive as the Asian ones, making the Western bloodlines more suitable for companion life. Although there is still a great variety of sizes within the breed, the preferred type of the modern Do-Khyi has a large, broad head, a powerful neck, a tightly curled tail and its heavily-boned, loose-skinned and massive body is fairly muscular.

While not the most athletic Molosser, the Tibetan Mastiff is quite an attractive breed, with a rich and thick coat, most commonly black-and-tan in colour, usually with white markings on the chest, but other colours exist, like black, brown, fawn, gold, blue and grey, with or without the tan points. The average height is around 27 inches.

Also known as:
Do-Khyi, Tsang-Khyi, Dzi-Khyi, Sgo-Khyi, Naj-Khyi

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