REALLY IRISH WOLFHOUNDS

On Friday we went to Italy to mate Mary to Pergentino Pimentel dei Mangialupi, owned by Gianni and Rosanna. They live with their son in a big house, next to Rosanna's sister and her family, Rosanna's brother and his family and Rosanna's mother. This typical large Italian family talked and laughed long into the night, and in the short time that we were there we were made to feel like family members ourselves.

As well as the family, we met the parrot named Romeo (who talked just as much as the family and not only knew all family's and dogs' names but in two days also learned to say "Mary") and the cats, who didn't mind dogs at all, even when Mary held them in her mouth, a cross breed dog, a horse, hens, four hunting dogs, eight golden retrievers and a puppy, and . . . the most important - the wolfhounds:

Bach (Pergentino), Bea (Beatrix Potter - sister to Roxi´s mother) and their four daughters of four-and-a-half months, two of whom Gianni and Rosanna will keep, all of them lovely puppies. I have seen several litters and visited several really good breeders, but I've never seen puppies as perfect as these.

Once we had met everyone it was time for the mating. Bach was very interested in Mary, and Mary was VERY interested in Bach, but though they had many attempts, the mating wasn't successful. We were becoming nervous, so we asked the vet to do some tests. He thought the long journey had reduced Mary's progesterone level, and said, that the best day would be Tuesday. So, we waited till Tuesday and . . . sure enough, the mating was successful!

Now we're keeping everything crossed for a pregnancy, especially as this is Mary's last chance to have puppies. By her next season she will be four-and-a-half, which we feel is too late for a first litter. The vet said there is an 86% chance that she will be pregnant, so all we can do is to trust in him and wait . . . :-)