Even the AKC can't resist the slobbery, majestic Neo

The Neapolitan mastiff -- the latest addition to the American Kennel Club's list of official breeds, is a refreshing, if wrinkled, new face.

On display Saturday and Sunday during the four-day Bay Colony Dog Show, which begins today at the Bayside Exposition Center, the massive ''Neo" (forget the vowel discrepancy) is described by aficionados as ''the slobberiest dogs in the world," whose owners often resort to carrying towels with them. They sleep constantly, and snore with gusto. They are large enough -- males are 150 pounds and up -- to move the furniture when simply navigating their way through a room. They are so top-heavy that mating is quite precarious and their big-domed puppies generally are delivered by Caesarian section.

The official breed standard for Neos, as set out by the sometimes stuffy AKC, which outlines what is required in body and mind for each breed, skips a lot of the high-toned rhetoric seen for other kinds of dogs. The Neapolitan mastiff, it says, ''is characterized by loose skin over his entire body, abundant, hanging wrinkles and folds on the head and a voluminous dewlap. The essence of the Neapolitan is his bestial appearance, astounding head, and imposing size and attitude. Due to his massive structure, his characteristic movement is rolling and lumbering, not elegant or showy."

Compare that to the AKC standard lingo for, say, the poodle, which ''has about him an air of distinction and dignity peculiar to himself." Or the ideal German shepherd, which the AKC says ''is stamped with a look of quality and nobility -- difficult to define, but unmistakable when present."

None of that bologna for this Italian dog. Instead, the recently revived ancient breed embraces traits eschewed by others. Pendulous lips, ample dewlaps, and elbows draped in loose skin are, in fact, sought after for the Neo, and the absence of wrinkles is a disqualification.

What David Buldini of Sandwich sees in these dogs is a ''primitive majesty" unmatched by any other breed. Buldini, who has been fond of Neapolitans for 14 years, speaks with admiration of their ''blocky muzzles," the thickness of the limbs, and the ''good brow wrinkle." They may not possess the flashiness of an Afghan hound, but he says they do exude the power of a Clydesdale horse.

Buldini will be showing two of his five Neos this weekend at Bayside -- Buldini Reginetta Di Bologna or ''Reggie," his 174-pound female, and Buldini Cane Oltragioso or ''T-Rage," his 184-pound stud dog. T-Rage has quickly racked up show points since the breed gained acceptance just months ago, and a win this weekend could clinch a title of champion for him.

The Neos are sure to be a hit at the show. As Baldini points out, the average person might mistake a mastiff for a bull mastiff or even a French mastiff, but there is no way to overlook the singular appearance of the Neapolitans. They are thicker, heavier-set looking than the other mastiffs, and the ample cowl neck of flesh from the shoulders up is unique.

''When I walk one of the dogs," Baldini says, ''I can't go 50 feet without cars pulling over, or people running out of restaurants, napkins still in hand."

They may excite everyone, but they shouldn't entice just anyone to buy them.

Cathy Blanchard of New Hampshire is a member of the United States Neapolitan Rescue Program, which takes in unwanted Neapolitans and finds them good homes. She's seen many people who've gotten in over their heads with these guarding dogs who need plenty of training and socialization. One family who surrendered a dog to her had seen the breed in a Harry Potter movie and picked one up without doing any research. Another distraught new owner from Fall River who'd never owned a pet before she purchased her Neo, called in a panic when the nearly 100-pound puppy kept knocking the grandchildren over.

The combination of intelligence and stubbornness is interesting, Buldini says. They may fetch a ball once, but after that, their attitude is, ''You go get it." In an ideal home, a good steady Neo, he says, who is handled properly makes a great family dog.

With all the Neapolitan has going for it, what took the AKC so long to get aboard? Well, the process of accepting new breeds is going on all the time, and the timetable is dictated by a number of factors such as how many dogs of that breed are in the country, and how organized the breed's national club is, club officials say.

In 1885, the AKC recognized 25 breeds. By 1994, it was 137, and today there are 153.

For many breeds, acceptance into the AKC is a much-prized membership (the organization is cheeky enough to dub itself ''the club of clubs"), but it sometimes can take on the mood of a hostile takeover. There are plenty -- such as many border collie owners -- who have resisted the designation, feeling that the club focuses too much on beauty and not enough on function. (Nonetheless, border collies were entered into AKC regular classes in 1995.)

The AKC maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world. And it is through this group that all those dogs that are so familiar to us -- collies, poodles, pugs, cocker spaniels, and so forth, exist.

But as the group expands and takes in new breeds, it may leave some people scratching their heads along with well-furred haunches at the dog show. This year, in addition to the Neapolitan mastiffs, the AKC has accepted impressive black Russian terriers and little Irish Glen of Imaal terriers, too. In the last several years, the group has added breeds such as the Anatolian shepherd dog, the Havanese, the ''little lion dog"or Lowchen, the fuzzy-faced Spinone Italiano, and the dog whose name is bigger than he is, the Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever.

And the list keeps growing. Worldwide, there are about 400 breeds listed with registry organizations of various kinds, and more exotic breeds are expected to come down the pipe.

Currently accepted in understudy categories that could lead to full AKC registration are the Beauceron (a French herding dog), the Portugese Podengo (ancient hunters), Estrela Mountain dog (handsome livestock guardians), the Kooikerhondje (cute little dog from the Netherlands used to ''entice" ducks toward hunters), and the Mudi (a small all-around farm hand from Hungary).

The Bay Colony Dog Show starts today and runs through Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Bayside Exposition Center, exit 15 off Route 93. Three thousand dogs representing more than 150 breeds will be competing each day. And every day is a complete show, with a top dog taking ''Best in Show" honors by late afternoon/early evening. There are also police dog demonstrations, agility competitions, and obedience trials, as well as plenty of shopping opportunities at 100 concession booths. Admission is $12; $7 for children. Parking is $12. For information on which breeds will compete when, call the event line at 508-533-1153 or log on to www.baycolonydogshow.com. And remember, if your dog isn't entered, you can't bring her.