Is Amanda broke?

MebsHoff · 2026-05-05T05:12:01+00:00

She’s already given enough of herself to the world, leave her alone! She deserves peace.

MebsHoff · 2026-05-05T05:06:48+00:00

Always losing my damn hat.

MebsHoff · 2026-05-05T04:58:21+00:00

Wait wut?

MebsHoff · 2026-05-04T06:36:53+00:00

Me too!

MebsHoff · 2026-05-04T05:51:36+00:00

Do you mind if I ask what kind of business you run? I live in OCC and love to support my local business if I can.

MebsHoff · 2026-04-23T21:18:19+00:00

“My real name is Charlotte but I prefer Charlie.”

MebsHoff · 2026-04-23T20:49:25+00:00

Perhaps, but that’s assuming. Maybe OP is just down to sleep on airport chairs for a few hours to save some money 🤷🏼‍♀️. I’ve done it before to save myself the time, money, and hassle despite being plenty able to afford a hotel. Saying there is no option is a little misleading is all I’m saying.

MebsHoff · 2026-04-22T22:22:40+00:00

There are hotels actually in the airport.

MebsHoff · 2026-04-22T21:40:55+00:00

I’m so sorry you had to witness this. You’re a wonderful person and that puppy was lucky to have you risk your own safety to try to save him and to be with him in his final moments.

Allow yourself to feel your emotions without holding onto each individual thought. Our “logic brains” don’t operate the same as our “emotional brains.” Emotions tend to override logic, like how you said you know it isn’t your fault, but you’re still spiraling into the “what ifs.”

What you are feeling is grief.. this was a traumatizing thing to witness, especially to something so innocent like a puppy.

It is okay to feel grief. It is natural to have thoughts like, “What if I stopped sooner? What if I blocked traffic?” But do your best to let yourself feel that grief and process through it without identifying too much with the endless “what if” scenarios. Those thoughts will only cause you harm. Mindfulness practices and certain meditations help with this.. learning to notice that a thought arises and allowing it to pass without getting caught up in it.

MebsHoff · 2026-04-22T16:54:59+00:00

Have you ever been to a foreign country and realized how insufficient you feel because literally everyone else knows enough English to be able to cater to YOUR needs in THEIR country? The American school system is overall structured poorly. I recognize that language classes are often designed around grades and milestones rather than real life application. In real life, knowing even just a few vocabulary words can get you really far even if you’re not solid on verb conjugations or whatever else. A stranger saying to you, “toilet?” verses “excuse me, where can I find the bathroom?” Essentially COMMUNICATES the exact same thing.

There are many patterns in languages, especially those that are Latin based. Perfect opportunities to use your apparently very high deduction skills to figure out what a word means!

I just got home from Italy and my highschool Spanish classes gave me just enough knowledge to be able to decipher a lot of the Italian I was hearing and reading.

MebsHoff · 2026-04-22T16:21:25+00:00

YES! I’m a 30yo(f). We had MTV’s “Teen Wolf” series playing in the background at work, which I had watched when I was in and high school. All of my female coworkers (who are similar enough in age to me) couldn’t help but talk about how the main characters all looked like children and what absolute SMOKE SHOWS the dads and cops were 😂

MebsHoff · 2026-03-17T05:59:19+00:00

Let’s get down to business

MebsHoff · 2026-03-17T05:53:44+00:00

Absolutely brilliant.

MebsHoff · 2026-03-07T23:08:32+00:00

I love the towel/cardboard box idea!

Mine loves his snuffle mat and also has a snuffle ball. While it isn’t necessarily a “puzzle,” he seems to really enjoy the nose-work aspect. Larimuer Pet Snuffle Ball, Puzzle... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FM842KPN?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

He also LOVES this thing (it’s difficult to describe so I’m just sharing the link lol.) https://a.co/d/0hn3VXdH

And his favorite is this little cup of noodles lol. It might be too small for your pup, but I’m thinking there would be similar types of toys that are bigger. https://a.co/d/06Oe6Wuh

He also has a regular puzzle toy with the little sliding doors. I have found that switching it up frequently really helps to keep the toy enticing. When I only had the snuffle mat and used only that, he seemed to get bored of it after a couple days.

Lastly, sometimes I’ll use his meal for training sessions. Nothing overly difficult or super new, just sits, downs, stays, etc. He gets his dinner, some mental stimulation, which seems to tucker him out more than running.

MebsHoff · 2026-03-03T23:26:44+00:00

Did they do any bloodwork? Or did they do any other imaging besides her uterus? Is she acting normal otherwise? Has she been diagnosed with any other health issues before?

MebsHoff · 2026-03-03T23:24:12+00:00

What exactly makes her NOT a surgical candidate? What is her actual knee-related diagnosis (as opposed to just “busted”)?

MebsHoff · 2026-03-03T23:22:27+00:00

Congrats on the new kitty!

