Which is Better between the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese? A Very Detailed Review.

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Neapolitan Mastiff Versus Pekingese: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Neapolitan Mastiff and for the Pekingese. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Neapolitan Mastiff or the Pekingese.

Neapolitan Mastiff versus Pekingese: Overview

A very important difference between the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Neapolitan Mastiff is a giant-sized dog while the Pekingese is a tiny-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Neapolitan Mastiff belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

On the other hand, the Pekingese belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

Neapolitan Mastiff versus Pekingese: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Neapolitan Mastiff to the Pekingese based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese

Factor Neapolitan Mastiff Pekingese
Good For Novice Owners 1/5 4/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 1/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 5/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 5/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 5/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 5/5 5/5
Weight 120 to 200 pounds 7 to 14 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 2/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 1/5
Dog Friendly 2/5 2/5
General Health 2/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 3/5
Height 24 to 31 inches tall at the shoulder 6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder
Does NOT Shed 3/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 1/5
Easy To Train 3/5 3/5
Intelligence 3/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 4/5
Easygoing 2/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 1/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 1/5 3/5
Life Span 8 to 10 years 12 to 15 years
Average Lifespan 9.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $2870 $1930
Price Range $1800 – $3700 $1288 – $2500
Temperament Score 66.7 percent 93.3 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 104 86

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Neapolitan Mastiff in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Pekingese. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Neapolitan Mastiff is 71 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Pekingese is 77 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Pekingese is a better pet than the Neapolitan Mastiff. So, you should get the Pekingese!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese

    Below is a list of where the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese are most different:

  • Neapolitan Mastiffs are not the best dogs for new dog owners. However, Pekingeses are good for new dog owners.
  • Neapolitan Mastiffs cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Pekingeses can tolerate cold weather.
  • Neapolitan Mastiffs have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets. However, Pekingeses have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Neapolitan Mastiffs are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl. However, Pekingeses are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Neapolitan Mastiffs do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Pekingeses adapt well to apartment living.
  • Neapolitan Mastiffs have a very high tendency to drool. However, Pekingeses do not have the tendency to drool.
  • The Similarities Between the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese

    The Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese are most similar:

  • Both the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese are very playful.
  • Both the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Neapolitan Mastiff versus Pekingese

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese.

    Neapolitan Mastiffs weigh 120 to 200 pounds when fully grown. Neapolitan Mastiffs are 24 to 31 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Pekingeses weigh 7 to 14 pounds when fully grown. Pekingeses are 6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Neapolitan Mastiff versus Pekingese

    The lifespan of Neapolitan Mastiffs is between 8 to 10 years. The average lifespan of Neapolitan Mastiffs is 9.0 years.

    The lifespan of Pekingeses is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Pekingeses is 13.5 years.

    Pekingeses live longer than Neapolitan Mastiffs.

    Temperament of the Neapolitan Mastiff Versus the Pekingese

    The Pekingese has a better temperament than the Neapolitan Mastiff.

    This is because the temperament score for the Pekingese is 93.3 percent while the temperament score for the Neapolitan Mastiff is 66.7 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 66.7 percent, the Neapolitan Mastiff has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 93.3 percent, the Pekingese has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese by measuring the temperaments of 15 Neapolitan Mastiffs and 15 Pekingeses.

    Price of Neapolitan Mastiff versus Price of Pekingese

    The average price of the Neapolitan Mastiff puppy is $2870. The price of the Neapolitan Mastiff typically ranges from $1800 – $3700. However, the price of a Neapolitan Mastiff can be as low as $500 and as high as $5500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 83 Neapolitan Mastiff puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Pekingese puppy is $1930. The price of the Pekingese typically ranges from $1288 – $2500. However, the price of the Pekingese can be as low as $700 and as high as $7500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 138 Pekingese puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Neapolitan Mastiff is more expensive than the Pekingese.

    Neapolitan Mastiff Pekingese
    Average Price $2870 $1930
    Price Range $1800 to $3700 $1288 to $2500

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Neapolitan Mastiff and Pekingese. For different price points, the charts show how many Neapolitan Mastiff puppies or how many Pekingese puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Neapolitan Mastiffs. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Neapolitan Mastiffs. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Pekingeses

    A breakdown of the prices of Pekingeses

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Neapolitan Mastiff puppy or the Pekingese puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Adopting the Neapolitan Mastiff versus Adopting the Pekingese

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Neapolitan Mastiffs and many Pekingeses are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Neapolitan Mastiff named Thor (New Intake) that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Neapolitan Mastiffs like Thor (New Intake) on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Neapolitan Mastiffs, Pekingeses are also available for adoption. For example, Billy is a Male Pekingese that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Pekingeses like Billy that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Fausto (New Intake) is the name of another Neapolitan Mastiff (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, Joe Joe is an adorable Male Pekingese on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Neapolitan Mastiffs and Pekingeses are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Neapolitan Mastiffs and Pekingeses that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Popularity of Neapolitan Mastiff versus Popularity of Pekingese

