Lee, What I think Nati is trying to say is; A true classic working Mastino with natural instincts, ability, and desire are more like a hidden tresure, only experiecnced and viewed by few. So how can you or any of your associates in deep Mississippi have any connections or access to such a dog? The answer is none, and it will probably stay that way. You do not fool with Mastini that are known to attend some shows therefore you have little experience with bloodlines that many in the world are famaliar with. So that leaves you with what? The local Joes around Texas, Louisiana, etc.. that have Neapolitan Mastiffs which they probably got from the local Paper. I have seen alot of those guys in your part of the country who claim to breed "working Neos". Alot of them even breed Mastini to others breeds such as American Bulldogs for example. They think just because they have a dog with the same color coat/eyes as a Neapolitan Mastiff and a alot less breed type, that they have some extreme working dog that look like those blk/white picture on the internet. As to comparing EMs to Mastini; A true big Mastiff with good instincts is a wonderful dog to have. They are very intimidating and hold inmmense power. I think more effective than a Rottweiler or Doberman. Now a true Mastino is a true Gem to have, like catching a historical baseball. The are just as powerful, intimidating, and have those natrual Desires and are not limited to Giant dog movements like the English Mastiff. Its more like feline or think of a really big Presa moving. Viewing these dog work is like watching something in the past.