Tales of an adorable puppy plotting humanity's end

Because "downfall" was too long to fit into the title. This blog is dedicated to my adorable Border Collie puppy (well, no longer puppy - but not sure she's gotten the memo), our training sessions together and her many antics (also known as evil plots of doom). Positive reinforcement all the way, no aversive training methods are allowed to get near her. Random fun fact: I almost called her Amalthea after The Last Unicorn when I got her, but I couldn't come up with a version I liked that I thought would be easy to call. I regret nothing but I still think the name'd have fit

[thepuppymastermind]

did you know since 2022 prong collars in Germany aren't just highly discouraged anymore but illegal

I keep coming across English dog training videos completely relying on those things (even shit talking harnesses because gasp the dog isn't at least strangling itself a lil when it pulls lol) and I'm like

wild. so many assumptions being made by the trainer. like that any rando can and should be using a tool like that, even for basic shit like leash manners

sorry my feelings about the things in general aside, if you can't teach dogs to walk nicely on a lead without a prong you should not be a dog trainer in the first place

also did you know most stores and restaurants in Germany allow dogs in. fun fact

anyway on to more helpful videos have a great day

[thepuppymastermind]

man everyone make sure to save as hard for vet costs as you can or get some great insurance (if you can)

I knew vet costs can get high af but damn, this mastcell shit is already way more expensive than when our previous dog got hit by a car and required emergency surgery, I'm quite sure.

and we're lucky and probably won't be paying for the even more expensive thing that is chemo. since the clinic and specialist based on her lab results went, "well there's never guarantees but highly questionable there'd be any point to it" so

but we ARE dealing with a wound in a really shitty location that's refused to heal despite regular treatments several times per week for like a month, keeping it super clean/cleaning it several times daily, etc.

today they like properly stitched it back up, since nothing else was holding it together long term. as in, "well with another dog we'd have wanted to use full anesthesia but we know her so local is cool" (she essentially doesn't move once on the table thingy the poor bby)

they had to open up the wound a bit more so it can properly heal. Stitched it back up. Tried a new thing to cover it despite the bad location where before they expected a bandage to just slip. I'm super nervous because we'll have to wait out the weekend before we can recheck the wound unless anything happens causing us to go to the vet tomorrow (or on the weekend if anything goes really bad but it better not omfg)

keep your fingers crossed for us, this poor dog just wants to go on proper walks again and run around and have fun. but at least she can still eat all the treats

[thepuppymastermind]

okay what I ACTUALLY wanted to post before tumblr made me go "wtf" was that the monster's surgery went well, they were able to completely remove the tumors, the lymph nodes they also removed were clear, and the tumors are low grade (grade 2)

we're ordering one final test on them but the vet isn't expecting the monster to need chemo or anything, as long as the final labs are good just monitoring because a dog who once gets those fucking things will be prone to getting them again

pretty happy right now. <3 at the end of the week she'll get the stitches removed if all goes as planned. and then we wait another week or so for the final labs

also we'll look further into her beginning kidney issues and switch her to special food probably, if she tolerates it

[thepuppymastermind]

wait tumblr has been reblogging posts here I wanted to reblog to my main, just because I posted here again once?? wtf tumblr and I'm noticing now

[cparti-mkiki]

"goddess" "matriarchy" "female wisdom" girl your civic rights

[tauindi]

“But I didn’t and still don’t like making a cult of women’s knowledge, preening ourselves on knowing things men don’t know, women’s deep irrational wisdom, women’s instinctive knowledge of Nature, and so on. All that all too often merely reinforces the masculinist idea of women as primitive and inferior – women’s knowledge as elementary, primitive, always down below at the dark roots, while men get to cultivate and own the flowers and crops that come up into the light. But why should women keep talking baby talk while men get to grow up? Why should women feel blindly while men get to think?”

— Ursula K. Le Guin

[yeetus-6942069]

[visionsofgideontheninth]

Jo in Little Women: "I find it poor logic to say that because women are good, women should vote. Men do not vote because they are good; they vote because they are male, and women should vote, not because we are angels and men are animals, but because we are human beings and citizens of this country."

[thepuppymastermind]

man I can't believe I've not posted here since 2021 around when the monster had her last surgeries/health scare

she's now 11 and they unfortunately and unexpectedly found 2 mast cell tumors on her. I'm extra upset because one was not much more than just a reddish spot on her skin almost half a year ago, and we went to the clinic and I sent them picture updates after, and the dermatologist vet thought it was an insect bite or something, there was no suspicion of anything bad. we were told some months ago we could keep monitoring or come in again, so I didn't see the point of coming in to get another salve when she was fine and it'd probably go away soon (haha).

meaning it's been sitting there for a good while until the new vet at the same clinic decided to do a biopsy since it looked more concerning to him now.

so yeah both biopsies we did that day came back as mast cell tumors. and we won't know if it's the aggressive forms until after the surgery when they send it in for testing. they're small but they'll cut ways around them because cancer, and we're waiting to find out if she can keep all her lymph nodes and to schedule her surgery, presumably for end of the month when I'm on leave from work.

I could cry. well I already did. it felt right to post here even though I've not posted here in forever and I hate to do it with these news.

