Ammo the Dachshund

Pet Blog – Adventures in the Life of a Super Dog

Super Model Dachshund

Posted on October 10, 2012 by Ammo

You might remember that last month I had my photo taken by professional photographer, Brenda Carpenter, in the Mutt Room during the Devon Fall Classic Horse Show.

I love the photos Brenda took of me so much, that I could hardly decide which ones to order. But while I wait for my prints to arrive in the mail, Brenda was kinda enough to send me over some digital images to share on the blog with all of my friends.

Ammo the Dachshund // The Mutt Room // Brenda Carpenter // Photographer

During the photoshoot I did my hardest to channel my inner Gisele.

Ammo the Dachshund // The Mutt Room // Brenda Carpenter // Photographer

This is my “business in the front, party in the back” pose.

Ammo the Dachshund // The Mutt Room // Brenda Carpenter // Photographer

I use this stone-cold look when I’m hunting groundhogs, if only looks could kill!

Ammo the Dachshund // The Mutt Room // Brenda Carpenter // Photographer

I even dressed up for the ladies with my spiffy bowtie from Silly Buddy.

Ammo the Dachshund // The Mutt Room // Brenda Carpenter // Photographer

Ammo the Dachshund // The Mutt Room // Brenda Carpenter // Photographer

And my favorite pose of the day…… “please mom, can I have another cookie”. Works every time!

The 13 Project!

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Ammo

Last week Serena from Pretty Fluffy invited me to join The 13 Project, a wonderful initiative to get involved and help animals!

Ammo the Dachshund // The 13 Project

THE 13 PROJECT

The 13 Project is a Pretty Fluffy initiative that involves 13 acts of kindness towards animals before 2013. We have exactly 13 weeks left of this year, so what better way of embarking on a list of 13 achievable and worthy goals before the year is out.

To join, all you have to do is come up with a list of up to 13 ways you can help animals before the end of 2013. You don’t need to be a millionaire, you don’t need to have a website, or be a member of a rescue organization … All you need is the desire to make a difference. You can even make your list just one goal – or 3 or 5 things. Any little bit helps!

Ammo the Dachshund // The 13 Project Pretty Fluffy

My goals for the 13 Project….

1. Make a charitable contribution to some of my favorite rescue groups, as I have done for the past several years, through the help of sales of my paintings and artwork that my friends the Painting Ponies have made.

2. Get my photo taken with Santa at a place that donates the profits to rescue groups like I have done for the past 3 years.

3. Promote some local rescue group events to all of my followers through Facebook.

4. Purchase some toys from Planet Dog, where 2% of my sale goes to the Planet Dog Foundation, an organization that helps fund the training and placement of service dogs.

5. Share some of the available adoptable dogs (like I have done in the past) at the local shelters with my followers.

6. Donate some of my old towels and clothes to a local animal shelter.

7. Create Holiday Greeting Cards for my Etsy Shop and donate a percentage of the sales to animal shelters.

8. Promote responsible pet ownership and encourage my readers to spay/neuter their pets.

9. Donate some of my outgrown sweaters and jackets that I no longer use to a rescue group that can use them for shelter dogs.

10. Create a new page on the blog that highlights ways you can involved and help rescue animals, shelters, and good causes.

11. Purchase some Rescue Chocolate as Christmas gifts that donates 100% of their profits to animal rescues.

12. Try to promote more products on my Friday Fetch feature that donate a percentage of their sales to animal charities.

13. Encourage others to get involved with the 13 Project!

I hope you’ll join me in The 13 Project! I’d love to hear your ideas of animal kindness too, post links to your list of 13 goals in the comment section below so that we can all share and get inspiration on how to help more animals!

Birthday Week: Flying Hero Giveaway!

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Ammo

**This Giveaway is no longer accepting entries**

Now as much as I love getting (and unwrapping) presents on my Birthday, I also love giving presents too. So since today I am officially 4, I decided to host a little giveaway for all of my friends.

