This blog has always been a way for me to share my daily adventures with the world, and I love that all of you continue to check in to see what I’m up to in my life.
From snow days on the farm…
…beach days in the summer…
…and my hard working days at the shop, I’ve shared just about everything on this blog.
Except there is one thing that I’ve kept a secret. Until now…
This summer I’m going to be starting my biggest adventure yet, as a BIG BROTHER! That’s right, after 7 years of being an “only child” my family is going to be gaining a new member.
My new 2-legged little sister will be here before I know it, and I’ve still got a lot to do to prepare!
I’ve already been practicing my dress-up skills, and I don’t even mind having to wear pink shades with my fashionable bunny slippers….
…just so long as Minnow and I can still play Super Heroes with her too!
While I know things around here will change, I’m more than ready for my next big adventure!
Thanks to all of you for supporting me along the way, and being there to cheer me on no matter where life takes me. Adventure Awaits!
P.S. My lovely Guard Dog Bandana is compliments of Paper Whale Design on Etsy
I’m a little late with giving everyone a recap of my Thanksgiving vacation, but with the busy holiday season at my mom’s shop I had a hard time getting my “tech team” to edit all the photos! But have no fear! I’m ready to share all the details of my week long trip down south to Folly Beach, South Carolina.
Before I dive in to all the fun I had visiting with my family, I have to introduce you to my new friends! The cute little Jack Russell puppy is Artemis and the fluffy white fellow, Sharkie (or Mark Sharkman for those that know him a little better). Artemis and Sharkie are Folly Beach residents and they had a blast showing Trooper and I how to be real beach dogs.
Artemis has just started his Beach Dog training (after all he is pretty young still), but not to worry, I took him under my wing and shared all the important things about the world with him. Like how to hunt rabbits, dig holes, and bark at strangers.
Sharkie on the other hand is a beach dog pro!
Sharkie’s ball chasing skills made Trooper and I look like a couple of idiots.
Yeah, I’m pretty sure we should be embarrassed to be seen in public after watching Sharkie chase after his ball. We didn’t come off anywhere near as elegant as he does in photos.
Gotta love a dog that knows what he wants!
Sharkie and I had a blast on the beach though and it was fun having another small dog sidekick to run around with. I’m pretty sure Trooper felt very out numbered with all us shorties.
I already miss being able to run like the wind on the wide open beach. It’s something I’ll never get tired of.
And since you all couldn’t be there with me to enjoy the glorious beach, I made this fun video so you could pretend like you were there with me!
So what do you think? Aren’t you impressed with Sharkie’s ball skills? (Don’t tell him, but I’ve been practicing at home so that next time we get together I’ll look a little cooler!)
A few weekends ago my mom and dad decided to take me on a fun adventure to the Delaware Beaches. And you know what that means? There are going to be a bazillion photos of me running like a crazy dog on the beach in this post!
Now if you have followed my blog for a while, then you may already know that I LOVE the beach! While I’m not so much a fan of the ocean per-say, I am a fan of the sand. Digging, rolling, and running in it are my idea of a good time.
Despite the fact that it was a little bit chilly, you can tell by the smile on my face just how happy being at the beach made me!
I spent some time relaxing on the beach, and then set out on a late afternoon walk.
It wasn’t long before my parents finally unhooked the leash so I could run as much as my heart desired!
And run I did!
If you’ve ever wondered how I keep such a fit figure….this is how! I was built to run!
After some running I decided it might be nice to cool off in the water. Good thing I found it to be a bit too chilly for me, because you’ll never guess what I found in one of the tide pools!
Oh yes! That’s a small shark right there (with sadly a hook & bobber stuck on him) in one of the beach tide pools.
Dad and I desperately wanted to capture the shark and help remove that hook and send him back out to sea….but of course mom was worried one of us would get an arm or leg bit off! So needless to say we were left hoping that the tide would come in that night and take him back out to see for more shark adventures!
And then it was back to more running on the beach…baywatch style! Of course the daredevil in me ran a little bit close to the water, just enough to make mom worry that the shark was gonna get me!
(P.S. Don’t worry, that shark was safely in another tide pool and I was in no real danger, but it’s fun to pretend!)
After all that running I was pretty pooped! But when mom and dad said it was time to pack up and head back home, I was a little sad.
Don’t worry though, I made sure to bring a little of that beach smell home with me! Nothing quite like a nose full of sand.
