Litter C – Ava × Axe

An Italian adventure that didn't go to plan

When I started planning Májenka's next litter, I had a fairly clear idea of what I was looking for. It wasn't just about a good-looking dog with good health results. I wanted to combine lines that I know, that I trust and where I have a sense of what kind of temperaments come through in them.

My long-term goal is to breed Saarloos wolfdogs that keep the typical temperament and look of the breed, but are also keener to work with their people and be part of their everyday life.

And so the planning of the next Mista Melmë litter began.

Next stop: Italy!

The search for a stud dog eventually took me all the way to Faenza in Italy. The chosen groom was Thor, a dog who caught my eye with his type and his pedigree.

But planning at a computer is one thing, and reality is another.

Májenka and I made the roughly thousand-kilometre trip to Italy and I hoped everything would go the way it should. Májenka was ready, we had tracked her progesterone, and all that was left was, well, the most important part.

And that's exactly where our plan started to fall apart a little.

Thor showed no interest in Májenka and, despite enormous patience, the mating just didn't happen. We tried over several days, without success. And with every passing day it became clearer that the originally planned pairing might come to nothing.

Honestly? Driving all that way and watching months of planning slowly melt away was devastating.

Enter Axe

But there was another dog in Italy – Thor's brother Axe, full name Leonardo da Vinci Amor Ogni Cosa Vince del Lupi Feudi.

Axe is a bigger, more striking male and, in looks, a slightly different type from the one I was originally after. But he has something I value enormously in a Saarloos.

He's an open, friendly, easy-going dog who lives life to the full with his family. He goes with them to all sorts of events, including historical ones, moves among people, and the everyday bustle of life doesn't easily throw him.

And that's exactly where he reminds me of Májenka.

She's more reserved with strangers, but otherwise she's my shadow. She wants to be part of everything I do and she's happiest when she's in the thick of things.

So in the end we gave Axe a chance.

But even this time there was no textbook mating with a tie that would have let me drive home with peace of mind. All that remained was the possibility that one of the attempts had worked.

And so I came back from Italy far more uncertain than when I had arrived.

The long wait

The following weeks were mostly about waiting and overthinking.

Did it work? Didn't it? Is there any point in hoping?

I had no certainty at all. And because I knew how the mating had gone, I tried to prepare myself for the possibility that Májenka would stay empty.

Still, of course, I was hoping for a small miracle.

On 15 October we got the answer

I went to the ultrasound with a good dose of nerves.

And then the first puppies appeared on the screen.

Májenka is pregnant!

At the scan we saw three embryos, and after all the ups and downs it was a huge relief. Of course we're not out of the woods yet and there's still a way to go, but after weeks of uncertainty we finally know we have something to look forward to.

If all goes well, we'll welcome Mista Melmë litter C in the second half of November 2026.

What do I hope for from this pairing?

This pairing brings together lines that I know and that I chose mainly with temperament in mind. I'm consciously working with a higher level of relatedness, because I want to build on the qualities that have proven themselves in these families. At the same time, I'm aware of the genetic risks of such a decision and I don't see a related pairing as a guarantee of any particular outcome.

Above all I hope for healthy Saarloos with a typical temperament who are keen to do things with their people. Dogs who are just as happy on a trip as at home with the family, who keep their individuality and enjoy doing things together.

In terms of looks, I expect standard-sized dogs with harmonious proportions, without unnecessary extremes.

How far these hopes come true, only time will tell. Every puppy will be one of a kind, and no pedigree can promise a particular temperament or look in advance.

But one thing I know for sure. I won't forget this litter in a hurry. And the puppies haven't even been born yet.