5 Tips for Taking Better Pictures of Your Dog

It’s no secret that I love having my photo taken. It’s been years and years of practice to get these super model moves down pat!

Ammo the Dachshund Studio Photos

And while I’m pretty much a pro infront of the lens, I do have a mom who’s got a few tricks up her sleeve when it comes to capturing adorable shots of yours truly. So I thought it would be fun to pick her brain, and share some tips on how you can capture some great pictures like these of your own pets!

Photographer's Muse // Ammo the Dachshund

5 Tips for Taking Better Pictures of Your Dog:

1. Have Amazing Treats

Ammo the Dachshund - Pony Cookie - Howl Naturale

Until you find that amazing treat (or meat) that makes your dog do back flips, you’re not going to get them to be interested in your photo session. Good treats go a long way, and if your dog is willing to do anything to get them, then you might just get that shot you were looking for.

2. Get Down Low

Winter on the Farm // Ammo the Dachshund

Dogs aren’t that big (well unless maybe you have a great dane), so getting yourself on the floor and down to the dog’s level is going to give you a better picture every time.

3. Practice “Waiting”

Evel Knievel // Ammo the Dachshund's Halloween Costume

Teaching your dog commands such as “wait” (my term for stay put and don’t move) is only going to help you get that amazing picture. Using positive reinforcement and some yummy treats practice asking your dog to hold still for pictures.

4. Let Your Dog Be a Dog

Barkbox Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

As fun as some of the posed shots are, it’s even more fun for your dog just to play and be themselves. Some of the best shots come from letting your dog do their own thing and being there to capture the moment (or the mess).

5. Prop Up Your Pet

Purple Possum Dachshund Scarf Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

Have a squirmy dog that won’t sit still? Prop them up on something high (and safe) so they don’t have room to roam. This will keep you from chasing your dog all over trying to snag a photo.

A Day at the Beach // Ammo the Dachshund

And there you have it, 5 tips to grabbing shots of your pet like a pro! Above all else, make picture time fun for your dog and I’m sure you’ll get that photograph! There’s many more where that came from, if you liked my mom’s tips for photographing pets let me know in the comments below and perhaps I’ll share some more soon!Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

P.S. if you’re wondering what camera gear my mom uses to photograph me, be sure to check out my gear page!

Birthday Week: DIY Dog String Art

DIY Dog Nail Art // Woof // Ammo the Dachshund

Since I’m celebrating Birthday Week on the blog, I thought it would be fun to share a fun DIY for some dog inspired artwork! You’ll love this fun tutorial to add a little extra woof to your own home!

String Art isn’t a new concept, all you have to do is search pinterest and tons of examples will pop up. After seeing lots of fun renditions on the web I thought it would be fun to create my own design, with man’s best friend in mind!

DIY Dog String Art

DIY Dog Nail Art // Woof // Ammo the Dachshund

Supplies:

DIY Dog Nail Art // Woof // Ammo the Dachshund

Step 1: Tape your printed type onto your block of wood. You can really use anything from shapes to various words and even logos.

DIY Dog Nail Art // Woof // Ammo the Dachshund

DIY Dog Nail Art // Woof // Ammo the Dachshund

Step 2: Nail your brads along the inner and outer edges of your text.

DIY Dog Nail Art // Woof // Ammo the Dachshund

Step 3: Remove the paper.

DIY Dog Nail Art // Woof // Ammo the Dachshund

Step 4: Tie your string to one of the nails and begin winding around them in every which direction. It helps if you outline each of the letters with string before filling them in.

DIY Dog Nail Art // Woof // Ammo the Dachshund

Step 5: Continue this process for each of the letters until they are all filled in with string.

DIY Dog Nail Art // Woof // Ammo the Dachshund

Congrats! You now have some fun dog-inspired string art!

DIY Dog Nail Art // Woof // Ammo the Dachshund

I think it turned out pretty fantastic, and I can’t wait to come up with some more fun designs!

DIY Dog Nail Art // Woof // Ammo the Dachshund

DIY Dog Nail Art // Woof // Ammo the Dachshund

DIY Dog Nail Art // Woof // Ammo the Dachshund

I can’t wait to see what fun string art you come up with! Be sure to share your String Art projects on my Facebook pageAmmo the Dachshund

Birthday Week: Cutest Dog Free Desktop Wallpaper

We may be celebrating my Birthday Week, but that doesn’t stop me from sending some fun gifts your way too! So here’s a fun desktop calendar for your computer, iPad or iPhone that I know you’ll just love!

