Meet Velluto Melodia, but first we would like to share a few words from Mario Perricone perhaps one of the greatest judges in the breed. We share the passion with Mario, as this breed is an eternal "eterno" passion in our lifes.
After becoming better acquainted with the Neapolitan Mastiff, one will more easily understand the breed standard, which may otherwise seem somewhat obscure. It will then be easier to interpret the standard and thus understand and evaluate this dog, whose long evolution has produced characteristics which may seem nonsensical, and which gave it a flavor of the fantastic and even the surreal. I make this observation on the grounds of my conviction that a breed standard cannot be satisfactorily interpreted through a straight evaluation based on purely standardized measurements of canine conformation. One cannot treat the assessment of a dog as one would a mathematical problem.The study of the breed standard of the Neapolitan Mastiff should provide a means of appreciating its living and dynamic structure as a complement to the emotions and impressions it arouses in one who has been fortunate enough to uncover its complex and often contradictory personality. Measurements of a dog's body parts, while necessary, can never create a through description of a whole breed. One would run the risk of examining a dog as if it were nothing but a piece of machinery or an animated domestic appliance. Rather, a breed commentary should help breeders, judges, and enthusiasts to gain an overall picture of the breed by noting and explaining the individual characteristics, which can be defined as typical of the breed.
Originally published by A.T.I.M.A.N.A.
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