A litter of mastiff proportions
December 15th 2008 22:19
There is cute, there is very cute, and then there is mastiffly cute.
Meet Indy, the Australian champion Neapolitan mastiff, and her 18 puppies, delivered December 14, 2008.
The litter was 20, but two died. It is thought to be the largest dog litter delivered in Australia. (The world record is 24, delivered by a great dane in the UK in 2005.)
The puppies, nine of which have already been sold for A$2500 each, will put on about 3kg a week and will weigh up to 90kg when fully grown.
The Neapolitan mastiff was first bred about 1,000 years ago to guard property. They can be grey-blue, black, tawny, mahogany or brindle. They are fearless protectors when called upon to be so. They are wary around strangers but relax once they get to know the person. They are affectionate with family and friends. They are usually very loving with children.
The Neapolitan mastiff is a descendant of the molossus, huge war dogs of the Middle East, and were used in the Roman arenas pitted against lions, bears and gladiators for entertainment, and as dogs of war, fighting alongside the Roman legions. Eventually the descendants of the Roman molossian splintered into several mastiff breeds: English mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux, Spanish mastiff, St Bernard and rottweiler.
A Neapolitan mastiff was featured in the Harry Potter movies as Hagrid's dog Fang.
www.news.com.au, www.mypets.net.au
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