The Kennel Club has taken a positive step in improving the health, longevitiy and function of the Neo. See the changes to their breed standard below. Any [u]underlined [/u]text indicates a change or addition. [Square bracketed] text indicates a deletion. Neapolitan Mastiff Characteristics [u]Some [/u]loose fitting skin over body and head [u]permitted[/u], not to be excessive. [Delete ‘with a double dewlap’]. Head and Skull Head [u]fairly[/u] large with broad short skull, broad across cheeks. Head proportion: skull length two thirds, to muzzle one third. Skull flat and parallel to topline of muzzle. [Delete ‘Well pronounced’] Definite stop, nose should not protrude beyond vertical line of muzzle. Nose large with well open nostrils. Lips fleshy and thick. The upper lips form an inverted ‘v’ when viewed from the front. Muzzle deep and square when viewed from the front. [Delete ‘with deep flews’] Loose skin on head [u]permitted[/u], [delete ‘forming wrinkles and folds’] but without excess. Eyes Clean eyes, set forward, well apart, rather rounded. Rims [delete ‘fairly’] tight without [delete ‘excessive’] haw. Rim pigmentation to tone with nose colour. Free from obvious eye problems. Neck [u]Fairly[/u] short, stocky, very muscular. [Delete ‘dewlap from lower jaw reaching mid-point of neck’] Body Longer than height at withers. Broad, well muscled chest, ribcage reaching at least to elbow. Ribs long and well sprung. Topline straight, [u]sloping[/u] slightly [u]from the[/u] withers, line of belly parallel to topline. Hindquarters Broad loin, well let into backline, slightly rounded with well developed muscle. Croup broad, muscular, with slight slope. Thighs long, broad, moderate stifle, powerful hocks. [Delete ‘Dewclaws (single or double) removed’]. [No change to General Appearance, Temperament, Ears, Mouth Forequarters, Feet, Tail, Gait/Movement, Coat, Colour, Size, Faults and Note]. The new standard is here http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/56 I think these very subtle changes will have far reaching impacts on the health and function of the Neo. What do you think?