One life ends, another begins.

[Mud]

Our beautiful standard poodle, Gorgeous Gussy, was euthanised on Saturday 2nd of August. X-rays showed that she had large malignant tumors in her stomach and lungs. The following Saturday marked 1 year since her brother, Super Simon, had died of lymphoma. We will never own another poodle as I'm now getting too old for all the grooming, or I would be by the time they became old dogs.

Thank goodness for our labradoodle puppy Tassies Hugo the Boss. He kept us busy and brought laughter into our otherwise sad days following Gussy's death.

Next Wednesday Hugo's breeders are coming to Norfolk Island from their home in Tasmania to holiday with us for a week. They are bringing Hugo's 6 months younger blood brother with them. His name is Tassies Hot Potato and we shall call him Spud. Do Americans say spud for potato, I can't remember, or is that is just an Australian thing?

Me with my beautiful Simon and Gussy.

Miles with Gussy and Hugo 6 days before Gussy's death.

Our new baby Spud at 6 weeks.

[Raleighsmom]

So sorry for your loss of Gussey....it's so difficult putting them down...rest be assured, she's in a better place, totally pain free!...but also so happy you have Hugo to help ease your pain which I'm sure is very deep..and even happier that you are getting little Spud!!!
He is a little sweetie!!! And yes, we Americans call potatoes spuds!!! Or at least I do!

[mtd885]

And when you bake them over an open fire they're called 'Mickeys', which comes from the depression era here. That would be 1929-1930's. Great looking Pups! Doodle On Ozzies!

[Lucee&Rusty]

So sorry for your lost. It is hard to lose your best friend.
Good on'ya Hugo to take up the loss!
How great of your breeder to personally deliver your new Spud!
He reminds me a little of Lucee



Hope he gets you over the tough times.
Is he a standard like Hugo??
I can't get over how big Hugo is getting!
You will have to post some recent photos.

[annieG]

Most of us have had to say goodbye to a beloved pet as you did and it is always difficult. It is wonderful that you have your sweet Hugo to help you through this. It is a tribute to your Gussey that you will also be getting another....Spud.

Yes, we do call our potatoes spuds...I see that especially in the western US.

[MySweetDoodle]

May I offer my condolences on the loss of your beloved poodles. No matter how many pets we have over the years, it is always devastating when we have to say the final goodbye.

But as your said, another life begins. I am glad that you opened your hearts to Hugo and that he has been there to help ease the loss of Gussy and Simon. I know just what you mean about him bringing laughter into your lives. We were where you are when we got our Doodle, Lily. We lost our two senior girls and bringing Lily into our family was just what we needed.

She is such a sweetheart and an absolute joy and just by being here, she has brightened many sad days. We are totally in love with her.

May your Hugo and your new "baby" bring you much happiness.

[blueteal]

So very very sorry for the loss of your dear fur baby
Happy that an another animal can help ease the pain.........

[MaxandMe]

(((((((((((anne))))))))))so sorry to hear of you loss of Gussy and also
Simon.

I am truly hoping that your new baby doodle SPUD will put a smile back on your face and warm your heart, he is absolutely gorgeous!

and yes I call potatoes 'spuds"

[DebBrown]

I'm sorry to hear about Gus. Before Charlie, we also had a wonderful standard poodle. We still miss her!

Good luck with your little Spud! He's a cutie.

Deb

[lindamarie]

Well ya got me tearing up here!
We just went through this last November. My Springer also had lymphoma!
It's a difficult time and I'm so sorry for your loss!!!
SPud is adorable!
Hugs coming your way

I am sorry for your loss. Hopefully Spud will bring just as much laughter as Hugo has.

[tykesmom]

So very sorry for your loss, Anne. They were both beautiful dogs......
If anything can make you smile, it's a doodle puppy! I had already arranged to get my doodle, Tyke, to help put a little zest for life back into my 16 year old American Eskimo dog, but Fritzy died just two weeks after Tyke was born. As hard as it was to let go of Fritzy, knowing little Tyke would be coming soon helped me to get through it, and she's given me reason to smile every day since! Enjoy your little Spud, and hang onto your precious memories of Gussy and Simon!

[Mud]

Labradoodle people are as nice as their chosen breed. Thank you for all your kind messages. We have 2 mango trees in our garden and we now have Simon fertilizing one and Gussy the other. We should enjoy magnificent fruit.

I don't think Spud (several friends are going to call him Mr Chips because they don't like the name Spud) is going to be a cutie like Ingrid's Lucee. He will be 10 weeks old when he arrives and he is from the same parents as Hugo, so yes, he's a standard. It will be very nice to meet their breeders too. They are staying with us for a week. I'll let you know how it goes.

My camera has broken so I have been unable to take photos the last few weeks. However, all is not lost because my new one arrives this weekend. As soon as I have recent dog family snaps I shall post them.

[cissy k]

Sorry for your loss. Thanks for sharing your story with us. We will all go through it at one point or another, some of us more than once in our lifetimes.

Best of luck with Spud/Mr. Chips/Tater (I added that last one!!) LOL. Post pics when you can!

[tykesmom]

Originally Posted by Mud

Labradoodle people are as nice as their chosen breed. Thank you for all your kind messages. We have 2 mango trees in our garden and we now have Simon fertilizing one and Gussy the other. We should enjoy magnificent fruit.

Anne, you reminded me of my Fritzy with the mango trees, and I have to laugh....I LOVE rosemary, not just cooking with it, but just running the leaves through my hands and smelling that wonderful scent....my boyfriend gave me several little rosemary bushes while I had Fritzy, and for some reason, she PEED on them and killed every one of them! When she died, I decided the place where she lies outside my window would be a garden, and not a grave. I plant different little flowers depending on the season, but in the center I put a tiny rosemary bush. As I planted it, I said "Fritzy, you OWE me this one! Take care of my little tree!" Needless to say, my little rosemary has flourished, and now is big enough to take little snippets when I need some for cooking! I firmly believe Fritzy is taking care of my rosemary, and Gussey and Simon will make sure you have wonderful mangos to enjoy for years to come! Enjoy them and remember your wonderful pets! I do!