I am very excited to be part of the Halo blogging community! I look forward to providing you informative and entertaining articles about the animals in our lives, including vacationing with and without your pet, common dog behavior challenges and how to protect your pet during a disaster. You are likely wondering who am I and what, exactly, do I know.

Well, I always knew I wanted to work with animals. When I was 13 years old I sent away to the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School for an application. As I got older I realized that becoming a doctor wasn’t for me, but being a veterinary technician was. Now as an adult I can safely say I’ve “gone to the dogs,” as well as to the cats, birds, rats, fish, rabbits and so on and so forth. (more…)

Although it is likely to rock your world when you hear that your dog has diabetes….hold steady. Canine diabetes is a very common dog health problem and your veterinarian can help you get your dog started on a regimen to manage his diabetes symptoms and keep him feeling great. Your dog should be eating a high quality natural dog food and engaging in routine exercise to stay strong and healthy. When combined with the addition of twice daily insulin injections, your dog can continue to thrive for years to come!

Click here to read more about the diagnosis and treatment of canine diabetes.

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Our roving reporter, Syl E. Goose, was roaming the streets yesterday, asking dogs their opinion on Halo’s Herbal Shampoo.

Syl E. Goose: We’re here today with Esteban, a Scottish Terrier from Vancouver, British Columbia. Esteban, I see your owner has a bottle of Halo Shampoo in her shopping bag. How do you like Halo’s natural products?

Esteban: You are all crazy, you are. You’re always primping and brushing and washing us. We grow our whiskers long enough to store a wee bit of a snack, and you go and clip them off. We work hard all day, digging holes and building up a protective layer of dirt, just to have you swoop us into a tub of water.

That’s why I put all the blame for me kidnapping on my owner. That’s right, my kidnapping. It was a horrifying experience that could have been avoided if the woman had any common sense. If she hadn’t been running the water for the tub, I wouldn’t have had to make my escape. I thought I’d just head down the alley and hit some garbage bags that had been smelling awfully ripe. Thought that maybe I’d be lucky and scrounge up a half-empty beer bottle or two, just to quench my thirst. Figured that I’d head home after a couple of hours, when the old hen had come to her senses.

Just as I had my head inside the first bag, I hear a car pull up and see a pretty young missus step out. She was calling me over; I figure she just want to spend a little time with a real Scotsman — most women do. Then she starts shaking a half eaten peanut butter sandwich at me. I ask you, who can resist a half eaten peanut butter sandwich? (more…)

Some dogs just have to dance. At least that’s the case in Japan, where doggy dance lessons have become the latest craze, according to a report from Reuters. In these courses, dogs are taught moves such as circling their owners and winding between their legs, in order to create choreographed dance routines set to music. Many dog owners who participate in the classes say they are beneficial in helping them improve communication with their pets. The current popularity of these courses provides further evidence of the booming Japanese pet industry, which is worth close to $9.5 billion.

Dancing with dogs is actually not a new phenomenon, as the dog sport of musical canine freestyle has existed since the late ‘80s. Emphasizing training and teamwork, canine freestyle competitions are held throughout the world to recognize extraordinary dog/human dance partners.

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These days, it seems like everybody and their dog has a blog…literally! You might be surprised to find out it’s not just humans getting behind the computer anymore, as many dogs are “writing” their own journals. Here’s a few fun blogs from the canine perspective:

• The Adventures of Spencer: A Mascot Dog’s Blog
Spencer, a 10-year-old golden retriever, is the focus of this journal. Though originally trained for film work, Spencer has since retired from the biz and is now chronicling his life as the mascot for a Los Angeles video production company.

• Mary-Margaret’s Diary
The daily diary of an adorable Yorkie, this blog features lots of photos and video of Mary-Margaret. She is soon to make her acting debut in the upcoming WE series F.L.I.P. Mysteries — check her out before she skyrockets to fame!

• To Aire is Divine
If you like Airedale Terriers, this is the blog for you! The journal of Bogart Handsome Devil is loaded with photos of the Airdale pup and his four feline companions. A very web-savvy pooch, Bogart even has his own MySpace page!

• The Days of Johann, an Agility Dog
Rescued by an animal shelter as a puppy, Johann has been training in agility for the past three years. Check out this blog to read about the life of this 2007 Cynosport World Games Dog Agility Grand Prix finalist.

• Too Cute Pugs
Check here for the life and times of pugs Pearl and Daisy. Features include “Pug Thoughts Monday,” where readers are encouraged to write captions for photos of the pups. They even allow their human mommy to show off her pug-related crafts in this blog.

Cat lovers, don’t think we’ve forgotten about you! Check back in upcoming weeks for a feature on the most entertaining kitty blogs!

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