 

Birthday Week: Cutest Dog Free Desktop Wallpaper // Ammo the Dachshund

DOWNLOAD: Desktop / iPad / iPhone

Proudly show the world universe that you have the cutest dog ever! (although I give your dog a run for their money, right?) 

Enjoy this fun freebie and make sure you check in all week long for lots more fun during Birthday Week! Ammo the Dachshund

Easy DIY Spray Painted Dog Art

Easy DIY Spray Painted Dog Art // Ammo the Dachshund

As a lover of the arts (I do work in a frame shop after all), I decided it was high time I added to my own personal art collection. So I enlisted the help of my mom and came up with this fun and EASY DIY DOG ART tutorial!

Easy DIY Spray Painted Dog Art // Ammo the Dachshund

Supplies:

  • Bristol Paper
  • Painters Tape
  • Spray paint (in any colors you may like)
  • Dog shape – I used the drop out from one of my Dachshund Photo Mats, but you can also create your own dog shape by cutting it out of bristol paper or using the free one I have HERE)

Easy DIY Spray Painted Dog Art // Ammo the Dachshund

Step 1: Using the painters tape cover a 1/2″ border around your bristol paper

Easy DIY Spray Painted Dog Art // Ammo the Dachshund

Step 2: Tape your dog shape onto the center of the bristol paper

Easy DIY Spray Painted Dog Art // Ammo the Dachshund

Step 3: Spray paint any colors you like all over the paper. Stripes, spirals, polka dots…anything you desire! Then simply remove the tape when dry, hang, and enjoy!

Easy DIY Spray Painted Dog Art // Ammo the Dachshund

See, I told you it was simple!

Easy DIY Spray Painted Dog Art // Ammo the Dachshund

Before you know it you’ll have your own doggie art gallery! Ammo the Dachshund

Painting with famous Ponies

Painting Pony // Ammo the Dachshund

This is my very special pony friend, Minnow. You’ve probably already met him before, but incase you didn’t know, Minnow is a world-famous artist! His paintings have sold all over the world and help to raise money for animal rescue groups.

Over the weekend I got to hang with my pony friend and watch him create some of his masterpieces.

Painting Pony // Ammo the Dachshund

But famous artists can’t do it alone, there’s always a clean-up crew hiding behind the scenes.

Painting Pony // Ammo the Dachshund

It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it!

Painting Pony // Ammo the Dachshund

Painting Pony // Ammo the Dachshund

Of course even assistants sometimes get a painted nose or two!

It’s all part of the job description. Ammo the Dachshund

You can find out more about Minnow and all the Painting Ponies at PaintingPony.com 

New in the Shop! Dachshund Magnets

New in the Shop! Dachshund Magnets

New in my shop is a line of the cutest Dachshund magnets handmade in collaboration with my mom and her friend Kate, from Kate Rose Customs!

New in the Shop! Dachshund Magnets

New in the Shop! Dachshund Magnets

The fun dachshund prints my mom had modeled after me have been turned into adorable glass magnets that are sure to make your fridge happy!

New in the Shop! Dachshund Magnets

New in the Shop! Dachshund Magnets

I also turned my happy logo into a cheerful dachshund magnet with my favorite phrase, Adventure Awaits!

All these magnets and more are available in my Etsy shop, Flying Hero. So make sure you check them out!

P.S. I’ll be back tomorrow with a full recap on my adventures at the Spring Doxie Fest!Ammo the Dachshund

Free Spring Desktop Wallpaper!

Since it’s now Spring I thought it would be fun to make a new downloadable wallpaper for all of your devices!

Featuring one of my original, one-of-a-kind, watercolor paintings in the background this is sure to put you in the Spring-time mood! You can check out more of my original paintings in the Painting Pony Shop!

Free Spring Desktop Wallpaper! from Ammo the Dachshund

DOWNLOAD: Desktop / iPad / iPhone

ammo the dachshund painting

Happy Spring! Ammo the Dachshund

New in the Shop! Graphic Dachshund Prints

Over the past several months I’ve been helping my mom design our very own set of adorable dachshund prints for my shop. With yours truly as the muse we are finally able to introduce 6 sweet prints that are now available for purchase!

