And just like that, our long-planned trip, which I had been waiting for for over two years and dreaming about for three, flew by. Finally, it’s safe to say that the dream has taken physical form! This wasn’t just a simple mating or choosing an ordinary partner. This is Aston – the black prince of France, whom we had been waiting for so long. Our meeting was meticulously planned but kept getting postponed for a whole year, even though it was supposed to become a reality a year ago. However, as they say, good and true things are worth the wait. I hope this powerful encounter will bring us new little ones, as one phrase constantly spins in my head – "The Black Hope...".
Nature's Plans and the Decision to Go "All In"
Since Tongulė always knows how to test my nerves, this time was no exception. Her season didn't go smoothly by the book – our lady was in no rush. She couldn't care less that a long trip and meticulous planning awaited me. Her attitude was simple: "Mama, mind your own business, I’m not in a hurry."
Because her ovulation was delayed, planning wasn't easy – I had to rely on my intuition to figure out the best and smartest course of action. The situation wasn't helped by the upcoming public holidays, which meant extra stress regarding veterinary clinic opening hours. We do progesterone testing to determine the start of ovulation, but the numbers were slow to rise. And when it’s delayed, a quick and sudden spike can happen anytime, leaving us with nothing but to say: "Goodbye, France, maybe next time..."
Sometimes it happens that the heat occurs, but ovulation doesn't, leaving zero chance for puppies. All this chaos was spinning in my head, and decisions had to be made right then and there. Since there was a slight rise in progesterone (not as much as I wanted, but I had to be happy there was a rise at all!), the decision was clear – we are going!
We didn't wait any longer because the weekend was approaching, meaning we wouldn't be able to test again. We quickly booked the ferry, arranged our route, accommodation reservations, agreements with the stud’s owner, and vet visits abroad. All at once! It was an all-in decision – if it wasn't meant to be part of the dream, it would at least be a good vacation. I believe that in life, everything falls into place exactly as it should.
The Road to the Destination: From the Ferry Deck to 40°C Heat
Our first choice was the ferry. Why? So our princess Tongutė could feel comfortable, not get tired, and peacefully raise her progesterone. It was a great decision. Even though the ship swayed a bit and made us sleepy, Tongulis was completely calm and slept soundly. Of course, the dog's WC deck didn't make me very optimistic, but somehow we survived those twenty hours.
Right after getting off the ferry, Germany and our first overnight stay in Bremen awaited us. We arrived in the evening, greeted by loud Muslim prayers and a not-so-cozy hotel, but at least it was close to the city center. In the morning – bags in hand and forward to our final destination in France! We encountered extremely hot weather during the trip, with temperatures reaching nearly forty degrees Celsius (104°F). The AC in the car helped us feel normal and survive the heat.
French Rural Idyl and a Stubborn Aries
By the end of the day, we finally reached our village. And that’s where I started falling in love with France... Such an unreal, cozy, and warm little village! The people were sincere and talkative. These are places tourists rarely visit, so we were quite the oddballs there. Everything around looked like living ancient history – beautiful little houses, castles, churches... Every town has its own pride.
We arrived at our apartment, which was built inside an old barn. It was adapted for modern living but retained that true French spirit and feeling. And all around us – freely grazing horses and goats... A true rural idyl!
As soon as we settled in, even though my eyes were watering from exhaustion, I started making a plan – where to get a progesterone test today, because our appointment was only for the next morning. Frankly, I was full of fear. You never know what the numbers will be: maybe it’s already too high, or maybe there’s nothing at all. Both options are disappointing, and the uncertainty causes immense stress. Naturally, I couldn't wait! That very same arrival day, I found a vet clinic and tried calling, but no one spoke English, and I didn't know a single word of French. Do you think that stopped me? Absolutely not! I got into the car and drove there right before closing time. I figured: we’ll find a way to communicate on the spot, because you simply can't hang up the phone on a persistent client in person.
I am very stubborn – a true representative of my Zodiac sign (Aries). If you tell me nothing will happen and it's impossible, I will move mountains to prove that everything can be done. (This is the trait that sometimes annoys my loved ones, but they already know which words are better left unsaid to me!). So, after arriving, we found a way to communicate. The receptionist understood nothing, translation apps were inaccurate, but finally, a doctor who spoke a little English came out. Voilà! We figured out what test I needed, 10 minutes passed, and the results were in my hands.
Unfortunately, they weren't great. It was still too early; everything had paused.