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Pekingese is more popular with dog owners than the Neapolitan Mastiff. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Pekingese is 86 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Neapolitan Mastiff is 104 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Neapolitan Mastiff

    Popularity of Neapolitan Mastiff

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Year Neapolitan Mastiff Popularity Rank Pekingese Popularity Rank
    2013 111 77
    2014 114 82
    2015 106 80
    2016 99 93
    2017 107 88
    2018 102 92
    2019 100 83
    2020 100 95

    Tolerates Being Alone: Neapolitan Mastiff versus Pekingese

    Neapolitan Mastiffs do not like to be left alone.

    Pekingeses can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Neapolitan Mastiffs shed more than Pekingeses?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs shed moderately.

    Pekingeses shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Neapolitan Mastiff or the Pekingese

    Neapolitan Mastiffs have a very high tendency to drool.

    Pekingeses do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Neapolitan Mastiff or the Pekingese?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs are moderately easy to groom.

    Pekingeses require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Does the Neapolitan Mastiff Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Pekingese?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Pekingeses have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do Neapolitan Mastiffs Bark and Howl? What about Pekingeses?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Pekingeses are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Neapolitan Mastiffs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Pekingeses Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Pekingeses can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Neapolitan Mastiff vs. Pekingese

    Neapolitan Mastiffs do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Pekingeses have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Neapolitan Mastiffs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Pekingeses Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Pekingeses cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Neapolitan Mastiff or the Pekingese?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs do not get along well with other dogs.

    Pekingeses do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Neapolitan Mastiffs good family dogs? What about Pekingeses?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Pekingeses are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Neapolitan Mastiffs and Pekingeses?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Pekingeses do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    Is the Neapolitan Mastiff Easier to Train than the Pekingese?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs are fairly easy to train.

    Pekingeses are fairly easy to train.

    Is the Neapolitan Mastiff Better for Apartment Owners than the Pekingese?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Pekingeses adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Neapolitan Mastiff or the Pekingese?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Pekingeses are very good for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Neapolitan Mastiff

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Neapolitan Mastiff that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Neapolitan Mastiff:

  • Doberman Pinscher (67 percent match with Neapolitan Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Doberman Pinscher.
  • Mastiff (72 percent match with Neapolitan Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Mastiff.
  • Spanish Mastiff (69 percent match with Neapolitan Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Spanish Mastiff.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Pekingese

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Pekingese that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Pekingese:

  • Dandie Dinmont Terrier (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Neapolitan Mastiff vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Mal Shi (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Neapolitan Mastiff vs Mal Shi.
  • Pomeranian (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Neapolitan Mastiff vs Pomeranian.
  • Pomsky (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Neapolitan Mastiff vs Pomsky.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Neapolitan Mastiff and how the Pekingese compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Neapolitan Mastiff and of the Pekingese to other breeds:

    Neapolitan Mastiff Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Neapolitan Mastiff versus Ibizan Hound     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Briard     Neapolitan Mastiff versus American Bulldog     Neapolitan Mastiff versus German Pinscher     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Norwegian Buhund     Neapolitan Mastiff versus English Toy Spaniel     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Shih Tzu     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Mountain Cur     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Boykin Spaniel     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Dachshund     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Weimaraner     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Bordoodle     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Treeing Walker Coonhound     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Aussiedoodle     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Japanese Spitz     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Kai Ken     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Biewer Terrier     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Yorkipoo     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Bracco Italiano     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Akita     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Toy Poodle     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Kai Ken     Neapolitan Mastiff versus German Wirehaired Pointer     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Karelian Bear Dog     

    Pekingese Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pekingese versus Coton de Tulear     Pekingese versus Peek A Poo     Pekingese versus American Foxhound     Pekingese versus Manchester Terrier     Pekingese versus Shichon     Pekingese versus Cairn Terrier     Pekingese versus Rottweiler     Pekingese versus Lakeland Terrier     Pekingese versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne     Pekingese versus Bloodhound     Pekingese versus Silky Terrier     Pekingese versus Cavapoo     Pekingese versus Scottish Terrier     Pekingese versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Pekingese versus Dachshund     Pekingese versus Mountain Cur     Pekingese versus Catahoula Bulldog     Pekingese versus Italian Greyhound     Pekingese versus English Springer Spaniel     Pekingese versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Pekingese versus Kai Ken     Pekingese versus Canaan Dog     Pekingese versus French Bulldog     Pekingese versus Great Pyrenees     Pekingese versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog     

    Conclusion: Neapolitan Mastiff versus Pekingese. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Pekingese better suits you and your family.