Bandit at the Devon Horse Show

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Ammo

I’ve been a regular at the Devon Horse Show, one of the oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed competitions in the United States, since I was just a wee thing. This year was no exception as I couldn’t pass up attending the most exciting night at Devon – the Grand Prix, where horses jump fences over 5 feet high!!

The Devon Horse Show 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund

Being at Devon it is customary to be rubbing elbows with some of Chester County’s social elite. Babies and dog are included in this mix….

The Devon Horse Show 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund

After I did my fair share of obligatory tail wagging and butt sniffing, I settled in to watch one of Devon’s nightly exhibitions.

The Devon Horse Show 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund

And lo and behold that’s when the bandit showed up! Well technically he’s the One Arm Bandit, but he certainly had some exciting bandit tricks up his sleeve (even for one arm).

The Devon Horse Show 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund

photo by Chris Nichols curtsy of the Devon Horse Show Facebook Page

The Devon Horse Show 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund

photo by Chris Nichols curtsy of the Devon Horse Show Facebook Page

After watching the One Arm Bandit perform I had worked up quite an appetite – so I headed to the food stands to grab some dinner, and also did some shopping along the way.

The Devon Horse Show 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund

Devon always seems to have quite the menagerie of items for sale – although this time I came home empty handed despite my protests to bring home this cute little dachshund topiary!

Now here is the part where I tell you all about watching the Grand Prix Jumping into the sunset with beautiful pictures of the fancy horses. But mom forgot to empty her camera and there was no more room to take any photos (I’m pretty sure it was filled to the brim with my cute mug). But luckily the Devon Horse Show Facebook Page had some beautiful shots from the evening (well maybe minus the really cute Dachshund that attended)…

The Devon Horse Show 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund

photo by Chris Nichols curtsy of the Devon Horse Show Facebook Page

The Devon Horse Show 2013 // Ammo the Dachshund

photo by Chris Nichols curtsy of the Devon Horse Show Facebook Page

Above is McLain Ward and his pretty horse Brewster, who won the $100,000 Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon. It was an exciting night, and I’m already counting down the days until next year’s event!

Baseball, Huskies, and First Aid Kits

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Ammo

Ammo and Shilah // Ammo the Dachshund

Over the weekend I took a trip to one of the local baseball fields in my town.

Ammo and Shilah // Ammo the Dachshund

I practiced running the bases (you know for when I hit a home run), and found myself wishing I hadn’t left my baseball glove at home.

Ammo and Shilah // Ammo the Dachshund

And just when I thought my baseball team was only going to consist of me and my shadow…..my pal Shilah showed up!

Ammo and Shilah // Ammo the Dachshund

Shilah (being the puppy that she is) didn’t really have the attention span to play a game of baseball with me, so we decided to take a walk around the park instead.

Ammo and Shilah // Ammo the Dachshund

We sniffed for buried treasures, and I showed Shilah how fast I can run! (It’s really really fast incase you were wondering)

Ammo and Shilah // Ammo the Dachshund

And when we were done with our adventure at the park I invited Shilah back to my house for a cookout!

Ammo and Shilah // Ammo the Dachshund

Back at my house we had fun romping in the backyard, and I even let Shilah borrow my mom and her camera. Sometimes even celebrities like me need to share their paparazzi.

Ammo and Shilah // Ammo the Dachshund

Shilah is quite the looker isn’t she?

Then, right before dinner we had to break out my pet first aid kit for a little uh oh!

Ammo and Shilah // Ammo the Dachshund

See Shilah had been so busy playing in the backyard that she didn’t even notice that she had broken a toenail (those silly girls and their long nails).

Ammo and Shilah // Ammo the Dachshund

Not to worry though, Shilah’s mommy took great care in doctoring her up. We cleaned it up and applied some antibiotic ointment.

Ammo and Shilah // Ammo the Dachshund

Shilah had to spend the rest of the evening in my xpen “resting”, but I know she’ll be back for a visit in no time and we’ll be romping around in the backyard again hunting for treasures and rolling in stink. Maybe I’ll buy her a nail file for Christmas. *wink*

Check out how to make your own DIY Pet First Aid Kit for all those uh oh moments.

