March 2015 Monthly Recap

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Ammo

Before we get to the recap of all the exciting adventures I’ve been on in March, 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!

The Savvy Dachshunds Boutique makes cute handmade clothing with the unique dachshund size and shape in mind. With lots of styles to choose from you’re sure to find something special for your best friend. From winter coats, to lounge coats, and even rain coats – there is something for everyone! Check out my recent review with them.

You can use code 87879 to receive FREE SHIPPING on your next Savvy Dachshunds order!

Barkbox 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 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 HERE. And thanks again to all of my wonderful sponsors, I couldn’t do it without you!

Never want to miss any of the adventures on my blog? Make sure you sign-up for e-mail updates!

And now onto my March Adventures…

Ruffwear Haul Bag Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I kicked off March with a review of the new Ruffwear Haul Bag.

Winter on the Farm // Ammo the Dachshund

Trooper and I shared some photos of what life is like in the winter on the farm.

rejeneril pet supplement // Ammo the Dachshund

I shared Rejeneril, the proclaimed “fountain of youth” for pets!

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

I shared more of my Dachshund Life Struggle series….because the struggle never ends!

Nashville, Tenessee - Road Trip // Ammo the Dachshund

I shared some details about my next big adventure!

U+ Naturals Paw Butter Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I shared how I am keeping my paws moisturized this winter.

Party Balloon // Ammo the Dachshund

I shared a fun video of me and a party balloon.

Train Your Dog to Get in the Car // Ammo the Dachshund

I shared my tips on how my mom trained me to load myself in the car everyday.

Tips on Crate Training Your Adult Dog #CrateHappyPets // Ammo the Dachshund For Petsmart

I shared some great tips on how you can crate train your adult dog.

Savvy Dachshunds Clothing Boutique Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I tested out some cute coats from the Savvy Dachshunds Boutique.

Ammo the Dachshund // Bubble Wrap King

I shared a video of me enjoying some bubble wrap.

Photographer's Muse // Ammo the Dachshund

I made sure I’m always the center of attention on photoshoots.

Snug-A-Bull Snood Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I reviewed this adorable snood from Snug-A-Bull (which you can still enter to win one for your own dog this week!).

March has been so much fun, I can hardly wait for the weather to warm up even more so I can have lots more fun. Here’s to playing in the rain, getting muddy, digging holes (and landing in the bath) this Spring! Yippee!

What are you looking forward to this Spring?

Friday Fetch: Modern Dog Toys

Posted on March 27, 2015 by Ammo

Thanks to one of my readers I was introduced to the Purple Bone. They carry lots of fun and modern products for dogs, but I was particularly drawn to their fun mix of toys. And don’t worry, even though they are based in the UK, they do ship worldwide.

Friday Fetch: Modern Dog Toys // Ammo the Dachshund

You can fetch these products and more from Purple Bone.

Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post, nor do I own any of these products. Just wanted to share the latest thing I’m digging!

Photographer’s Muse

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Ammo

Photographer's Muse // Ammo the Dachshund

For Christmas my mom got some new photography gear – mainly some fun studio lights that we can mess around with.

Photographer's Muse // Ammo the Dachshund

Of course I volunteered my services immediately as super model while she practices getting better at using the lighting. I’m so helpful like that.

Photographer's Muse // Ammo the Dachshund

Only eventually I noticed that I wasn’t the only subject she was photographing (the horror!) as items for mom’s business began to take center stage.

Photographer's Muse // Ammo the Dachshund

Don’t worry though, because I know just how to get the attention back to me!

Photographer's Muse // Ammo the Dachshund

It’s called sad puppy eyes…and you could totally learn a thing or two from me in that department.

Photographer's Muse // Ammo the Dachshund

And when all else fails, flop on the floor and throw a temper tantrum. WORKS LIKE A CHARM.

P.S. want to shop for these fun photo mats and more, check out my mom’s online shop! And sorry, adorable photos of me aren’t included.

Dachshund has the Best Time in Bubble Wrap

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Ammo

Bubble Wrap = Fun. I’m pretty sure we can all agree with that!

Ammo the Dachshund // Bubble Wrap King

Have you bubble wrapped today?

The Savvy Dachshunds Clothing Boutique Review & Giveaway

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Ammo

Disclaimer: This post and giveaway is brought to you by the Savvy Dachshunds Boutique. All opinions are my own, and I only share products I think my readers will love.

