Sadly this is my first port here.
I*ll never forget the day I got Guss. My friend brought him over after I told her I couldn*t take him because we had just gotten Ozzy 5 days earlier. When Deb and Guss arrived I opened the back doors of her Suburban to see him. He stuck his big bowling ball head out of the door way and gave me a little kiss. That pretty much cinched it right there.
I had a crate just big enough for him for that first night. After that he got Belle*s ( my beloved Rottie girl, rest her soul) indoor outdoor run to sleep in at night. Belle made out ok though as from that point on she had free roam 24/7.
Guss was a Canine Good Citizen and passed his TDI therapy dog test. Although we never officially did any TDI visits, he made many, many people feel good throughout his life.
Guss made Saturday visits to various PetsMarts on a regular basis. I can*t tell you how many times I*ve seen the reactions on kids faces (some adults too) of the open mouths and wide open eyes when they first saw Guss…and the ‘whoaaaa* that came out of their mouths. Guss loved the attention. He loved people and especially little kids! When we stood up front by the doors he would walk up to everyone that came in to greet them. He*s favorite spot at PetsMart was up by the register mooching for treats…and he got LOTS of them!! Most of the time he*d end up laying down right there against the counter.
Guss also loved going to Thomas Tails. He*d always start crying as we got near. There he would browse the treat buffet and help himself to the desired treat of the day…then another….then another. I*d stop him at three depending on the size. Funny thing - a lot of times we*d go to the park for a hike before Thomas Tails. I swear he walked extra fast because he was in a hurry to get over to Thomas Tails.
As my schedule tightened up on Saturdays these last several months we didn*t have time to go to Thomas Tails. So when I stopped by Panera for carry out I*d get him a bear claw. From that point on no matter what day he was out with me, he*d need his bear claw whenever I stopped at a Panera.
Guss LOVED my pickup truck! I*ve been driving my wife to work the last several months and every morning Guss was ready to go! Funny thing was when I got back home he*d stay in the truck and sleep until feeding time, usually around noon. Then after eating and going out for a potty break he*d wanna go back in the truck.
Guss was a protective boy. Anyone that would come up to my side door or window would get greeted by Guss*s lion-like roar as he jumped at the door or window.
Last Thursday night was routine. Guss had dinner. Got about 6 doughnut holes for desert and went down stairs with Trinny and Oz. As my wife and I were eating dinner upstairs we heard Guss fussing a bit which was unusual because he typically went to sleep after dinner. Then he was quiet. A bit later I went down to check on him and he was laying down panting. I knew something was up right then and there. My first thought was bloat but he wasn*t trying to vomit and was getting drinks and holding it down. He was fidgety though so we took him to the emergency vet.
Guss had free fluid in his abdomen and around his heart due to an aggressive cancer on his spleen with likely metastasis to his heart. He was sent to the bridge at 2:30 AM Friday morning.
Rest in peace sweet boy. You*ll be greatly missed!!!
I*ll never forget the day I got Guss. My friend brought him over after I told her I couldn*t take him because we had just gotten Ozzy 5 days earlier. When Deb and Guss arrived I opened the back doors of her Suburban to see him. He stuck his big bowling ball head out of the door way and gave me a little kiss. That pretty much cinched it right there.
I had a crate just big enough for him for that first night. After that he got Belle*s ( my beloved Rottie girl, rest her soul) indoor outdoor run to sleep in at night. Belle made out ok though as from that point on she had free roam 24/7.
Guss was a Canine Good Citizen and passed his TDI therapy dog test. Although we never officially did any TDI visits, he made many, many people feel good throughout his life.
Guss made Saturday visits to various PetsMarts on a regular basis. I can*t tell you how many times I*ve seen the reactions on kids faces (some adults too) of the open mouths and wide open eyes when they first saw Guss…and the ‘whoaaaa* that came out of their mouths. Guss loved the attention. He loved people and especially little kids! When we stood up front by the doors he would walk up to everyone that came in to greet them. He*s favorite spot at PetsMart was up by the register mooching for treats…and he got LOTS of them!! Most of the time he*d end up laying down right there against the counter.
Guss also loved going to Thomas Tails. He*d always start crying as we got near. There he would browse the treat buffet and help himself to the desired treat of the day…then another….then another. I*d stop him at three depending on the size. Funny thing - a lot of times we*d go to the park for a hike before Thomas Tails. I swear he walked extra fast because he was in a hurry to get over to Thomas Tails.
As my schedule tightened up on Saturdays these last several months we didn*t have time to go to Thomas Tails. So when I stopped by Panera for carry out I*d get him a bear claw. From that point on no matter what day he was out with me, he*d need his bear claw whenever I stopped at a Panera.
Guss LOVED my pickup truck! I*ve been driving my wife to work the last several months and every morning Guss was ready to go! Funny thing was when I got back home he*d stay in the truck and sleep until feeding time, usually around noon. Then after eating and going out for a potty break he*d wanna go back in the truck.
Guss was a protective boy. Anyone that would come up to my side door or window would get greeted by Guss*s lion-like roar as he jumped at the door or window.
Last Thursday night was routine. Guss had dinner. Got about 6 doughnut holes for desert and went down stairs with Trinny and Oz. As my wife and I were eating dinner upstairs we heard Guss fussing a bit which was unusual because he typically went to sleep after dinner. Then he was quiet. A bit later I went down to check on him and he was laying down panting. I knew something was up right then and there. My first thought was bloat but he wasn*t trying to vomit and was getting drinks and holding it down. He was fidgety though so we took him to the emergency vet.
Guss had free fluid in his abdomen and around his heart due to an aggressive cancer on his spleen with likely metastasis to his heart. He was sent to the bridge at 2:30 AM Friday morning.
Rest in peace sweet boy. You*ll be greatly missed!!!
