The weekend is finally here — find some fun of the four-legged variety! Check this list to find a pet event happening near you:

August 16

Grayslake, IL: Homeless Animals Day

Greenfield, IN: PAWS Pool Party

Belfast, ME: Grand Opening of Belfast Dog Park

Cranberry, NJ: Because Your Dog is Worth It Too Day

Tigard, OR: 5th Annual Bark in the Park

Tomah, WI: Western District 4-H Dog Show

August 16-17

Hayward, CA: East of Eden and South Bay Cat Clubs Show

Huntington, NY: Petapalooza 2008

Sioux Falls SD: Big Sioux Cat Fanciers Show

Austin, TX: 2008 TICA Annual SC Regional Cat Show

Enjoy reading the Halo Purely For Pets blog? Subscribe to our RSS feed so you’ll never miss an update!

Congratulations are in order for Rocky, this week’s Halo Pet of the Week! Rocky will receive a Halo goodie bag — just for being so darn adorable.

Is your pet next week’s winner? All you have to do is head to the Halo Pets MySpace page and send us a photo of your favorite furry friend. Let’s see your cute kitties and pups!

Enjoy reading the Halo Purely For Pets blog? Subscribe to our RSS feed so you’ll never miss an update!

Your dog is not the only one. Plenty of otherwise wonderful dogs enjoy the taste of poop. The term for this yucky behavior is coprophagia. So, what can be done so you don’t have to fear the lick of your best friend? There is no one “cure,” but there are some things you can try to help reduce, if not eliminate, this behavior.

Why Does My Dog Do It?

No one knows for sure, but there are plenty of theories. Puppies may observe their mother ingesting her young’s feces. Puppies also go through an oral stage where they explore everything with their mouth, including fecal material. Most puppies will eventually grow out of the desire to eat their own feces as they mature.

If an older dog ingests feces, it’s usually that of another species. Most common feces ingested are horse, cat, rabbit and bird. Plenty of older dogs also enjoy eating only frozen feces (a.k.a. poopsicles). There are plenty of theories out there that coprophagia could be caused by a nutritional deficiency. However, if this were the case there would be millions of nutritionally deficient dogs. If you are feeding your dog a well balanced nutritional diet, then your dog does not have a nutritional issue. Your dog, like most dogs, probably just likes to taste of poop. (more…)

Everyone has heard of obedience school for dogs, but training cats? To most, it probably sounds like an impossible task.

Those involved with Kitten Kindergarten feel otherwise, however. In these courses, which are run by the SPCA, kitties are taught to respond to commands, much the same way a dog would be — some even learn to fetch and jump through hoops! In Kitten Kindergarten, kittens are also socialized through interaction with people and other cats, which is the main purpose of this program.

Click here to watch a video of Kitten Kindergarten in action, and visit the SPCA to see if this course is offered near you.

Enjoy reading the Halo Purely For Pets blog? Subscribe to our RSS feed so you’ll never miss an update!

Get out and do something furry this weekend! Check this list to find a pet event in your area:

August 9

Tucson, AZ: Arizona Greyhound Rescue Dog Wash

Cardiff, CA: Dog Days of Summer: Contest and Canine Festival

Storrs, CT: Connecticut Police K-9 Olympics

Newcastle, ME: Woofstock 2008

Cleveland, OH: The Sanctuary for Senior Dogs Summer Scoop and Reunion

Portland, OR: Pacific Rim All Breed Cat Fanciers Show

Auburn, WA: Zooming Agility Pups Club August Agility Trial

August 9-10

Timonium, MD: Hidden Peak CFA Allbreed Cat Show

Springfield, MA: Pioneer Valley Cat Fanciers CFA Allbreed Cat Show

Enjoy reading the Halo Purely For Pets blog? Subscribe to our RSS feed so you’ll never miss an update!