When Big Dogs Play with Small Dogs

There is one rule I always live by. It’s a rule that keeps me safe, makes me feel brave, and drives my best friend Trooper CRAZY!

When Big Dogs Play with Small Dogs // Ammo the Dachshund

And that rule is…. ALWAYS CHOOSE YOUR HIDING PLACE BEFORE YOU PLAY WITH THE BIG DOGS!

When Big Dogs Play with Small Dogs // Ammo the Dachshund

See those big dogs sometimes don’t understand how big they actually are. And they also don’t always realize how small you actually are. So when you have a PLAN B incase things get a little too rough, life is just a little bit easier.

When Big Dogs Play with Small Dogs // Ammo the Dachshund

Trooper is never thrilled when I decide to take a trip into my hiding places, but even as much as I love playing with him – sometimes he doesn’t know his own size either.

When Big Dogs Play with Small Dogs // Ammo the Dachshund

I mean just check out this photo of him accidentally kicking me the other day when we were playing on the farm.

I love you buddy, but sometimes you’re a big oaf.

When Big Dogs Play with Small Dogs // Ammo the Dachshund

Better safe than sorry when you play with the big dogs! Ammo the Dachshund

Methods to Keep your Dog’s Teeth Clean

Disclaimer: this post is brought to you by Chewy.com and contains affiliate links.

As you may or may not know, this month is National Pet Dental Health Month. And if you’ve been reading my blog for a while now, then you might also know a few months ago I jumped back on the “teeth brushing” bandwagon and started trying to maintain my pearly whites a bit better.

Clean Teeth // Ammo the Dachshund

While I still continue to use the Tropiclean Gel on my teeth each night before bed, I’ve also added some new tools to my dental regime.

How to Maintain your Dog's Teeth // Ammo the Dachshund // Pet Dental Health Month

My friends over at Chewy.com sent me this Nylabone DuraChew Dental Dino Toy and my mom picked me up a Pet Dental Scraper (thanks to a recommendation from my Facebook friend, Alex).

Clean Teeth // Ammo the Dachshund

Now incase you may have forgotten, before I even started on my teeth cleaning regime, my teeth looked like this. And even after getting into the habit of brushing regularly I was still left with some plaque on my teeth.

How to Maintain your Dog's Teeth // Ammo the Dachshund // Pet Dental Health Month

So to aid in keeping my teeth clean I decided to break open my new Nylabone.

How to Maintain your Dog's Teeth // Ammo the Dachshund // Pet Dental Health Month

Now I’ve always been a lover of Nylabones, and this Dino chew is no different. The little bumps are super fun to chew on, and as a bonus mom says they help to clean my teeth and freshen my breath!

How to Maintain your Dog's Teeth // Ammo the Dachshund // Pet Dental Health Month

You can fetch your own Nylabone Dino Dental Chew from Chewy.com – and it’s on SALE now for just $3.99!

How to Maintain your Dog's Teeth // Ammo the Dachshund // Pet Dental Health Month

So on top of using my new Nylabone, I also started using this Pet Dental Scraper to scrape the plaque off my teeth. Now I must admit upon first inspection it looked pretty scary.

How to Maintain your Dog's Teeth // Ammo the Dachshund // Pet Dental Health Month

But my mom waited until I was extra sleepy on the couch one evening to test it out.

How to Maintain your Dog's Teeth // Ammo the Dachshund // Pet Dental Health Month

Each night my mom has been working on my teeth in little bits to scrape off the plaque while I’m tired, and you know what, it’s not so bad.

How to Maintain your Dog's Teeth // Ammo the Dachshund // Pet Dental Health Month

And while I still have a ways to go to remove all the plaque, even after just one time, my teeth look a whole lot better!

How to Maintain your Dog's Teeth // Ammo the Dachshund // Pet Dental Health Month

If you want to use a Pet Dental Scraper on your pet, here’s what I’d recommend:

  • Only try on dogs that are relatively calm and not fazed by being “examined”
  • Start with just playing around with your dog’s lips and teeth without the tool to get them used to having their mouth examined
  • Use the dental scraper when your dog is in a relaxed state
  • Use one hand to hold your dog’s mouth steady incase they pull away quickly
  • Apply the dental scraper in small doses to your dog’s teeth and don’t overdo it. Gradually increase the time you use it as your dog gets comfortable with it

What sort of things do you do to keep your pet’s teeth clean? Ammo the Dachshund

Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by Chewy.com, but all opinions are my own. Be advised that the best way to get a full dental cleaning for your pet is to contact a licensed veterinarian – and these are just my own personal experiences with pet dental cleaning, and I am in no way an expert. Use the pet dental scraper on your pet at your own risk.