Does your dog love the beach as much as I do? Do you ever let your dog run off leash? (P.S. I’m only allowed off leash when mom and dad are sure I’m in the listening mood, as you know sometimes us dachshunds decide we don’t feel like obeying!)
A couple weeks ago some of my out-of-town family came to visit. I had a blast going on adventures with them, and you may recall I even performed a daring water rescue of my Uncle Taylor.
See my uncle, he’s a bit of a daredevil. (or clumsy on the water, depending on how you look at it).
A few weekends ago some of my family from out of town came for a visit. Since I’m always up for a fun adventure, I decided to show them a good time with a weekend excursion on the river!
Just down the road from the family farm is the Brandywine River, which is the perfect place to do some river tubing on a hot day!
Since this wasn’t my first tubing adventure I got pretty brave and performed some dare-devilish (I was Evel Knievel for Halloween after all) stunts on the tubes by balancing on the edge!
I wasn’t the only one enjoying the river that day either, we even found this adorable turtle taking a dip!
As the sun started to set over the river I decided to trade in my tube for a canoe since it was getting a little chilly in the water.
I love to navigate the waters and I always have to stand at the very tip of the canoe (so I get to see everything first), even if it means that I might occasionally fall overboard. Not to worry though, I’m a pretty good swimmer!
Eventually we decided to park the canoe so we could take a swim in the river, which is also where I got to perform my very first water rescue!
Ok technically no one was ever really drowning, but how was I supposed to know that? I’m a Super Hero trained to save people, and when you’re a teeny tiny dog like me everything looks dangerous!
Thankfully everyone survived the rope swing, and I made sure my entire family made it back into their rafts for the remainder of the trip home.
Well, that is until we hit a river road block! “Everyone stay with your flotation device, keep your hands inside the raft, and do not drown!”
Phew! River Tubing is stressful for a Super Hero!
Do you think your dog would attempt to save you if you were drowning? (Don’t worry, I’m sure they probably would….unless there was an alluring groundhog hole nearby of course!)
You can grab a stylish life vest just like the one I’m wearing from my friends at Ruffwear*, or check out my Gear Page for a source guide of all my stylish gear!
Last week I started to recap my annual camping trip with my friend, Shilah the Husky, well now I’m back to share more about all the fun we had (despite the rain). It’s too much fun to fit into one blog post, so don’t worry, there’s even more fun than this to come ahead!
One of my favorite parts about camping is getting breakfast in bed. It’s one of those few occasion where I don’t even have to get up to enjoy a big bowl of my “cereals”.
Shilah and I were excited to see that the weather had begun to clear up some, and although the rain was on and off, it wasn’t down pouring all day like it had been. Yipee!
So we broke out the fishing poles again, and had a little contest with our dad’s to see who could catch the most fish. (spoiler alert, none of us caught any!)
That’s ok though, because there was still plenty to do on our camping trip, like hiking! We didn’t get to go to any of the great hiking spots we had staked out for our trip, but we did get to take some walks around our campsite.
We even stopped to take a few selfies along the way, it’s not often I get to spend 4 whole days with my pal!
There may have even been an awkward kiss at one moment. It’s still out for debate on who kissed who.
Do you blame me though, I mean how can you not sneak a kiss when you’re hanging out with a pretty girl like Shilah!
Back at camp things were starting to heat up since it was finally dry enough to start the campfire.
As our day started to come to an end Shilah and I broke out our Glowdoggies * so we could have our own personal “flashlights” in the dark. Although Shilah questioned, “won’t the bears just be able to spot us way easier with these things on?” I told her not to worry, I packed bear spray!
(*contains affiliate link)
As darkness really crept in the campfire started roaring!
That’s always my cue to hit the hay early, because campfires (or any fire for that matter) are not really my jam. That’s ok though, I much prefer snuggling up in the tent under my sleeping bag anyway.
I am a little sad I did miss out on the light writing fun everyone had with sparklers, but mom and dad made sure to include me in their own special way…
….it’s my name in lights! I’m famous!
Even celebrities like me can totally get down and dirty on a camping trip!
Stay tuned this week as I still have more fun to share about our adventures at a nearby lake!
Wondering where to get any of my great camping gear? Be sure to check out my gear page!