New in the Shop! Graphic Dachshund Prints! via Ammo the Dachshund // Flying Hero

New in the Shop! Graphic Dachshund Prints! via Ammo the Dachshund // Flying Hero

Available matted or unmatted these prints come as a Black and Tan Dachshund or Red Dachshund with 3 different background patterns to choose from.

New in the Shop! Graphic Dachshund Prints! via Ammo the Dachshund // Flying Hero

Each one was completely hand-drawn by my mom on her tablet and has been professionally printed on a petite 4″x4″ size – most appropriate considering us dachshunds are short and sweet.

New in the Shop! Graphic Dachshund Prints! via Ammo the Dachshund // Flying Hero

So if you’re looking to add something happy to your walls this spring you can check out these Graphic Dachshund prints in my Etsy Shop starting at $10!

And as an added bonus, you can use code FREESHIP to get Free Shipping on all domestic orders! Yay! Ammo the Dachshund

Birthday Week: Dachshund Art Giveaway

Welcome to Birthday Week! Each year I celebrate my Birthday, which is on October 5th, during the first week in October! This year I will be turning 5 and I figured there was no better way to start off the Birthday Week celebration then to giveaway some goodies to all my fans!

Birthday Week: Dachshund Art Giveaway via Ammo the Dachshund

So I rounded up some of my favorite Dachshund Prints to giveaway to two lucky readers!

Birthday Week: Dachshund Art Giveaway via Ammo the Dachshund

First up we have a lovely Dachshund Sleep Study Print by Kimmy Hogan from White with Three! Modeled after her own mini dachshund, Rio, this sleep study documents 8 of the many contortions that us doxies love to sleep in.

Birthday Week: Dachshund Art Giveaway via Ammo the Dachshund

My mom helped me custom frame my own dachshund sleep study, and now it’s happily hanging on my office wall!

Birthday Week: Dachshund Art Giveaway via Ammo the Dachshund

Next we have a cute dachshund print by Debbie Sampson! You might remember I shared my own custom framed print by Debbie a few months ago, which is now hanging in my office at home!

A Dachshund's Art Gallery // Ammo the Dachshund

And now for your chance to win some happy dog art for your own walls!

TWO Lucky winners will receive one of the Dachshund Art Prints Above.

Here’s HOW TO WIN:

For this giveaway we will be using Rafflecopter. We only use this information to contact the winner and we never share it – so not to worry. Two winners will be chosen at random and you will be contacted via e-mail to claim your prize. All the winners will also be announced on this blog post once the giveaway ends. Open to US Residents Only. Winners must claim their prizes within 48 hours of being notified or prize will be forfeited. Good luck! **Art Prints do not come custom framed, but if you are in need of framing, make sure you check out my mom’s shop!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for celebrating my Birthday with me! Make sure you stop by all week long to see what else I have in store! Ammo the Dachshund

Painting with Minnow

Painting with Minnow the Painting Pony // Ammo the Dachshund

This is Minnow, one of the most talented artists you’ll ever meet, and he’s my bestest pony friend.

Painting with Minnow the Painting Pony // Ammo the Dachshund

Painting is one of Minnow’s favorite things to do, can’t you tell by that big smile on his face?

Painting with Minnow the Painting Pony // Ammo the Dachshund

When Minnow gets ready to paint I’m never far from his side, because every great artist needs an assistant.

Painting with Minnow the Painting Pony // Ammo the Dachshund

Trooper likes to help too sometimes, but he doesn’t always have the focus to be a great painting assistant.

Painting with Minnow the Painting Pony // Ammo the Dachshund

I on the other hand might as well have paint flowing through my veins, and the messier the job the better!

Painting with Minnow the Painting Pony // Ammo the Dachshund

Painting with Minnow the Painting Pony // Ammo the Dachshund

Painting with Minnow the Painting Pony // Ammo the Dachshund

Painting with Minnow the Painting Pony // Ammo the Dachshund

Painting with Minnow the Painting Pony // Ammo the Dachshund

I did a pretty good job helping Minnow make a mess now didn’t I?

Check out more of the famous paintings by Minnow and his pals at www.PaintingPony.com – also make sure you follow them on Facebook!Ammo the Dachshund