It's a Halloween Costume Contest!

There's few things, I think, that are cuter than puppies and dogs — so once they're dressed up in ridiculous and adorable Halloween contests, I go a bit nuts... which is part of the reason why we decided to have a fun contest of our own.

Our fabulous prizes include $100 from Zen Dog Training, a $100 gift certificate from Durty Harry's, a $50 gift card from Pawsh Dog Boutique and Salon, two $50 gift certificates from Beacon Street Grooming, and a fantastic prize from Cause to Paws!

Entering is easy! Just send an email to zendogtrainingevents@gmail.com with the following info:

• a picture of your costumed dog
• your dog's name
• your dog's breed
• your dog's age
• your name
• your hometown

We'll take a look at the submissions and post them on Facebook (become a fan here!). The last chance to enter is November 1, and winners will be announced at the end of that week.

And because Halloween is the season of giving, we're also throwing in free membership to Zen Dog Training Online, our video solution center. With access to our site, dog training advice and Zen Dog tips and tricks are a few clicks away.

I know I'm excited to check the Events email, so start sending us your photos! In the meantime, hope you're enjoying the autumn weather — it's a great time of year to go for a nice long walk and do some leaf-peeping with your four-legged friends. Just make sure no one's pulling on the leash...