P.S. Special thanks to Shilah’s mom from Mrs. Dailey’s Classroom for sharing some of her camping photos with me (the ones not watermarked with my website)!
Disclaimer: This post and giveaway is brought to you by Ruffwear. All opinions are my own and I only share products I think my readers will love!
Every summer I enjoy hitting the lake, sometimes kayaking, most of the time Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP), and always practicing water safety by wearing a floatation device. While I’ve owned several life vests over the years, I’ve finally found one that fits me PERFECTLY, the Ruffwear K-9 Float Coat.
Being a Dachshund means that sometimes I have trouble finding harnesses, coats and even life vests that can accommodate my unique body type. Thankfully the Ruffwear Lifevest is adjustable in all the right places making it the best fitting one I’ve ever worn.
This floatation device has a sleek design making it slimmer fitting than any of the other vests I’ve tried, but don’t worry it’s still full of plenty of “float”!
This life jacket is not only a great design for Dachshunds, but it is also designed for dogs of all shapes and sizes. It even includes thoughtful details like a strong handle, optimally positioned to lift dogs out of the water, and reflective trim for enhanced visibility in or out of the water.
I enjoyed how the front of the vest was adjustable, but once set is easy to slip over your pup’s head, and the belly straps are also fully adjustable.
The design of this vest allowed me to have great free-flowing movement of my front legs, which is fantastic for swimming (and for all those occasions when you accidentally fall in!).
A fun little fact about me, while swimming might not be my #1 favorite thing to do, I do on occasion like to swim voluntarily, but I’ll only do so if I’m wearing a life jacket and the water is bath water warm!
I’m a big fan of the Ruffwear K-9 Float Coat, and I can’t recommend it enough for all those water loving dogs out there! It’s now my go-to summer accessory that I never leave home without.
You can fetch your own life jacket from Ruffwear for $79.95. (and incase you’re wondering, I wear a size XS and I’m 20lbs).
No purchase necessary. To enter use the Rafflecopter widget below. 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 USA residents only. Winners must claim their prizes within 48 hours of being notified or prize will be forfeited. By entering you are agreeing to the terms & conditions set forth in the Rafflecopter widget (see below). Good luck!
Every year I go tent camping with friends during the summer. It’s a fun trip (filled with dog friendly adventures) that I look forward to all year long!
Especially since I get to spend all weekend with this lovely lady, my pal Shilah the Husky!
This year’s camping trip was a little different, because when I woke up on Saturday morning it was raining. And not just a little bit of rain, it POURED ALL-DAY-LONG!
The rain sort of put a damper on all the fun activities we had planned, but lucky for me mom packed my raincoat, and I wasn’t going to let the wetness stop me from having a good time.
The campsite we rented this year came with a bare-bones rustic cabin (although I always tent camp!), and thankfully the porch provided the perfect haven for lounging during the heavy rain.
Eventually we all started to get cabin fever though, and when the rain lightened up just a bit it was time to venture out for some outdoor fun (with our raincoats of course).
Even my camera crew dressed appropriately for the weather – so that I would have all these great pictures to share with you!
Our campsite had this neat stream that ran through it, and I quickly discovered my new favorite activity…..FISHING!
Consider my mind fully blown when Shilah’s dad actually caught a fish!
BEST DAY EVER! I love fishing!
And then when the fish we caught got released back into the water I couldn’t help myself from starting my own rescue mission. I mean he might drown!
I never did succeed, hopefully Mr. Fish was a good swimmer!
After a full day in the cold wet rain we all were a bit soggy, myself included.
So we had to make a trip into town to dry off, get food (for the folks that didn’t eat dog food), and make a walmart run for more rain gear!
After all my excitement in the rain I was pretty pooped. Thankfully my tent was nice and dry, and the perfect haven to rest up for another day of camping fun!
Stay tuned next week when I continue my adventures in the woods, where I even made a trip to the lake!
Wondering where to get any of my great camping gear? Be sure to check out my gear page!
P.S. Special thanks to Shilah’s mom from Mrs. Dailey’s Classroom for all the great photos of our soggy camping experience (the ones not watermarked with my website)!
Being that it was a Sunday, the convention center was closed, but that didn’t stop me from exploring around.
Just outside the Knoxville Convention Center is the Sunsphere……the main purpose of my visit! The Sunsphere was constructed for the 1982 World’s Fair and served as the symbol to the Fair. It wasn’t until 2007 that it was renovated and reopened for the public.