Dachshund Life Struggle

If you follow along with me on Facebook or Instagram, then likely you may have already seen my most recent endeavor, the Dachshund Life Struggle.

Now you might be wondering, what exactly is a Dachshund Life Struggle? Well my friend, simply put – it’s all the things that make being a Dachshund so-dang-hard. The struggle is real my friends, and in order to bring awareness to all the very very hard things us dachshunds have to deal with on a daily basis I’ve started compiling a list.

So without further ado, here’s my list so far….but don’t worry, there are many many more things to add to it!

Dachshund Life Struggle // The Struggle is Real // Ammo the Dachshund

Dachshund Life Struggle // The Struggle is Real // Ammo the Dachshund

Dachshund Life Struggle // The Struggle is Real // Ammo the Dachshund

Dachshund Life Struggle // The Struggle is Real // Ammo the Dachshund

Dachshund Life Struggle // The Struggle is Real // Ammo the Dachshund

Dachshund Life Struggle // The Struggle is Real // Ammo the Dachshund

Dachshund Life Struggle // The Struggle is Real // Ammo the Dachshund

Dachshund Life Struggle // The Struggle is Real // Ammo the Dachshund

Dachshund Life Struggle // The Struggle is Real // Ammo the Dachshund

Dachshund Life Struggle // The Struggle is Real // Ammo the Dachshund

Dachshund Life Struggle // The Struggle is Real // Ammo the Dachshund

Dachshund Life Struggle // The Struggle is Real // Ammo the Dachshund

Dachshund Life Struggle // The Struggle is Real // Ammo the Dachshund

Dachshund Life Struggle // The Struggle is Real // Ammo the Dachshund

Dachshund Life Struggle // The Struggle is Real // Ammo the Dachshund

So as you can see, being a Dachshund is definitely not easy!

Keep following along with me in Instagram and Facebook to see more #dachshundlifestruggle and if you’ve got a struggle to add be sure to let me know!

 

P.S. Don’t forget to share my struggles with all your friends…..we have to spread the word about how hard it is to be a dachshund these days!Ammo the Dachshund

Friday Fetch: Gifts for your Valentine

Did you know that Valentine’s Day is almost here? That’s right, it’s just a short week away! So if you’re still in need of something for your sweetheart I’ve rounded up a few LOVE-ly things from my online shop that are perfect to gift to someone special this year. Check them out below….

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

Flying Hero Etsy Shop // Ammo the Dachshund

Flying Hero Etsy Shop // Ammo the Dachshund

Flying Hero Etsy Shop // Ammo the Dachshund

Flying Hero Etsy Shop // Ammo the Dachshund

Flying Hero Etsy Shop // Ammo the Dachshund

Check out these goodies and more in my Etsy Shop, Flying HeroAmmo the Dachshund

10 Tough Toys for Dogs

ammo the dachshunds 12 days of christmas

If you didn’t know already, I’m the kind of dog that can destroy the average toy in mere minutes. No make that seconds! Stuffed toys are totally my jam, and I love pulling off eyes, ripping tails, and putting a pile of cotton all over the floor. So needless to say I don’t get those kinds of toys very often. You can even check out a post I did last year about all the toys that have made it into my “toy graveyard” – as even sometimes the tough ones eventually do.

Toy Graveyard // Ammo the Dachshund

Now being that I’m such a tough chewer – I’ve learned over the years which toys seem to hold up much better to my tough chewing ways.

So here’s my list of 10 Tough Toys for all the tough dogs out there! (contains some affiliate links)

1. Benebone

What I did for Christmas // Ammo the Dachshund

This tough chew toy is one of my all-time favorites. It comes in two different sizes with flavors of bacon, chicken, and peanut butter. If your dog loves to chew they’ll love the Benebone. Note that is does wear down over time, and will eventually need replacing.

2. Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Raspberry

Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Raspberry // Tough Toys for Dogs // Ammo the Dachshund

Planet Dog makes lots of great toys that are strong enough for tough chewers like me, but one of my favorites is this Raspberry. It’s the perfect size for me and it’s especially good when my mom fills it up with a little peanut butter. This size lasts quite a long time, and eventually some of mine have needed replacing (if only because I chew on them so often).

