Feeding your Neapolitan Mastiff is a bit of a controversial topic. Hopefully when you purchased your Neapolitan the breeder outlined their recommended feeding protocol. Most breeders know their bloodlines and they know what works for them. So, you should always discuss changes with your breeder.

Having said that, there are a few points most will agree as NO's :

• Do not feed puppy food, it tends to be too high in protein.

• No higher than 27% protein and at least 16% fat content for kibble based food.

• Do not give pure calcium supplements by themselves.

• Do not "free" feed - meaning don't just leave big bowls out all day.

A few points most will agree as YES's :

• Adding pasta or bread is great source of carb's and good for the Neo.

• Break feedings into two times daily.

• Feeding real meat protein such as chicken, beef - cooked and de boned, although there are quite a few "BARFERS" in the Neapolitan community.

• Do not over feed, there is no need to rush the growing process. Better to keep young dogs lean - meaning you shouldn't see the ribs but be able to easily feel them under the skin.

That is where the agreements tend to end.

So from there, you must do some research.
Read your dog food labels, look at some canine nutrition books and of course books about the Neapolitan Mastiff specifically.

Neo's love chicken - many breeders\owners use the BARF diet and feed raw, fresh chicken, bones and all. Others will pressure cook the chicken w\bones until the bones become mush, some will grind the chicken into a nice mush with a meat grinder. Research and figure out the best method for you and your Neo. Remember to rotate meat proteins - use Tuna, Beef and other high protein sources as well. A recent study discovered that canines need at least 3 different preys to fulfill their nutritional requirements and that canines well not true omnivores they are more omnivorous (they can eat more invertebrate prey and fruit) than the felines¹.

Whatever you do...Feed him right or he won't reach his potential ! Raising a dog on cheap kibble is like raising a human baby on fast food his whole life - think about it...we are both mammals!

1.Pérez-Claros JA; Palmqvist P. How many potential prey species account for the bulk of the diet of mammalian predators? Implications for stable isotope paleodietary analyses. Journal of Zoology, 2008; 275 (1): 9 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2007.00401.x Article summary available online at:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080711135024.htm