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Some breeding took place between 1949 and 1960. Breed type was set but was somewhat different that of today’s dogs. Less wrinkled and tighter skinned the breed began its evolution. The 1970's saw many of the greatest dogs come forth. Dogs like Ch. Sansone I di Ponzano, Ch. Leone, Ch. Socrates di Ponzano, Ch. Madigam della Grotta Azzurra, and Falco della Grotta Azzurra, just to name a few, imprinted their type upon the breed not only in Italy but France and other European countries. In the late 1970's sixteen outstanding individuals were imported into Germany where, for some unknown reason the breeding ceased. These sixteen Mastini consisted of 10 dogs and 6 bitches. The dogs that were imported from northern Italy were Int. Ch. Enea di Ponzano and Intl. & Ital. Ch. Aronne. The remaining eight came from southern Italy were Ital. Ch. Mason della Grotta Azzurra, Attila dell Grotta Azzurra, Unno, Sarno, Oro, Ur, Nerone and Ital. Ch. Califf della Dea Partenopea. The bitches Teresina dell Casa Lazzarone and Intl. Ch. Gilda di Ponzano hailed from the South of Italy while the remaining four Bundessiegerin Romana della Grotta Azzurra, Europasiegerin Medea della Grotta Azzurra, Valeria della Grotta Azzurra and Europasiegerin Pacchiana were previously from the north. Very few dogs came out of these excellent specimens, in fact only Enea was used to any extent in a breeding program. To this day, I believe it still remains a mystery though some believe that this mass importation caused a divided camp. Four Germans undertook this importation to improve the breeding of the Mastino in Germany while another small faction did everything in their power to prevent this project from becoming a success, obviously succeeding. Italian immigrants brought some Neapolitans over to the United States in the early 1900's but the major importer and primary founder of the breed here was Michael Sottile, Sr., president and founder of the NMCA (Neapolitan Mastiff Club of America)in the 1970's. Michael’s grandfather it is said smuggled 4 puppies into the United States in 1902. Along with Michael Sr., Jane Pampalone and Joan (Moran) White played an important role in promoting the breed through dog shows and helped the breed gain popularity. In the 1980's breeding stock and puppies were exported out of Italy to foreign countries as well as the United States. The shores of America saw the offspring of some magnificent dogs such as El Gavilan dell’Altafiumara, Mosé, Squarcione, Zimbo della Zacchera and Hatrim and Frazier della Grotta Azzurra, just to mention a few. All of Europe, including Belgium, Hungary, the Netherlands and Yugoslavia saw importation into their homelands where excellent dogs are still being produced today. Within the past 10 years or so a heightened awareness of the breed has arisen in both Australia and England. Long quarantines in these countries, however, make it quite cost prohibitive to import puppies and older breeding stock but there are determined breeders making their mark.
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