3. Ruffhides Refillable Chew Toy

What I did for Christmas // Ammo the Dachshund

I got one of these for Christmas this year and it’s essentially a rubber wrap that goes around a dog chew (they sell them with rawhide or himalayan dog chews inside) to make it last longer. I’ve also found some tough all-natural bones at my local pet store that seem to fit nicely into my Ruffhides wrap.

4. Nylabone

Ammo the Dachshund visits PetValu - nylabone

Nylabone makes a variety of chew toys for powerful chewers, and I’ve tried many throughout the years. They always hold up well and are something I never get tired of chewing on.

5. Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Snoop

Friday Fetch: Orbee-Tuff Snoop / Interactive Dog Toy // Ammo the Dachshund

The Snoop is an awesome treat-dispensing toy for dogs that is made with toughness by Planet Dog. I spend hours playing with this toy at the shop, and to make it even harder to get the cookies out my mom stuffs a Planet Dog ball in the opening (just like above).

6. Antler Chew

Antler Chew Toy // Tough Toys for Dogs // Ammo the Dachshund

Antler Chews hold up really well to tough chewers like me. While I tend to loose interest in these a little quicker than some of the other toys, they definitely last a long long time.

7. Chase ‘n Chomp

Chase n' Chomp // Tough Toys for Dogs // Ammo the Dachshund

When the Chase n’ Chomp arrived in a past Barkbox, my mom wasn’t sure it would hold up to my sharp, shark-like teeth. And although it no longer squeaks it’s still hanging around my house, and remains one of my favorite balls to play fetch with (probably because it’s extra squishy).

8. Pickle Pocket

Pickle Pocket - Treat Dispenser for Dogs - Review // Ammo the Dachshund

The Pickle Pocket is a tough rubber toy that that has slits in it to hold treats. This is great if you don’t feel like breaking out the messy peanut butter and I could spend hours just trying to get a few treats out.

9. ZogoFlex

ZogoFlex // Tough Toys for Dogs // Ammo the Dachshund

The Zogoflex is another toy that’s made of tough rubber that your dog won’t be able to chew through. Granted it’s not my top pick for a toy (I think I’d grab a Benebone or Nylabone over one of these given the choice), but mine has certainly held up over the years and is one of those toys that will be around forever.

10. KONG

ammo the dachshund with kong

It wouldn’t be a tough toy list without mentioning Kong. These rubber toys are built to last and also have a handy hole for stuffing with treats. Although, full disclaimer, I did break one once!

kong toy

What sort of toys has your dog destroyed over the years? Any tough toys I should add to the list? Ammo the Dachshund

January 2015 Monthly Recap

Before we get to the recap of all the exciting adventures I’ve been on in January, I wanted to give a shoutout to my special sponsors! Thanks to them I’m able to bring you exciting posts, so make sure you give them some love and check out what great products they carry!

PawCheck Ad 250x250 - Ammo the Dachshund

The P-Scoop is a product made by PawCheck. It is a compact and telescopic ladle for dog urine collection.  It offers a clean and easy method for dog parents to catch urine midstream and suitable for male and female dogs of all sizes. You can check out the review I did of the P-Scoop last year. If your vet has ever asked you to collect a urine sample from your dog, then you know how challenging it can be, with the P-Scoop it’s no longer difficult! You can fetch your own from PawCheck.

Ddoggie Tees

Ddoggies carries 100’s of products for dog lovers featuring the art of Danny Gordon. With tons of dog breeds to choose from your can have your choice printed on t-shirts, mugs, license plates, coasters, hoodies, and more.

You can use code 10%OFF to save 10% off your next order with Ddoggies.

 

winter-barkbox-sidebar-adBarkbox is a monthly subscription service for your dog. Starting as low as $19 a month (shipping included) you can get a box of the finest treats and toys sent right to your front door every month! Choose from packages for small, medium, and large dogs and as a bonus 10% of their sales go to supporting rescue groups! You can check out just what goodies your dog could be getting every month by reading my reviews!

Use code AMMO5 for 10% off your Barkbox Subscription.

Ruffwear Ad

Ruffwear carries performance dog gear designed to enhance and inspire outdoor adventures for dogs and their human companions. Totally my kind of company that carries anything from dog hiking packs, harnesses, camping essentials and more! You can check out my review of their dog boots (that even work for dachshund’s too) as well as the Ruffwear Swamp Cooler to keep your pup cool in the summer and one of my favorites, the Ruffwear Front Range Harness!