Savvy Dachshunds Clothing Boutique Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

Recently I was introduced to the Savvy Dachshund Boutique and their fun line of custom made clothing to fit the unique shapes of the hard-to-fit Dachshund shape. Now if you are owned by a Dachshund, then you probably know it can be such a pain to find outfits to fit our long bodies and big chests.

Savvy Dachshunds Clothing Boutique Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

Well at the Savvy Dachshund Boutique you can order custom handmade clothing in your own dog’s size and a variety of fun styles.

Savvy Dachshunds Clothing Boutique Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

This cute little wool tweed jacket I received was super stylish, and even though it’s probably not the ideal jacket for on the farm (since the hay and horse hair would stick to this in seconds), I couldn’t help but take it for a spin in the snow. Mostly because I look darn good in the snow with a tweed jacket on!

Savvy Dachshunds Clothing Boutique Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

This coat would be fantastic to strut your stuff on your evening walk (and would be sure to make all the other pup’s jealous!).

Savvy Dachshunds Clothing Boutique Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

And really, fireside lounging never looked so good when you’ve got on a tweed jacket!

Savvy Dachshunds Clothing Boutique Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

The prices for jackets at the Savvy Dachshund Boutique range from $20 – $38, so you can be sure to get something special for your dog at a great price. They also come with a handy hole in the back to snap onto a harness or collar to make walking extra easy!

Savvy Dachshunds Clothing Boutique Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I also took this Navy Plaid Jacket for a spin. The inside is lined with soft fleece with velcro closures on the chest and belly and it even had functional pockets on both sides! I can’t decide if I want to stuff them with cookies or bully sticks – it’s a tough call.

Savvy Dachshunds Clothing Boutique Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

This jacket even has a cute little matching snood. For $12 these fleece Snoods can be made to match any jacket you order and is a great addition to keep your little pup’s neck warm.

Savvy Dachshunds Clothing Boutique Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

So if you’re looking for some custom clothing to fit your Dachshund be sure to check out the Savvy Dachshund Boutique and as a bonus you can use code 87879 for FREE SHIPPING on your order!

And now for the best part…

Savvy Dachshunds Clothing Boutique Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL WIN A COAT FROM THE SAVVY DACHSHUND BOUTIQUE
*coat will be the same style as the one pictured above

Here’s HOW TO WIN:

To enter use the Rafflecopter widget below. 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 USA residents only. Winners must claim their prizes within 48 hours of being notified or prize will be forfeited. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tips for Crate Training Your Adult Dog #CrateHappyPets

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Ammo

This post is sponsored by PetSmart®, and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Kennels, Crates, and Containment Systems for your pet, but AmmotheDachshund.com only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. PetSmart is not responsible for the content of this article.

Tips on Crate Training Your Adult Dog #CrateHappyPets // Ammo the Dachshund For Petsmart

Ok, full disclosure here, when I was a puppy I failed crate training. Yes, it’s true. I barked and cried and threw out all the stubborn dachshund tricks until my mom and dad caved. That was 6 years ago though, and although I may not be the perfect poster dog for loving my crate, I am learning that it’s not such a bad place to be after all.

Tips on Crate Training Your Adult Dog #CrateHappyPets // Ammo the Dachshund For Petsmart

As an adult dog I’ve learned that there are many benefits to crate training and I should learn to be one of the many #CrateHappyPets out there.

Reasons why you might need to put your pet in a crate:

Your pet becomes injured and needs to be on crate rest
Traveling in a carrier by plane or the need to be crated in a hotel to keep pets out of trouble
Great for pets with separation anxiety when you leave home
Dog agility events where there is a need to kennel pets between events
Pet safety and keeping them out of areas that are hazardous

Yet the number one reason that my mom and dad decided to take the plunge and FINALLY crate train me was to keep me from begging for food at dinner time! I guess my cute puppy dog eyes were becoming too much for them to resist!

Tips on Crate Training Your Adult Dog #CrateHappyPets // Ammo the Dachshund For Petsmart

Since I’m probably not the only dog out there that was/is resistant to crate training I’ve decided to share some of my tips on how I learned to love my kennel!

Ammo’s Tips for Crate Training an Adult Dog:

TIP 1: Pad your dog’s crate with something extra soft! If you have to, double up the dog beds, no dog wants to sleep on the hard plastic bottom of a crate. Simply switching out my crate pad for something extra soft made me want to take naps in there instead of anywhere else! For a bonus you can add a pet-safe heating pad, because that’s just icing on the cake!