Up for grabs is one of my 2013 Wall Calendars as well as a 4 pack of birthday cards from my new Etsy shop, Flying Hero.

Here’s how to win…

PRIZE: 2013 Calendar and a 4-Pack Set of Greeting Cards from Flying Hero
TO ENTER: Comment on this post (you must comment on the BLOG – not on our facebook page) with the words “HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMMO” and….
BONUS QUESTION: Tell me what you would wish for if you could have one Birthday Wish. Do you wish you had a Unicorn in your backyard, or maybe you just wish you had the biggest dog bone humanly possible!
GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Friday, October 12, 2012 at 9:00am EST
NUMBER OF WINNERS: One
PRIZE SHIPS: Anywhere in the World! Yeah!
RULES: one entry per e-mail address. Winner will be selected using random.org (meaning the winner is drawn at random) – and will be announced shortly afterward. Good Luck!

Ammo the Dachshund

Birthday Week: Ammo turns Four!

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Ammo

Today is my Birthday! Hooray!

In the past four years I have been on so many adventures! From riding in airplanes, paddleboarding, performing with the Painting Ponies, painting pictures, and just lounging around the house – each day has been an amazing ride.

I’m looking forward to many more years of adventures – and I can’t wait to share them with all of you!

There are still so many things I have yet to do and see, and a World that is just begging to be sniffed by me!

So excuse me if I spend today shouting Hooray! a whole bunch of times, I’m just uber excited to be turning four – and I can’t wait to tear into my presents tonight.

Three cheers for me!

Now here’s to hoping I can stay awake for my party – being an adventurer is super exhausting!

Birthday Week: Get to Know Me

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Ammo

I thought it would be fun to dive a little deeper into the true me during Birthday Week, just like I did last year when I answered some of your burning questions. So with a little help from my mom we came up with 10 new questions for me to answer that will help you get to know me a little bit better.

Ammo the Dachshund // Birthday Week // Ammo turns Four

Q What is your all-time favorite thing to do on the weekends?
A This is a tough choice between spending time on the farm, and napping in my sunroom at home. I enjoy being at the farm to hunt for groundhogs and lay in the sun, but being at home has it perks too as my sunroom has an all around view of my yard, and my comfy worn in spot on the sofa.

Ammo the Dachshund // Sunroom napping

Q What is your favorite toy?
A Right now my favorite toy is a Strawberry made by Planet Dog. I love it because it tastes a bit minty, is fun to chew on (but this far indestructible) and mom has been filling it with peanut butter which makes it extra special!

Q Do you have any bad habits?
A Well not any that I care to admit! But if you must know, my mom says I bark a little too much at the critters in my backyard. Personally I do not consider this a bad habit when I’m just doing my job by protecting my fortress from intruders. And I guess if we are being truthful here, I also like to hump pillows – particularly the ones on mom and dad’s bed! I know, I am ashamed.

ammo the dachshund super hero

Q What is the next trick you plan to tackle?
A Well I had started learning how to barrel race like this speedy little dachshund, so perhaps mom will help me finish mastering this one. Although mom says she also wants me to learn to put away my toys at home – which doesn’t sound as thrilling to me.

Q Who is your favorite artist?
A Well besides my talented painting pony friends, I have fallen in love with the paintings made by the talented Kim from Yellow Brick Home after she painted my portrait (and the ponies) earlier this year.

Pet Paintings by Kim @ Yellow Brick Home - via Ammo the Dachshund

Q Where are all your super fun photos taken?
A I experiment with a lot of different places for my styled photoshoots (like work, my backyard, the spare bedroom in my house), but recently I’ve been setting up my backdrops in the sunroom at home. It seems to provide the perfect amount of light which makes me look extra adorable!

Ammo the Dachshund // Birthday Week // Get to Know Me

Q In the past 4 years, what has been your favorite adventure?
A It’s so tough to choose just one adventure, but I really have enjoyed when mom and dad took me to the corn maze (which reminds me, I’m due for a trip soon). I get to use all of my hunting and scenting skills to get us through the maze in the fastest time possible – and I have to say my maze skills have been quite impeccable!

