Commonsense is essential when dealing with all canine

BASIC CARE INFORMATION
 
Commonsense is essential when dealing with all canine.
 
PUPPY PROOF YOUR HOME. Designate a place in your home that will be a place that your puppy can call his own. You want him to feel comfortable
and stable in his new surroundings.
 
CRATE TRAINING is strongly suggested if you are intending to keep your Neapolitan Mastiff in your house. It provides him with a place for time out. It
is also an essential house breaking tool when raising a puppy. But one must be careful not to leave as a puppy in the crate for extended periods of time.This
has been known to create problems in the legs and hips. A crate pad is suggested to relieve some of the pressure on the joints when lying down and getting
up.The crate is also an essential when traveling with your Neapolitan Mastiff.
 
VETERNARIAN
 
First place you must go within the first few days of bringing home a Neapolitan Mastiff is to your local Veterinarian to have his overall health assesed.Your
choice of a veterinarian should be based on one that has the ability to deal with large dogs.Don't be shy about asking if he is equipped with proper knowledge
of the type of anestesia that might be necessary to use on a bracysephalic breed if surgery is required at some time.
You will need to bring all of the vaccination records and worming records along to become part of his heath history file on your first visit.
 
NUTRITION
 
 
Select a top quality food for your dog. Your breeder should provide you with a diet sheet of what your puppy has been eating. As your puppy grows
you must steadily increase the food amount accordingly. A new puppy must be fed regularly. and most importantly taken outdoors immediately after
eating his meal. It is important to not allow the puppy to play or run around alot right after feeding. Donot allow your puppy to eat a huge meal and
then give a huge bowl of water at the same time.
Fresh water changed several times a day is mandatory. Neapolitan Mastiffs have a habit of slimming up their water when they drink.
 
TREATS and TOYS
 
A good quality dog biscuit as a reward for being a good dog is fine. Nylabones are a suggestion. Absolutely never give latex toys. Rubber Kong toys
are ok. Plush toys perhaps when they are baby puppys. In any event all toys you must be watched to make sure they do not chew a piece off and
swallow. Soft treats like cheese or a piece of cooked hot dog or liver are also good.
 
TRAINING EQUIPMENT
 
As a puppy you will want to use a flat collar. Leather or nylon. You want to use something safe that does not throw pressure to the trachea and
does not apply harsh pressure to the cevical area of the neck. As your puppy grows older and stronger and pulls to hard on the leash you may
be required to use a choker collar.
A good six foot leather lead or nylon lead will be suffcient.
 
GROOMING
 
The Neapolitan Mastiff has a rather oily skin. Some refer to it as having a musky odor. You will find yourself wanting to bathe him often. Get your
pup used to baths from an early age. Make sure if you are going to bathe him that he is on a non skid surface in the tub. Be careful not to spray
water down in his ears or in his eyes. Donot use human shampoos. Dogs donot have the same PH balance that a human has. There are many
quality dog shampoos and coat condtioners on the market. It is better to bathe outdoors, when the weather is warm. Your Neapolitan should then
be rough dried with a towel.
 
COAT CARE
 
A quick daily brush or comb through will keep loose hair from being left around the house or on the furniture. Do not brush or comb too harshly,
as the skin is sensitive and it should not be scratched or damaged. Neapoltans moult each spring . You will need to give your dog a little extra
attention at this time.
 
TEETH
 
Hard biscuits to chew on will help to keep unhealthy deposits away.A non-destuctible toy such as giant size nylabonesor a type of rubber toy(KONG)
that will encourage chewing for hours. There are also specially designed canine tooth pastes and brushes available.
 
EARS
 
Ears must be kept clean and healthy. The best way to claen ears is to use a small piece of cotton and very carefully wipe out the folds of the ear
to remove any dust and dirt and any excess wax. If you find that there is an offensive smell,or there is a dry, bloody deposit around the folds of the
ear, the dog may have ear mites or a yeast infection. Contact your vet for treatment. Never probe into the ear, as great damage can be done.
 
WORMING
 
When you buy you Neapolitan Mastiff, the breeder should have provided you with the last time that he was wormed, and the treatment that
was used. There are several all in one wormers available today. It is best to take a fecal sample in to your vet to be analysed. If parasites are
found your vet will perscribe the proper treatment.
 
EXERCISE
 
Neapolitan Mastiffs do not need very much exercise when they are young. You will find a puppy will play for a while, then take a rest, or go to sleep,
and then start to play again. Training sessions should be confined to short sessions, in and around the house. Ten minutes at a time. Never
let your Neapolitan Mastiff become exhausted. And remember whether your Neapolitan Mastiff is young or old his favorite form of exercise is to
sit down and watch you work.