Tips on Crate Training Your Adult Dog #CrateHappyPets // Ammo the Dachshund For Petsmart

TIP 2: Give your dog something extra special when they are in their crate. I love a toy stuffed with peanut butter (and if you freeze it, it lasts even longer – plus there is no risk of choking when mom and dad are gone). In the beginning my mom would let me chew on something tasty inside the crate (while the door was open) to get used to being in there.

Tips on Crate Training Your Adult Dog #CrateHappyPets // Ammo the Dachshund For Petsmart

TIP 3: Cover the top of your crate with a blanket or crate cover. Us dogs are den animals, and sometimes being snuggled up in a dark area makes us feel safe and secure.

Tips on Crate Training Your Adult Dog #CrateHappyPets // Ammo the Dachshund For Petsmart

TIP 4: Build duration in the crate slowly over time with routine. My parents started me out with the routine of going into my crate every evening at their dinner time. I started out by just being closed in for a minute or 2 a night, and built up to longer lengths over several months.

Tips on Crate Training Your Adult Dog #CrateHappyPets // Ammo the Dachshund For Petsmart

TIP 5: Practice your crate training in many different places. You can even play some crate training games with your pup to get them to look forward to going inside.

Tips on Crate Training Your Adult Dog #CrateHappyPets // Ammo the Dachshund For Petsmart

So hopefully my crate training tips have you all excited to get started with your pup too, now all you need is a crate!

Great news, my friends over at Petsmart® are having a SALE ON CRATES, KENNELS, CARRIERS, AND ACCESSORIES all this month, and you can grab one for a steal.

Tips on Crate Training Your Adult Dog #CrateHappyPets // Ammo the Dachshund For Petsmart

Petsmart carries many great brands like Petmate®, Martha Stewart Pets®, Top Paw®, Kong®, and Grreat Choice®. Personally I’m a big fan of the wire crates like these from Top Paw® – as I have been known to chew through a soft crate or two before I learned to love them!

Not sure what to buy? Check out this helpful Crate Buying Guide from Petsmart.

Tips on Crate Training Your Adult Dog #CrateHappyPets // Ammo the Dachshund For Petsmart

So don’t delay, grab a cart and head on over to Petsmart (or you can shop online) – these deals only last until March 31st!

Tips on Crate Training Your Adult Dog #CrateHappyPets // Ammo the Dachshund For Petsmart

Before you know it, you’ll have #CrateHappyPets just like me!

Do you have any crate training tips to share? Post them in the comments below!

Train Your Dog to Load in the Car

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Ammo

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Chewy.com, but all opinions are entirely my own.

Train Your Dog to Get in the Car // Ammo the Dachshund

Now if you ~~own a Dachshund~~ are owned by a Dachshund then this might sound familiar to you. Picture this, you open your front door and your dog darts out after some scent or sound (or perhaps just the thought of all of the above) and no matter how many times you call them they won’t come. Frustrating right? Imagine how us Dachshunds feel with all that nagging!

So it seems the alternative to always worrying that your dog won’t come when called is to keep them safe and secure on a leash at all times. It’s not a bad option, but what happens if you drop the leash, it breaks, or your dog accidentally gets out of the house?

In my mom’s case, she was tired of having to always leash me just to walk out our front door and get into the car to go to work everyday.

Train Your Dog to Get in the Car // Ammo the Dachshund

So instead with a little help from some yummy treats, like these Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Treats from Chewy.com, mom has trained me to load into the car by myself. Or I guess depending on who you ask, I’ve trained my mom to give me a treat every single day for simply walking to the car (no one ever said dachshunds weren’t smart).

Train Your Dog to Get in the Car // Ammo the Dachshund

The key to the training method my mom has used with me is high value treats. High value just means it’s a treat that your dog LOVES. It has to be something your dog is willing to work for. These Blue Buffalo Wilderness Treats work great because they are nice and soft and meaty yet healthy enough that mom doesn’t feel guilty about giving me one everyday.

Train Your Dog to Get in the Car // Ammo the Dachshund

So in the beginning of my training mom kept me on the leash and put a treat in her hand. She’d lure me to the car every day with the goods and once she lifted me into the car I would get my reward. We did this EVERY SINGLE DAY for several weeks.

Train Your Dog to Get in the Car // Ammo the Dachshund

When I began to look forward to getting my treat in the car every morning (and seemed less interested in exploring the yard) mom removed my leash and continued to lure me to the car.

Train Your Dog to Get in the Car // Ammo the Dachshund

Another few weeks passed and mom stopped walking right next to me and instead went ahead of me to the car and cued me to come load up (and get my treat).