Free Shipping on all orders over $75 at Ruffwear!

If you would like to find out more about advertising with me, click HEREAnd thanks again to all of my wonderful sponsors, I couldn’t do it without you!

And now onto my January Adventures…

What I did for Christmas // Ammo the Dachshund

I kicked off the new year by sharing my very special Christmas adventures.

Sleepypod Clickit Sport review & giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

Trooper and I reviewed the brand-new Sleepypod Clickit Sport.

Happy New Year // Ammo the Dachshund

I shared my New Years Resolutions.

Trax Review - A GPS Tracker for Dogs // Ammo the Dachshund

I reviewed an awesome new GPS Tracker for dogs, Trax.

Dachshund Goes to Playground and Loves it // Ammo the Dachshund

I took a trip to the playground.

Dachshund Flys Plane - And doesn't crash! // Ammo the Dachshund

I took to the sky and went on a plane ride.

Natural Pet Carpet Cleaner // Ammo the Dachshund

I shared how to get rid of icky pet stains.

Ruffwear Climate Changer // Ammo the Dachshund

I shared a collection of 10 winter coats the fit dachshunds.

Ammo the Dachshund // Sledding with Ponies

I went sledding with my ponies.

Adventures in the Snow with Barkbox // Ammo the Dachshund

I made my snow day even better thanks to my friends at Barkbox.

Dogs Love to Wrestle with Socks // Ammo the Dachshund

Trooper and I shared why we love playing with socks so much.

Clean Teeth Club // How to Keep your Dog's Teeth Clean // Ammo the Dachshund

I shared how my teeth are doing after I’ve been brushing them for several months.

Well, January kicked off to a fantastic start. I always love looking back to see what fun I had, it makes me hungry for even more adventures in February! What do you think I should do next? Ammo the Dachshund

Paws Jawz Review & Giveaway

Disclaimer: This post and giveaway is brought to you by Paws Jawz.

Paws Jaws Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

It’s that time of year here in Pennsylvania where we get lots of snow and ice – sometimes enough to warrant a need for us dogs to wear boots. Many times I reach for my (affiliate) Pawz Boots in these occasions because they are one of the few boots that will stay on funny shaped dachshund feet.

Paws Jaws Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

Pawz Boots are made of an all natural rubber material (which feels and acts a lot like a latex balloon) and comes in a variety of sizes to fit all dogs. I wear a size small, but some of the true mini dachshunds (I’m a bit bigger weighing 20 lbs) might fit better in a smaller size.

Now there are lots of reasons that I like Pawz Boots, (reusable, disposable, inexpensive, they stay on), but there is one major drawback that I don’t like about them…..they’re a pain in the butt to put on!

Paws Jaws Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

That’s where Paws Jawz comes in! This handy contraption is designed to make putting on Pawz Boots easier and faster. Which when you’re a busy dog like me, you can’t be bothered to wait around while your parents try to finagle small rubber booties onto your feet.

Check out the video below of me testing out the Paws Jawz for the very first time:

The folks at Paws Jawz seem to have a much better technique for putting on the boots than my mom does (she may need a bit more practice – as it was her first time!), check out how they do it in their video:

Paws Jaws Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

Overall I liked the Paws Jawz product, like I said before….anything to get me off on another adventure sooner is a winner in my book! You can fetch your own Paws Jawz starting at $10.99.

As a bonus you can use code Ammo1 for $1.00 off your order!

And now for the best part….

Paws Jaws Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

THREE LUCKY WINNERS WILL WIN A PAWS JAWZ IN THEIR DOG’S SIZE!

Here’s HOW TO WIN:

For this giveaway I will be using, Rafflecopter. We only use the information you provide to contact the winners and we never share it – so not to worry. 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 on 2/10/15 12AM EST. Open to US & CANADA Residents Only. Winners must claim their prizes within 48 hours of being notified or prize will be forfeited. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This a sponsored post by Paws Jawz, all opinions are my own. Ammo the Dachshund

Friday Fetch: Pretty Rope Dog Leashes

I may be a male, but I can still appreciate the softer side of dog accessories. So when I stumbled across these lovely handmade rope leashes from Chapman at Sea – I could totally picture my future doxie girlfriend going out for a walk in one of these lovely leashes. And she would definitely look just like the lovely lady below….and I may need to borrow the leash on occasion, because dudes can look stylish too!

