The Neapolitan Mastiff, or mastino as called in it’s country of origin, is very much the property guard dog of Italy. It’s roots go back to the war dogs of Italy used by the Romans in battle who would send the dogs in against the attack of the oncoming foe and even further back to the massive molossus dogs of Alexander. Today's mastino is a great guardian for the estate, home and the family. It is said that the Italians purposely created a dog to astonish and amaze the onlooker, and consequently the mastino looks and moves like no other dog. It is also said by many that the mastino’s fantastic wrinkle and head, massive bones and lumbering movement create an incredible and indeed astonishing animal whose looks alone, just as a glance are quite enough to stop an intruder firmly in his tracks.

Being brought up with dogs from a young age created a lifetime fascination for me. As a child we had many dogs that I loved dearly and as I grew older I rescued a crossbreed bitch and purchased a German Shepherd dog: I also had a wonderful English mastiff called Alfie.

So it came as no surprise one day back in 1987, whilst reading through a newly purchased dog book ('Breeds of the World') that I stopped at a very strange picture. It was the picture of a Neapolitan Mastiff.

Excerpt from 'Breeds of the World':

When I look back, not even a particularly good specimen! A blue bitch sitting on a large rock with her noble head slightly looking upwards, she was the most impressive looking animal I had ever seen! What I didn’t realise was that she had changed my future completely. This was the beginning of some of my most enjoyable and some of the saddest times of my life.

Back then all that was available here in the U.K was a couple of breeders to visit that had very different looking dogs to the pictures of the true mastino that I had seen in Italian books.

I am a person who cannot accept imitations. I will not cut corners and if I was to own and show this noble breed, the Neapolitans that I would have would be of true Italian type.

Ironstone Huck

After studying the breed for some months, I purchased a lovely dog from a very good friend of mine Dr George Tzadeh, who was also seriously involved with the breed and is now the leading authority on the breed in the U.K. This Dog was imported from the USA from Dr S Allen: 'Ironstone Huck' pet name 'Blue'.

Blue brought us here in the U.K. that much closer to the true Italian type mastini. He was a great dog and won many Championship shows including RESERVE BEST DOG in Crufts 1994 & 1995 and Best of Breed National Working Breeds 1996 and Group winner at Liverpool the same year. He was also Top winning Dog of that year.

Blue had some very good offspring that are in most of the pedigrees of today.

Vito Della Zacchera of Rayvonley

I now seriously had the urge to improve the breed and by purchasing Vito this gave me the Type, Soundness, Massive proportions and Good Nature that would change the breed in the U.K for good.

Son of a World Champion and from one of Italy’s top breeders, Vito produced the dogs that have regularly won all the major events.

Vito became the TOP STUD DOG for five years running, but sadly his ears were cropped so he was not allowed in the show ring, luckily for all would be contenders!!!!!!!!!!!

His children live on and theirs too:

Lively Duchess of Rayvonley (Daisy): Over 50 wins! Dominated the show ring for 5 years. Wins include Best of Breed at all major Championship Shows, Group Puppy winner and Crufts Best Bitch.

Wonderful Princess of Rayvonley (Tinker): As many wins as her sister Daisy and twice Best Bitch at Crufts.

and many many more…............

All three of the dogs used in the new Feature film “Harry Potter” are out of Vito.

Over the past 10 years I have imported many dogs that have been specially chosen for their bloodlines in my aim to produce the Italian Mastino.

I have brought in dogs from Italy, Hungary, U.S.A and the Czech Republic.

I feel that I now have a basic understanding of this unique breed, which I have been privileged to get close to.

Visitors are always welcome, but please telephone first.