Train Your Dog to Get in the Car // Ammo the Dachshund

A few more weeks later mom stopped carrying the treats in her hand and instead left my Blue Buffalo Wilderness Treats in the car (the handy resealable bag is great for on-the-go-training). She also started allowing me out of the house in front of her.

Train Your Dog to Get in the Car // Ammo the Dachshund

And before she knew it I was running to the car (off leash) each morning and waiting to be lifted into my booster seat.

Now it’s not to say along the training route I didn’t occasionally try to wander off. But when I did mom was quick to retrieve me and return me to the car (without a treat reward for wandering). It didn’t take me long to realize that if I just went directly to the car I’d get a treat every single time.

The key here is routine, consistency, and very very yummy treats.

Train Your Dog to Get in the Car // Ammo the Dachshund

So if you’d like to give this training method a try, or if you simply want a great high-value treat to reward your dog with, I highly recommend the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Treats from Chewy.com.

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Treats:

Grain-free treats
High-quality protein source
DHA to help support cognitive development
Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids to promote skin and coat health
Great for training
No corn, wheat or soy
Made in the USA

How trustworthy is your dog off leash?

Disclaimer: My mom is not a professional trainer and these are just methods that have worked for me. They may not be suitable for all dogs and always exercise caution when allowing your dog off-leash especially near busy roads or dangerous areas. Happy Training!

Dachshund and a Balloon

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Ammo

I bet you didn’t know I LOVE party balloons. Well it’s true, I thoroughly enjoy channeling my inner attack dog and going after that sucker until it pops! Just see for yourself…

Does your dog love or loathe balloons?

Spring Bark and Where I’m Headed Next

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Ammo

I’ve got some exciting news! Recently I found out that I’m a finalist in the BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Awards for the Best Dog Blog & Best Pet Blog Photo.

Ammo the Dachshund Studio Photos

It’s enough to make me feel like a celebrity!

What makes the Nose-to-Nose awards a little different is that this is the only pet industry awards on which pet bloggers and micro-bloggers are judged on the expertise, performance, and creativity of their blog. Each category is judged by a distinguished panel of professionals, and not by popular vote. So don’t worry I won’t be begging for votes (not that I’ve ever been a fan of that anyway), now begging for cookies, that’s another story!

Ammo the Dachshund Studio Photos

Oh gosh, I can just feel the love!

The best part is that winners will be revealed in an exclusive red carpet ceremony at the BlogPaws Annual Conference in Nashville, Tennessee at the end of May.

My Bags are Packed // Ammo the Dachshund

I’m already excitedly making some plans so I can hopefully take a week-long road trip to attend the event. Which is great news for you too, because that means when I get back from my trip I’ll have a whole SLEW of adventures to share with you! You know, like where the best trees to pee on in Tennessee are, and what kind of squirrels they have in Virginia….the important stuff.

Nashville, Tenessee - Road Trip // Ammo the Dachshund

So if you know of any great dog friendly spots that I can stop and see on my road trip in a couple of months let me know in the comments below! I can’t wait!

AND THAT’S NOT ALL….

Details below are brought to you by Barkbox and contain affiliate links. But don’t worry, all opinions are entirely my own and I wouldn’t be telling you about Barkbox if I didn’t love them as much as I do!

If that weren’t enough good news…..I’ve got even more! Barkbox is having a Spring Bark Celebration this month with some extra goodies just for you! Woohoo #SpringBark2015

Spring Bark! SAVE BIG at Barkbox with code AMMO5 // Ammo the Dachshund

Use code AMMO5 on any new Barkbox subscription from now until March 15th and you’ll receive 1 FREE MONTH + get an additional month FREE FOR A FRIEND! (Because Spring Bark is more fun with friends!).

Spring Bark! SAVE BIG at Barkbox with code AMMO5 // Ammo the Dachshund

And let me tell you, a subscription to Barkbox is enough to give your pup a total #springbarkhangover!

I’ll catch you all later after I recover from my Barkbox hangover!

Friday Fetch: Arm the Animals

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Ammo

Online shop, Arm the Animals, has only one mission, to help the animals one shirt at a time. They create T-Shirts that make a statement, raise awareness, and generate funds for small, struggling animal rescues. They donate a portion of all their sales each month to rescues in need. And honestly, considering my name is AMMO, these seemed right up my alley!

Friday Fetch: Arm the Animals // Ammo the Dachshund