Rodeo in Amish Country

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Ammo

On Monday nights there is a rodeo of sorts held in the heart of Amish Country – practically right outside my backdoor. Of course I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take a trip to the Hillbrook Rodeo!

Rodeo in Amish Country // Ammo the Dachshund

Tucked away in farm country this rodeo is open to riders of all ages – boasting barrel racing, pole bending, team penning, and various other speed sports. (For the non-horse enthusiast, it basically had cows and horses that like to run really really fast).

Rodeo in Amish Country // Ammo the Dachshund

The team penning was pretty fun to watch, with the object being that three riders need to pick out three cows (all containing the same number on their sides) and separate them from their herd, putting them into a different pen. The Amish gals made it look easy – even while riding in a dress!

Rodeo in Amish Country // Ammo the Dachshund

One of the little girls I met at the rodeo offered to lend me her pony so I could give team penning a try too.

Rodeo in Amish Country // Ammo the Dachshund

Very tempting, considering that her miniature horse was JUST MY SIZE, but I had to take a pass this time.

Rodeo in Amish Country // Ammo the Dachshund

After all, being a spectator was turning about to be way too much fun anyway.

Rodeo in Amish Country // Ammo the Dachshund

The sights, sounds, and smells of the rodeo were grand, and you can bet I’ll be returning again this summer!

Now let’s giddy-up and ride!

Tonight We Dine!

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Ammo

As the weather gets even warmer I look forward to more nights out on the town with my mom and dad. Being a small dog means I can easily be taken lots of places, and outdoor dining is no exception.

Being a small dog also means I can easily fit under the table – which is the best place to be when you’re hoping for table scraps! Yum!

Check out one of my previous outdoor dining adventures HERE, where I met a pretty cute motorcycle babe!

I went on a Barn Hunt

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Ammo

Barn Hunt with Ammo the Dachshund

On Mother’s Day I got to go on a very special adventure with my mom (dad came too). We packed up the car and headed south to New Jersey for a Barn Hunt Practice!

Barn Hunts were created to honor the traditional role of “ratcatchers” in ridding barns and properties of vermin. Barn Hunts are open to any dog, of (almost) any size, type or breed. In a Barn Hunt competition you can earn titles and placements at various levels and degrees of difficulty.

Barn Hunt with Ammo the Dachshund

At this Barn Hunt I met up with my Philadelphian gal pal Liebe, and we were both pretty excited to hunt for some rats! (Especially Liebe who is a city dog – and doesn’t get as many chances as me to hunt for vermin)

Barn Hunt with Ammo the Dachshund

At a Barn Hunt you are required to go through straw bale tunnels and climb over several bales to earn a qualifying mark – all while in pursuit of a rat.

Barn Hunt with Ammo the Dachshund

In the lower levels you are then met with various tubes, some of which contain rat bedding and one that contains an actual rat. Your goal as rat hunter extraordinare is to locate the rat and alert your mom or dad that you have found the correct tube containing it. Once found your mom/dad is responsible for telling the judge you have found the rat – in which case the time will stop (as long as you have completed the necessary requirements of completing tunnels and climbing straw bales too).

Barn Hunt with Ammo the Dachshund

As the day progressed I got better and better at finding my rats. I even began digging at the tubes and making lots of noise once I found the tubes that contained a rat.

Barn Hunt with Ammo the Dachshund

Mom said in the higher level classes I would even have to find multiple rats in one run – making sure to find them fast enough to not run over the time limit, many of which that are hidden under straw and in crevices. Sounds like a blast!

Barn Hunt with Ammo the Dachshund

Liebe (who is just over a year old) even had fun locating the rats and as she gets older I’m sure she’s going to be one ferocious rat hunter just like me!

Barn Hunt with Ammo the Dachshund

I had so much fun looking for my rats, that sitting on the sidelines while the other dogs had a turn was so hard!