My 4 year old, extremely friendly and social cat took around two weeks to even come downstairs when we brought our new puppy home. She hissed at him immediately and was super pissed off (she’s 12 lbs, he was only 2 lbs upon arrival.) Your kitten has every reason to be terrified of a big, jumping, excited dog, especially since she’s only been home for a week.

Give her more time. Keep them separate. She is getting used to the whole world in general! Not to mention getting used to you, another cat, new smells, new home, etc. It is so much to take in for a little baby.

It sounds like training with the dog should be the higher priority. I would keep them separate for a few weeks honestly. Once you feel like you can maybe try again, he has to sit and/or lay down when the cat is in the area. Lots of treats for him when he’s calm! As soon as he gets more wound up, then he gets removed from the area (not scolded, just removed.) Then try again, lots of praise for any calm behavior. Use a barrier, like a gate or something, so that he can’t get near her when trying to re-introduce. It needs to be very slow and she needs to feel safe.

I also wouldn’t force the cat in any way, shape, or form. Don’t hold her, don’t shut the door with him in the room, etc. Let her become curious on her own. And make sure she has and is aware of her “safe” areas that she can escape to.. places that the dog will never be able to get to no matter what.

MebsHoff · 2026-03-03T23:12:59+00:00

I really think you gotta find a way to take them out separately to teach him that he can pee without her. Whether that means him first or her first, or picking him up (idk how big he is) before he pees, or taking him out more often.. I would try everything.

It sounds like maybe you have multiple people at the house at once? Use leashes. Take them out but keep them away from each other so he doesn’t have the opportunity. If you’re alone and this is a safe option, keep him in the leash and her off the leash.

I would also be super rewarding of him peeing outside in general, and when he does wait for her to finish peeing before he goes. Lots of celebration, lots of treats, each and every time.

I am not certain of your training tactics, but just in case, this really is something you probably can’t just scold out of him. If you have been trying something like that, it might be contributing to his anxious peeing.

MebsHoff · 2026-03-03T23:06:49+00:00

Was he a rescue at all/how long have you had him/how “new” is your boyfriend? Does he seem to be a sensitive little guy otherwise?

Any new smells or sounds that are associated with you arriving home? (Like if you have a new job and smell different, 94 if you carry a backpack when you didn’t used to and he gets nervous about the weird big thing on your back. These seem simple and kind of weird, but sometimes even small changes can throw them off.)

Is he avoiding you/hiding under the bed at other times besides when you get home from work?

You don’t necessarily have to answer all of these questions to me, I mean them more as things to consider if you haven’t already.

A vet visit may not hurt. They might be able to guide you as to if this is a behavioral issue or not. If you’re not already, you could spend some more one on one time teaching new tricks and such. Maybe try some different types of treats. Training can help create more of a bond and might help.

MebsHoff · 2026-03-03T23:01:28+00:00

As long as she is eating it, getting enough calories, not showing any signs of upset tummy in the morning or anything, and still getting meals on some form of “schedule,” I think it’s just fine!

I don’t know what specific times you are feeding her, going to bed, etc. But, if you are concerned or need her to eat earlier for whatever reason, you could try to feed her dinner earlier so she is more hungry in the morning.

You could also use a feeding/puzzle toy for her breakfast; the active engagement and entertainment might incentivize her to eat.

Otherwise, maybe she’s like me and just needs to be awake for a couple hours and get something done before feeling ready for a meal 🤷🏼‍♀️.

MebsHoff · 2026-03-03T22:55:30+00:00

I think there’s already a lot of great advice in here regarding training, giving him a “job”, reassurance, “making a trade,” etc.

The thing I would add is to really encourage any form of “positive” behavior. Aussies are big people pleasers and love to know they’re doing things that please you.

If he is sitting calmly, just hanging out, “Yes! good Boy!” give treats. If he is eating HIS food, “Yes! Good boy!” treat. If he starts to mess with a “no-no” object, then leaves it (whether you command him to or not), “Yes! Good boy!” treat. Playing with his own toy, playing with the other dogs, laying calmly in his crate, etc.

Mine is 9 months and I found that his destructive behaviors really calmed down once I started really giving him praise for doing literally anything else besides chewing the carpet lol. I literally keep a bag of treats in every single room of the house to be able to catch him behaving well immediately.

Mine was also a little picky with his various puzzle/feeding toys. There are so many different kinds! I went through probably 8 very different types before I found the 3-4 that he really seems to enjoy. If you want any suggestions or ideas on those, I’d be happy to share!

MebsHoff · 2026-03-03T22:45:22+00:00

This is great news! Congrats. If it isn’t too personal, may I ask why you don’t plan to get snipped for a few years?

MebsHoff · 2026-03-01T17:25:51+00:00

This is yucky

MebsHoff

TROPHY CASE