Neapolitan Mastiff, todays featured dog breed..

The Neapolitan Mastiff is a large, ancient dog breed that can be traced back to about 168 BC. This massive breed is often used as a guard and defender of family and property due to the protective instincts and their fearsome appearance. The breed is reported to have been used for fighting against Lions in the Colosseo and other ancient Roman arenas.

Appearance
Neapolitan Mastiffs are characterized by the loose skin over their entire bodies, with wrinkle and folds on the head; and a large dewlap. Some breeders produce Mastino with vast amounts of skin and wrinkle, large bone size and this is known as W.H.A.M meaning Wrinkle Head And Mass, while others detest this type preferring a more lean athletic appearance. There are 4 coat colors; Black, Grey(Blue), Mahogany and Tawny(blonde) , each color may also come with reverse brindling appearing as brown silver or beige. They can sometimes also have white on the chest and feet, males also on the sheath of the penis. White anywhere else on the body is a fault. Ears can be cropped or uncropped though since January 1st 2007 it is now banned to crop ears or dock tails in Italy as it is in the rest of Europe.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC) standards, male Neapolitan Mastiffs should measure 26–31 inches (66–79 cm) at the withers, weighing approximately 150 pounds (70 kg)(200 in really large males), whilst females should be 24–29 inches (61–74 cm) and weigh around 110 pounds (50 kg). Body length should be 10-15% more than that of the height.

The Neapolitan Mastiff is fearless and extremely protective of its home and family. They prefer to be with their family and to remain in and around the home always. They are not a dog to go and wander off. As a guardian breed it is very wary of strangers but usually on seeing that their master is relaxed they soon accept them. The Neapolitan Mastiff rarely barks unless under provocation, renowned for sneaking upon intruders as opposed to alerting them of their presence first. As a breed the Neapolitan Mastiff can be extremely stubborn, but learns things very quickly. Once it understands what its master wants, it obeys.
The Neapolitan Mastiff is not a breed for everyone and certainly not a dog for beginners. Children should be taught to respect these dogs. Neapolitan Mastiffs should be well socialized at an early age either at ring craft or puppy clubs organized by your veterinarian to avoid over-protectiveness. They will be very protective even with extensive socialization. Additional protection training is unnecessary because they are natural guard dogs and always have been. Obedience training is very important in this breed. The Mastino is generally very tolerant of pain due to the breed's early fighting background and the fact the skin is loose on the body. They also are renowned for drooling especially after drinking or if they get excited.

History
The Neapolitan Mastiff is a descendant of the Molossus. Not many decades ago, "molossian of Epirus" was still a term to be found in some Greek glossaries on dog breeds, I think more so than others as a term of historical reference. Epirus was one of the states of Ancient Greece, between Corfu and Pindus, neighboring Albania and Molossia or Molosside, whose inhabitants in the fourth century BC provided them with the reigning dynasty. It was described by Oppiano as a dog of large size, snub-nosed, truculent with its frowning brows,v not speedy but impetuous, fighter of great courage and incredible strength, to be employed against bulls and wild-boar, undaunted even when confronted with a lion. Quite clearly Oppiano here is precisely referring to the Molossian. Then Oppiano alludes to the corrugations of the skin in the area of the forehead - another characteristic peculiar to the Molossian.
The Romans, who in 168 BC defeated King Perseus of Macedonia - and who also made Albania one of their provinces in 148 BC - imported dogs of great power from those very areas into Rome, which were instantly called Pugnaces Britanniae as they were so ready to do battle against any wild beast. It was frequently used in the Roman arenas pitted against lions, bears, and gladiators for entertainment. Strabone wrote in about 30BC, that it required four molossians to confront a lion.
As dogs of war, they fought alongside the Roman legions, and in this way they were spread throughout Europe. Eventually the descendants of the Roman Molossian splintered into several different Mastiff breeds known across Europe