With slightly cloudy thoughts, we drove back to our barn, wondering what would happen next. Along the way, we decided to clear our heads and went into the forest to explore French nature. We might have cleared our heads, but in return, we fed a swarm of very hungry and painfully biting horseflies! After gathering our thoughts, we decided to repeat the test in two days.
The Wait and Meeting the True Don Juan
We had no intention of just sitting around. We used our waiting days to explore France: we toured villages, forests, mines, and enjoyed our vacation. When the X-day dawned, we repeated the test, and tada! The numbers moved in the exact direction we needed.
That same day, we went to meet Aston, whom I had been waiting for so eagerly. You can study genetics papers, look at photos and videos from every angle, but a live meeting still brings great excitement and a bit of fear – what if reality isn't what you expect?
The breeder, Kelly, welcomed us incredibly warmly and friendlily. Until then, we had only communicated via messages, so it was wonderful to meet in person. She let Tongulis inspect Aston's domain and then called out the most ultimate gentleman.
It was the moment of truth. Out ran a pitch-black boy whose eyes were literally shining! Full of joy and life. No fears, no stress – just freedom. Of course, Tonga wouldn't be Tonga if she didn't put him through a whole obstacle course of tests. After all, she is a princess, and a gentleman must perform heroic deeds to be her chosen one. She tried to boss him around, scare him, and break his spirit in every way possible. Usually, her tricks work on others, but not with Aston.
This was on another level. Aston is a true Don Juan who perfectly knows what he’s doing and how to charm such mischievous girls. He spun around like a top! You just had to see the whole body language conversation: Tonga tries to show dominance, and the gentleman neither backs down nor submits. He smoothly danced his way out of all her tests, encouraging her to feel more confident. After several unsuccessful attempts to scare him, Tongutė tried to scare him with her voice. And what did Aston do? He decided to cheer up the serious lady – he ran up, gently nipped her ear, and playfully engaged her again!
Finally, my serious girl gave in. After all the tests, she started liking that this good boy wasn't afraid of her, yet showed immense respect and persistence at the same time. The seduction dance began, and she agreed that this boy was truly worthy of being the father of her children. Watching them brought so much peace to my heart. He is a true diamond. Not just because of his insanely beautiful appearance and build, but most importantly, because of his character. His patience, persistence, and ability to control the situation are what you can only hope for in the best-case scenario.
Adventures, Art, and Hidden Corners
After the date, we still had a day and a half of vacation. We utilized it fully: we visited more towns and got acquainted with architectural history and culture. Tongulis was with us everywhere and always! While I was interested in buildings and art, Tongulis was mostly interested in corners, "pee business," and checking out who left what scents. In short, we were each stuck in our own kind of art, but the main thing is that we were both happy!
Since the heat was simply monstrous, we decided not to go to Paris and postponed it for another time. Tongutė's health and protection from overheating were more important, and I don't regret this decision one bit. It gave us the chance to see places with few tourists and feel true history. In this case, the delay of her heat was actually beneficial – it slowed us down, allowed us to enjoy the moments longer, and see more.
The Way Back with Hope in the Belly
On our last day in France, we visited our chosen one one more time to seal the deal completely. Hoping that we were returning with some dream "contraband" in the belly, we headed home. The way back was long but spectacular:
- Quedlinburg (Germany): This was our first stop after leaving France. This bright, authentic German town completely changed my initial view of Germany for the better. Here, you could feel beauty, order, and respect not only in the buildings but also in the people. We stayed in an ancient hotel in the city center. Tongulis and I were welcomed warmly – we cleared our heads after the long drive and enjoyed the still-ongoing vacation.
- Toruń (Poland): Early in the morning, we hit the road again and reached our final stop. It’s an ancient city breathing with history. My husband chose a truly unique accommodation – a railway hotel located right next to the station. Everything there was decorated in a vintage style. At first, I thought, "Well, my husband knows how to pick interesting places, but what about the noise?". Surprisingly – none at all! We slept very peacefully and quietly.
Throughout the entire trip, passersby couldn't take their eyes off Tongutė. Some smiled, some talked to her, others asked to pet her. In short, my star went out into the world and soaked up the attention.
Summary: The trip was simply amazing. With new impressions, warm people we met, new experiences, and hopefully, newly formed friendships. Having the opportunity to fulfill this dream is something extraordinary. Yes, for now, it is just a dream – until we have confirmation that she is expecting, we can only hope for the best result. But even if nature decides otherwise, this trip to France will remain one of our most beautiful and fulfilling memories!
