Neapolitan mastiff... the choice of a life...
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It's an acknowledged fact, even if the definite pieces of evidence are lacking, that neapolitan mastiff has made his appearance on the Asian continent, between the high plateaux of Central Asia and Tibet. About that the writer Piero Scanziani, famous mastinaro of the "modern epoch", had spoken of the "strong Tibetan Mastiff, sire of Assyrian's dog, of Epire's tall dog, of Roman Molosse". History reveals that Albania's king gave two mastini to Alexandre le Grand. One of them, was considered too timourous and he was killed. He declined to fight against bears and wild boars. When Albania's king learnt that, he offered another mastino to Alexandre and suggested to him to bring it with lion or elephant because "other animals are neither not noble enough nor strong enough to merit to fight against him". Roman molosse's settling in Italy would have achieved when autochton dogs met Pyrrhus dogs and those which came with Paul-Emile when he was back from Macedonia and Caesar when he came back from british isles. In the ancient Rome neapolitan mastiff was one of the actors of circus games. He fought against wildcasts. Anyway a specific office dedicated to the breeding and to the selection of the subjects for fighting had been created. It was called "magister and procurator canis". |
Webmaster Philippe Le Nours
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Then circus games evolved. The events between men substituted for fighting between animals and if "roman molosse" could spill out in Italy it was through his abilities to defence. His presence had been strengthened at that time in the south of the country where he could carry on his natural abilities as warden of villas and farms. At the end of 19th Century the social conditions and the economic context in Italy aren't favourably disposed towards neapolitan mastiff. His presence decreases inexorably. |
| Inexorably until a matter of chance has done neapolitan mastiff springing up again. Just before the second world war, Dr Ruggero Soldati, young veterinarian from Trevise sets up in the south of Italy. Over in Naples, he realizes that the dogs are differents of north one's and even if there is a certain heterogeneousness, a same genetic base seems to bind them. Molossoïde format, very typical head attract his attention. Then Doctor Ruggero Soldati decides to start a statistical study by cynometric measurements. After that in 1946 helped by impassioned friends, he writes a plan of standard. |
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| At this time the writer Piero Scanziani discovers neapolitan mastiff him too. He sets up the breeding di Villanova after he has found some subjects at Naples. His dogs lived at the zoo of Rome... The conquest of the public had been realized by Dr Ruggero Soldati's work and also by Piero Scanziani's one through the magazine cani he had been in charge. The consecration arrive in 1949 when E.N.C.I. recognizes officially neapolitan mastiff. But today the seat of honour of neapolitan mastiff in italian cynophilia and european's one is certainly due for a great part to the Tuscan Mario Querci. Mario Querci meet the neapolitan mastiff at the slaughterhouse of Prato ever since he was a child and after that during the second world war while he does his national service and he is garrisoned at Caserta. He starts to breed in 1953 and during almost forty years, until 1990, he devoted to the breed with an unrivalled success. Today Mario Querci and his breeding di Ponzano stay indissociable of neapolitan mastiff. Indissociable because the record of achievements of the breeding di Ponzano with about fifty titles of champion is the most impressive people can find. Indissociable because this stupendous breeder contributed towards the safeguard of the breed and her strengthening. Indissociable because Mario Querci had done his work with an artistic signature. Di Ponzano is better than a trademark, it is a "type inside the type". How do not evoke Eufemia, Gaio, Giusta, Caligola, Quintiliana II (best of breed at the exhibition of the centenary of E.N.C.I.) or Toscano, perhaps the best stallion from time immemorial. All of them were di Ponzano. Mario Querci's friends have created the association Trofeo Mario Querci. This one organizes once every year, at Prato in Tuscany, a great exhibition as homage to the Master. This exhibition is also a big festival. |
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| It is not exaggerated to assert that the yearly exhibition of Trofeo Mario Querci is the "world championship of the breed" so the quality and the quantity of the subjects presented are high. Mastino-passion, amateur web site at both meanings has been created in order to familiarize every body with neapolitan mastiff. All the subjects presented on the site are excellent illustrations of the breed. Moreover, most of them are the great champions nowadays. I thank warmly all the mastinari who give assistance to me. The patience they show during the photographic sessions is matched only by their talent. |
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Philippe Le Nours |
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