Love For Paws Dog Training

10/13/2026

Vets are now asking many people to wait to spay/neuter their dogs until the dogs reach maturity. This is due to a variety of new findings on how spaying/neutering adversely impacts health when done too early. This is the latest study and it’s a big one.

✂️🥜🐶 WHAT IF WHEN YOU SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR DOG MATTERS JUST AS MUCH AS WHETHER YOU DO IT?

Preventing unwanted litters matters. But is it time to rethink HOW we sterilize dogs? Hormone-sparing procedures, including hysterectomy and vasectomy, can prevent reproduction while preserving natural s*x hormones.

🔬 NEW 2026 PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH

Over 10 years, researchers reviewed records from 56,254 veterinary patients, including 313 dogs with mast cell tumors and 638 tumor-free comparison dogs. The study was accepted for publication in The Veterinary Journal.

🤯 1. TIMING MATTERS!

Dogs spayed or neutered before age 2 had 343% higher odds of a mast cell tumor diagnosis compared with intact dogs. Dogs sterilized after age 2 showed no statistically significant increase.

🐕 2. SIZE MATTERS!

Compared with small dogs, medium dogs had 2.6 times the odds and large dogs 5.2 times the odds.

⚖️ 3. WEIGHT MATTERS!

Overweight dogs had 80% higher odds than dogs at an ideal weight.

🧬 4. BREED MATTERS!

Compared with mixed-breed dogs, American Pit Bull Terriers had 7.5 times the odds and Boxers 3.9 times. Some breed groups were small.

❤️ 5. WHAT ABOUT SURVIVAL?

Neutering status wasn’t significantly associated with survival after surgery. Tumor grade and size were more important predictors.

🔬 WHY MIGHT HORMONES MATTER?

S*x hormones influence immune function and development. Researchers propose that early hormone removal and changes in luteinizing hormone (LH) may play a role, but this remains unproven.

🐾 THE BIG TAKEAWAY

Preventing unwanted litters doesn’t always mean removing hormone-producing organs. It’s time for individualized conversations with veterinarians about WHEN and HOW we sterilize dogs.

📄 Download the FREE PDF with the latest research surrounding Spay & Neuter Syndrome. Link in comments!

10/04/2026

Excellent video showing the difference between a dog that wants to be petted and one that doesn’t.

09/06/2026

What works for one dog does not work for another. Dogs are as individual as people.

Why am I saying this? Because sometimes you will have a neighbor or family member who may see you struggling with your dog and will give training advice based on THEIR experience. They do not live with your dog. They do not understand your dog.

Training is never one size fits all. If you need help, seek out a trainer who seeks to understand your unique dog.

08/08/2026

Hey Friends! This girl was found in South Richmond on the Chesterfield border near Walmsley and Caldwell. If you know who the owner might be, please contact Everett Shanklin at Lakeside Pet Care and Training. https://lspct.squarespace.com/

07/25/2026

Getting a close look at the sea nettle jellyfish that stung us at Buckroe Beach. The water was FULL of jellyfish for our little beach trip which was a bummer but we made the best of our trip anyway. We were able to pet some stingrays and moon jellies at

07/17/2026

With wildfire smoke creating poor air quality across the U.S, the AVMA is reminding the public that wildfire smoke can pose serious health risks not only to people, but to pets and livestock as well.

Smoke from wildfires contains fine particles that can cause respiratory issues in animals, especially those with pre-existing heart or lung disease. Pet owners should keep a close eye on their animals during poor air quality events and contact their veterinarian if any of the following signs appear. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4wqddp3

06/23/2026

I love this so much! ❤️

06/22/2026

Ooh here we go! We’re finally learning some genetic markers for behavior in dogs. Please dont think this only applies to Goldens. They were just the breed used in this atudy.

Scientists studying 1,300 golden retrievers have uncovered genetic clues explaining why some dogs are more anxious, energetic, or aggressive than others. Remarkably, several of the same genes linked to canine behavior are also tied to human traits like anxiety, depression, and intelligence. The disc...

05/31/2026

Imagine being touched constantly without warning. Picked up, moved, restrained, interrupted. That’s everyday life for a lot of dogs, and then we’re surprised when they growl.

Dogs don’t get the same social rules humans do. People reach over their heads, hug them, grab collars, move them off furniture, all without checking in. When a dog says no, it usually starts quietly. Looking away, moving away, freezing, lip licking. If those signals don’t work, they get louder.

Growling, snapping, biting aren’t coming out of nowhere. They’re what happens when earlier communication is ignored.

Consent-based handling doesn’t mean dogs get to opt out of everything. It means we actually pay attention. We pause, we give space, we notice when they’re uncomfortable, and we create situations where they can participate instead of being forced.

When dogs have a voice, they tend to use it clearly. When we listen early, we don’t get pushed into the later stages.

Comment "handling" and we will send you the link to read the full blog.
Written By: Claire Anderson

05/31/2026

Many people are surrendering their pets because they can no longer afford to feed them and pay for vet care.
As they say about human babies, fed is best. However you can afford to do it.

Some people are holding onto their dogs by a thread.
And we're arguing about blueberries.

Now isn't the time to shame people for feeding their dog the only way they financially can.

If some rice needs to be added to bulk a meal out because there simply isn't enough food, then that's where some people are right now.

A perfect raw diet served in a beautiful bowl with blackberries, green-lipped mussels and salmon oil might look great on social media.

But for some people, it feels like a slap in the face, over and over again.

They don't know you're already skipping meals yourself.

They’ve no idea you're juggling rent, power, groceries, fuel and a dozen other bills while trying to keep your dog fed too.

Being told "if you cared, you'd find a way" is SO easy when you're not the one standing in the supermarket trying to figure out how on earth you can get the whole family fed for the week when your bank app says seventeen dollars.

Let's be real.

People are surrendering their dogs because they can no longer afford to keep them.

Others are doing everything they can not to.

They're behind on the mortgage.
Behind on the rent.
Putting off things they really need.
Living in cold houses because the power bill has become yet another thing to worry about.
Answering the phone?
Well, you don’t really do that anymore because you know it’s someone wanting money that you just don't have.

And through all of this.
Day in and day out.
People are trying to keep their dog.

Because their dog is family.

Their dog that sleeps on their bed, snuggles and snores.
Their dog that got them through the divorce.
Their dog that sat beside them when life just fell apart.

Their dog was there in those moments when nobody else was.

People are clawing and scraping to hold onto that relationship.

And while they're doing everything they can to keep their dog in their home, they're being told they aren't good enough because they just can't afford someone else's version of the perfect diet.

Perspective matters.
Of course nutrition matters.
And yup, we should feed the best diet we reasonably can.

But right now.
In these economic times.
A dog eating a less-than-perfect diet in a loving home is often in a far, far better position than a dog that loses that home altogether.

And for many families, that's not a hypothetical.
That's the very decision they're trying desperately not to make.