Since there was no signs to say otherwise, and no one around to ask, I rode the elevator up the Sunsphere to the 4th floor observation deck to check out what all the fuss was about.
Not gonna lie, it was a long way down! I was more than happy not to get too close to the edge, just in case.
The 5th floor of the Sunsphere contains a restaurant and bar called the Icon Ultra Lounge. I didn’t attempt to go up there because the sign said reservations were needed – and I’m not even sure if they were open on a Sunday. And the 6th floor was for events.
Honestly I was thankful to have all 4 feet back on the ground, but there was a lot more to see in the World’s Fair Park, which had signs saying leashed pets were welcome as long as you picked up after them.
There was some beautiful waterways and according to their website it looks like they hold lots of fun events in the park.
Eventually I made my way to the Amphitheater, it was also constructed during the 1982 World’s Fair and was home to both country music and classical music concerts. The Sunsphere and the Tennessee Amphitheater are the only structures that remained after the World’s Fair. I would have put on my own show for everyone, only I forgot to pack my trick gear, and sadly I had no spectators.
Eventually I came across an outdoor fountain where lots of kids were enjoying it on a nice hot day. I wanted to join in too, but sadly it was one of the few areas off limits to dogs.
After exploring the World’s Fair Park it was time to get something to eat! So I found a pet friendly restaurant on the river, Calhoun’s!
Their deck overlooking the water was the perfect spot for a relaxing nap before my long long drive back to Pennsylvania.
And just as we were finishing up our dining experience, a big storm came rolling in. I have to say, the entire time I was gone I lucked out with all the weather. Every time I found something fun to do any storms seemed to clear and I had nice sunny days every time!
Eventually it was time for my fun to end and I headed towards home.
Even though my road trip adventures have come to an end, it’s always nice to be back in my home sweet home!
Nashville was my main destination during this trip as I would be spending several days attending the BlogPaws Conference. In fact I spent so much time in Nashville that I decided to break it up into two posts today! So make sure you check back later today to read all about my adventures at BlogPaws.
One of the first things I did when I hit Nashville was to hit up the main strip on Broadway.
Live music can be seen and heard every day and night of the week in Nashville. It has become a hub for pop, rock, bluegrass, Americana, jazz, classical, contemporary Christian, blues, and soul music. It’s long been known as the “Songwriting Capital of the World” and songwriters from all over the world come to Music City to learn the art of songwriting.
Being that I was in Nashville, I had to break out a little country of my own with my plaid bandana – had I owned cowboy boots I would have totally rocked those too!
Nashville is known for not only it’s country music, but it’s delicious food too. Of course I’m never one to pass up a good piece of meat, so I popped into Jack’s Bar-B-Que as I had read they had a pet friendly patio in the back.
I didn’t realize you could access the patio from the back of the building, so I actually waited in line to get my BBQ inside with everyone else. No one seemed to care, and most people probably didn’t even notice I was there (I am short if you haven’t noticed).
Jack’s did not disappoint, and Mom and Dad seemed to be loving it too.
And in case you’re wondering, yes I did get to sample a bite or two!
After dinner it was time to wander down Broadway and checkout what goes on in Nashville in the evening….
As you can see I’m quite the expert in navigating a crowd.
As you saw I just HAD TO stop and take a few selfies with the street performers. This guy even wanted his own picture with me.
And you really can’t visit Nashville without getting a selfie with Elvis! I told him that he may be the King of Rock, but I was most certainly the King of Groundhogs. (he didn’t argue with that one bit)
After all that excitement I was happy to check into my hotel for a much needed rest. As you can see I brought all the comforts from home (as in my favorite toys).
My adventures in Nashville didn’t end there though, because I spent the next 3 days mixing and mingling at the BlogPaws conference while I was there. So make sure you check back a little later today when I share how I faired at my very first pet blogging conference…..complete with a red carpet event and everything!
P.S. Don’t forget, for you local Pennsylvanians, I’ll be at the Ryerss Family Fun Day this Saturday from 12 – 4pm with my friend Minnow the famous Painting Pony. Hope you’ll stop by and meet me! I’ll be performing some of my favorite tricks too!
I know what you’re probably thinking….how can I STILL be recapping my week long road trip? Well, the fact is, there was so much to see and do that I’ve had lots to share. Like my adventures in; 
