Although large and impressive, the Mastino is not high maintenance in the grooming department thanks to their short, close coats. With this said, the folds and wrinkles around their faces and on other parts of their body need to be regularly checked and cleaned when necessary. It's also essential to dry the folds after washing them because if left moist, it provides the perfect environment for bacteria to flourish which could lead to an infection setting in.
They shed throughout the year although like other breeds, the Mastino tends to shed more during the Spring and then again in the Autumn when more frequent grooming would be necessary to keep on top of things. Otherwise, a weekly brush and a wipe over with a chamois leather would keep a Mastino's coat looking glossy and in good condition.
It's also important to check a dog's ears on a regular basis and to clean them when necessary. If too much wax is allowed to build up in a dog's ears, it can lead to a painful infection which can be hard to clear up. In short, prevention is often easier than cure when it comes to ear infections.
Mastinos need to be given the right amount of daily exercise which ideally should be a minimum of 60 to 80 minutes a day. They do feel the heat so it's essential they be walked earlier in the morning and then later in the evening during the hotter summer months.
A shorter walk in the morning would be fine, but a longer more interesting one in the afternoon is a must. These dogs also like to be able to roam around a back garden as often as possible so they can really let off steam. However, the fencing has to be extremely secure to keep these large dogs in because if they find a weakness in the fence, they will soon escape out and get into all sorts of trouble.
With this said, Neapolitan Mastiff puppies should not be given too much exercise because their joints and bones are still growing and too much pressure on them could result in causing a dog a few problems later on in their lives. They should not be allowed to jump up or off furniture nor should they be allowed to run up and down the stairs because this puts too much pressure on their still growing joints and limbs. Exercise should not be too vigorous until a dog is around 2 years old which is when they have usually stopped growing.
If you get a Neapolitan Mastiff puppy from a breeder, they would give you a feeding schedule and it's important to stick to the same routine, feeding the same puppy food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy's diet, but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upsets and if they do, it's best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change it again.
Older dogs are not known to be fussy or finicky eaters, but this does not mean you can feed them a lower quality diet. It's best to feed a mature dog twice a day, once in the morning and then again in the evening, making sure it's good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements. These dogs need to be fed a diet that contains about 24% protein. It's also important that dogs be given the right amount of exercise so they burn off any excess calories or they might gain too much weight which can lead to all sorts of health issues. Obesity can shorten a dog's life by several years so it's important to keep an eye on their waistline from the word go.
Because Mastinos are prone to suffer from bloat, it is really important that they be fed twice a day instead of giving them just one larger meal a day. It's also a good idea to invest in a stand to place their feed bowl which makes it easier for these large dogs to eat comfortably without having to stretch their necks down low to reach their food. Neapolitan Mastiff should never be fed just before or just after they have exercised either because this puts them more a risk of suffering from bloat.