Barn Hunt with Ammo the Dachshund

I can’t wait to return again and actually compete in this fun new sport – it’s totally my kind of competition!

You can learn more about the rules of Barn Hunt and find competitions and practices local to you HERE.

Adventures at Tractor Supply

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Ammo

Adventures at Tractor Supply - Ammo the Dachshund

Tractor Supply Company, only the holy mecca for farm boys like me! And lucky me, I got to go on a Tractor Supply adventure over the weekend.

Adventures at Tractor Supply - Ammo the Dachshund

TSC has everything, from clothing, to dog food, hardware supplies and more – it’s hard to not find something that you need at a place like this.

Adventures at Tractor Supply - Ammo the Dachshund

I enjoyed moseying up and down the isle in search of something to add to my cart, mostly I was eyeballing the isles of dog toys and treats – but somehow we missed that one completely and I ended up only coming home with a bag of horse treats. I’m not sure how I got the short end of that stick.

Adventures at Tractor Supply - Ammo the Dachshund

My moseying was extra slow on this adventure, because just when I thought we were done with the crutches in my house (after mom’s knee surgery) my dad decided he wanted to give them a whirl too. So I’m back to playing nurse Ammo as dad spends a few weeks on crutches due to a high ankle sprain and some torn ligaments from playing soccer. I’m starting to think I’m missing out on something by not having my own pair to crutch around on!

Adventures at Tractor Supply - Ammo the Dachshund

Mom says it’s important for me to go on outings in new places as much as possible – it’s what makes me a good therapy dog. I only wish all stores were as dog friendly as TSC, because I’d certainly volunteer to practice my therapies in a butcher shop or maybe the Wine and CHEESE shop!

But until that day comes I’m happy to take my outings any place that keeps cookies behind the counter.

Adventures at Tractor Supply - Ammo the Dachshund

I’m here for my cookies please!

My Trip to PetValu

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Ammo

Ammo the Dachshund visits PetValu

Last weekend I took my very first trip to PetValu. Have you ever been to a PetValu? If not, you are in for a treat.

Ammo the Dachshund visits PetValu

Upon entering I could immediately tell that this place was just a little bit different from the big box pet stores like Petsmart and Petco.

Ammo the Dachshund visits PetValu

This store was filled with fun items that I hadn’t seen at the pet stores I usually frequent.

Ammo the Dachshund visits PetValu

I was immediately drawn to the display of Jonathan Adler merchandise – I loved his fun colorful patterns.

Ammo the Dachshund visits PetValu

Mom was so close to bringing home this new leash for me (probably for the packaging alone) but Dad thought it was a bit too colorful for a boy (I can rock pink better than any girl!).

Ammo the Dachshund visits PetValu

I had a blast wandering around the store sniffing out all the goodies. Many of their products were healthy and all natural, and they had a much wider selection of the “good for you” treats than most of the pet shops I’ve been in.

Ammo the Dachshund visits PetValu

Oh and they had cats, lots and lots of cats! Mom heard they were rescue cats that are up for adoption, and I had fun playing “find the kitty” all over the store.

Ammo the Dachshund visits PetValu

Can you find the Kitty?

Ammo the Dachshund visits PetValu

Not only did PetValu have cats scattered all over the shop, but they also had a shop bunny that was dog friendly. I REALLY wanted to see how friendly he was, but Mom wouldn’t let me get too close, probably because of my bunny killing record in the backyard.

Ammo the Dachshund visits PetValu - nylabone

My trip to Petvalu had me coming home with two fun products. A Nylabone Durachew (which I love) and a bag of Get Naked Antioxidant Dental Chew Treats.

Ammo the Dachshund visits PetValu - Get Naked Dog Treats

I had a great time at PetValu, and I’m sure I will be visiting again real soon.

Most of the PetValu stores are located in Canada and along the East Coast of the US, but you can click here to find one nearest to you.

I was not paid or perked to write about PetValu, I just thought everyone would enjoy taking a trip inside the pet store with me!

My Holiday Adventures

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Ammo