I lost two family members in 2025 so my monster needs to recover well from the surgery and the tumors need to be low grade ones. 2026 was supposed to be a better year. please keep your fingers crossed for us

she's outwardly completely fine except her kidney values were barely within the acceptable range this time, so to be safe she'll have to stay all day at the clinic for the surgery and get infusions to help with that. she's so scared at the vet's I feel so bad, she doesn't know a thing and just wants to eat and play, and I have to subject her to a surgery and get Complicated feelings when she's her usual adorable happy self

[thepuppymastermind]

There’s a video (rightly) causing outrage in Germany right now of a hunter killing a terrified cat in a live, cage-like trap

Taking 3(!) shots from a close distance

Instead of grabbing the animal and bringing it to a shelter when literally nothing was at stake and it’d only have caused an inconvenience

In-between she+another hunter casually communicate about how “huh the cat is still well alive better try again”

(Vets also attest that this was all incredibly cruel not that I’d need someone to tell me after watching, but I found the video via a vet blog

According to the blog there were also more hunters present but I could not watch that closely)

And yeah if the cat was let out on purpose that was irresponsible blabla but if these hunters’ names ever get out they will be in deep shit besides the lawsuit coming for them and I’d feel bad for ppl around them but not for them

Like that’s straight up evil you’re not gonna convince me otherwise, I made the mistake of watching most of the video and if someone did this to my pet I would come for them

[thepuppymastermind]

The tumor was benign again!!

And the surgery so minor that for once she didn’t need painkillers after she woke up

So relieved

But ughhh please keep your fingers crossed that this was our last health scare for A WHILE

[everbreatheafrequency]

making 0 note post is not just a hobby its a passion of mine

[thepuppymastermind]

:/ Another inconclusive biopsy so another surgery in the same place to remove another tumor that we hope is benign

I put the appointment for tomorrow because 1) that thing is going out asap, 2) it’s back to work again next week and 3) I always freak out at surgeries so I’ll just worry so much until then (and until she is back awake)

ALWAYS this happens when I’m on vacation and was looking forward to doing Stuff with her. And this is so weiiird why

I swear our vet bills for this year are already in the thousands adhfjg. But hey I have no other meaningful expenses aside from dog stuff so

As long as she’s okay!!

But my poor baby she will scream again when we have to leave

[thepuppymastermind]

You know how the monster had a tumor removed (again) last time that thankfully turned out to be benign?

Yeah another one suddenly showed up in the exact spot of the surgery beneath the skin, once again baffling the vet. :D

Wtf is up with this dog

We’re waiting for the biopsy result now, along with the blood work and two (2) stool samples

[thepuppymastermind]

Who’s going to leave a lot of $$$ (or €€€ to be more accurate) at the vet again tomorrow?

Just let me say that just because ppl get a dog from a reputable breeder who health tests they shouldn’t expect low vet bills

[securityunit-ese]

Imagine saying that you can’t rehab aggressive, predatory or fearful dogs with positive reinforcement literally three days after the Aggression in Dogs Multi-Day Conference ended.

The Conference led by industry professionals about rehabbing aggressive, predatory and fearful dogs with positive reinforcement approaches, that also had an entire section dedicated to training high drive working dogs. The one with specialist speakers who specialise in these challenges. That Conference. The Conference for aggression specialists who want to use positive reinforcement.

Imagine denying these professionals exist as an option for rehabbing challenging dogs. Because it might mean more people use them.

Imagine telling people that this is not an option for them, that they cannot contact positive reinforcement specialists to aid them in their challenging situations.  That if you have a dangerous, fearful, predatory, high drive or working dog that you have no responsible choice to use positive reinforcement.

After. 

A literal. 

Multi-day. 

Conference.

On how to rehab/train those dogs with positive reinforcement.

[thepuppymastermind]

We have this GSD living near us who very angrily and intimidatingly barks at passing people/people with dogs and this dog is. SO EMBARASSED TO KNOW ME. 

(If just very distantly)

Whenever we pass and this dog realizes it’s me they’re like, “Why. Why does she exist.”

[thepuppymastermind]

ALL IS GOOD

the surgery went well and this tumor too is benign

then we went to the vet again because the other side of the leg she had the surgery on was all deep red like the worst rash, but turns out that was just some bleeding beneath the skin during the surgery idek, vet compared it to a bruise

Monday she’ll have the stitches removed as long as all continues to go well. It was a pretty deep wound did I mention

anyway I’m happy

Only downside is my vacation will be over next week and most of the time it was too hot to do anything much with the pupper and then the surgery and yeah. Did not manage to have many big walks or extra fun activities with her during this time :/

BUT!!! She is well. Most important by far

Her stool’s also been fine so we’ll check for the bacteria again in a couple weeks in the hopes that we may try normal food again

[thepuppymastermind]

When your dog due to having to wear a cone keeps closing doors she wants to open and locks herself into rooms

[thepuppymastermind]

not great news the tumor is suspect and Allie will have surgery tomorrow to remove it and send it to the lab in its entirety :/

we’ll have to leave her there for several hours and then wait for the result and I’m not happy

[thepuppymastermind]

so the surgery is done and went well though it was rather a big deal considering

Both tumors were removed even though the vet is not worried about tiny one in the throat/neck area

The other one was a bigger surgery (though it was just beneath the skin) and and she slept basically all day yesterday

Now we’re waiting for the results