Friday Fetch: Pretty Rope Dog Leashes // Ammo the Dachshund

Friday Fetch: Pretty Rope Dog Leashes // Ammo the Dachshund

Friday Fetch: Pretty Rope Dog Leashes // Ammo the Dachshund

Friday Fetch: Pretty Rope Dog Leashes // Ammo the Dachshund

Friday Fetch: Pretty Rope Dog Leashes // Ammo the Dachshund

You can fetch these nautical leashes from Chapman at Sea.Ammo the Dachshund

Disclosure: this is not a sponsored post, nor do I own any of these products. Just simply wanted to share my latest find!

Clean Teeth Club – How I’m Doing

Clean Teeth // Ammo the Dachshund

You might remember that a couple of months ago I vowed to get back on the teeth cleaning routine. Well since I started taking better care of my teeth back in early November I thought it was high time I give you an update on how I’m doing. And more importantly what my teeth look like!

Clean Teeth // Ammo the Dachshund

Clean Teeth // Ammo the Dachshund

My regime consisted of eating a TropiClean Fresh Breath Chew (sent to me by my friends from Chewy) about every other day and using the TropiClean Teeth Gel every night.

Mom puts a little of the gel on her finger and rubs it all over my teeth before I go to bed. I was pretty good about making sure I cleaned my teeth every night, but I did miss a few days here and there.

Here’s a closer look at what my teeth looked like before I started cleaning them regularly and after. (P.S. the dark spots on my gums is not some funky gum disease, I’m actually a dapple dachshund and my skin is spotted with pink and black coloration)

Clean Teeth Club // How to Keep your Dog's Teeth Clean // Ammo the Dachshund

Clean Teeth Club // How to Keep your Dog's Teeth Clean // Ammo the Dachshund

Clean Teeth Club // How to Keep your Dog's Teeth Clean // Ammo the Dachshund

Clean Teeth Club // How to Keep your Dog's Teeth Clean // Ammo the Dachshund

So as you can see the large spots of plaque build-up are still there on my teeth – but my vet did say that even when I started cleaning my teeth regularly that discoloration would not go away, but it would prevent new build-up from forming.

Clean Teeth // Ammo the Dachshund

But the good news is that there isn’t any additional build-up on my teeth, and mom thinks that they might be a little less yellow overall from when I started “brushing” regularly. So I’ve decided to keep up with my teeth cleaning routine – hopefully to even prevent needing a full blown teeth cleaning from the vet. In which case mom says we’d look into options that don’t require me to be sedated (like this mobile service in my area) …because what fun is that?

How do you keep your dog’s teeth clean? Ammo the Dachshund

How to Make a Snow Day Even Better

Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by Barkbox, but all opinions are my own.

Adventures in the Snow with Barkbox // Ammo the Dachshund

Trooper and I love a good snow day.

There is just something so fun about running around in all that white stuff – wind in your ears, best friend by your side.

Adventures in the Snow with Barkbox // Ammo the Dachshund

Truth be told though, as much as I love romping in the snow with my best friend, things can sometimes get a bit chilly (no matter how many winter coats I have on).

Adventures in the Snow with Barkbox // Ammo the Dachshund

But, the quickest way to cure the winter-time chills is to find a good scent to keep you distracted from your freezing behind!

Adventures in the Snow with Barkbox // Ammo the Dachshund

And lucky for me, just the other day my newest scent trail let me to these new winter friends.

Adventures in the Snow with Barkbox // Ammo the Dachshund

Because my January Barkbox has arrived!

Adventures in the Snow with Barkbox // Ammo the Dachshund

Now honestly, the quickest way to warm up a chilly pup is with a Barkbox subscription!

Adventures in the Snow with Barkbox // Ammo the Dachshund

Within a few seconds I quickly forgot how cold my toes were and there was only one thing on my mind…

Adventures in the Snow with Barkbox // Ammo the Dachshund

…..”how am I going to open this?”

Adventures in the Snow with Barkbox // Ammo the Dachshund

If you want to help your pup warm up this winter too you can snag a Barkbox subscription at 10% off with code AMMO5 

Everyone’s a little toastier when goodies like these arrive right to your door! Ammo the Dachshund

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Barkbox, but all opinions are entirely my own.