Q What is your favorite blog to read?
A Oh gosh, how do I choose just one? You can check out my sidebar to see a bunch of the pet-related blogs that I love to read, but I guess if I had to choose just one to read I’d have to say I’m drawn to my newest blog find, Love and a Six-Foot Leash. It’s the pretty pretty pictures I tell you!

ammo the dachshund blogging outdoors

Q Do you enjoy being a shop dog?
A I very much love being able to go to work with mom every single day, and meeting lots of new people is one of the highlights of my day. However sometimes I just feel a little cooped up, and I get a little antsy having to spend my day inside all the time. But in the long run it definitely beats being stuck home alone all day, and I wouldn’t give up being a shop dog for anything!

Ammo the Dachshund at work

Q What is your favorite food?
A All of the above. But I guess if I had to choose just one, string cheese would be at the top of my list.

I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know me a little bit better, and if you have anymore questions for me please be sure to leave them in the comment section below!

P.S. I have to make sure I say Happy 4th Wedding Anniversary to my mom and dad today! Kisses from your number one boy, Ammo.

*some links contain affiliate links

Birthday Week: DIY Pet Birthday Bandana

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Ammo

Birthdays call for celebration, and what better way to celebrate than a spiffy new bandana to let everyone know it’s your Birthday!

And because I want everyone to celebrate with me, here’s a tutorial I created to help you make your own pet a celebratory bandana.

DIY Pet Birthday Bandana

Materials:

Fabric
Ruler
Cutting Utensil
Screenprinting Ink (or acrylic paint mixed with Textile Medium)
Sponge Brush
Paint Tray
Rubber Stamp (we hand carved ours, or you can find out how to purchase one here)

*some links contain affiliate links

Step 1: Using a ruler and cutting utensil, cut a bandana sized piece of fabric out of your material. We used a bandana I already had as a template, but you can also measure your pet’s neck and add about 4″ to be able to tie it. You might also opt to sew the edges of your bandana to prevent fraying before moving on to step 2.

Step 2: You will need your HOORAY! stamp for this part (my mom carved mine, find out how to carve a stamp here or find out how to purchase one here). Use your sponge brush to apply screen printing ink or acrylic paint mixed with Textile Medium to the stamp.

Step 3: Stamp your fabric in several places, re-applying paint after each one. Then allow to dry.

Adding another color can add to the overall effect.

And when you are all finished you will have a spiffy new bandana that’s perfect for celebrating my Birthday with me.

Happy Birthday to me! Only 3 more days until I’m officially 4 and get to open all my presents!

My HOORAY! stamp was inspired by a post on Squirrelly Minds.

Friday Fetch: White Faux Taxidermy Dog Busts

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Ammo

Don’t freak out, we’re not talking REAL Taxidermy here (which is sort of creepy if you ask me). You may recall that I’m a HUGE art lover (I work in a frame shop, paint pictures, and hang out with some famous painting ponies), so when I discovered White Faux Taxidermy on Etsy I was in love!

Ammo the Dachshund // Friday Fetch // White Faux Taxidermy // Dog Busts

Not only do they create super cute replicas of animals, but just this week they came out with a line of charming dog bust statues. Sadly they do not carry a dachshund bust yet (although the hound dog looks awfully similar), but I’m still completely smitten.

Each faux animal is cast out of a polyresin material, thus making the sculpture fairly light in weight, great for hanging or displaying. You can even have your sculptures custom painted in any color imaginable. I’ll take one of each please!

Ammo the Dachshund // Friday Fetch // White Faux Taxidermy // Dog Busts

Ammo the Dachshund // Friday Fetch // White Faux Taxidermy // Dog Busts

Ammo the Dachshund // Friday Fetch // White Faux Taxidermy // Dog Busts

Ammo the Dachshund // Friday Fetch // White Faux Taxidermy // Dog Busts

Ammo the Dachshund // Friday Fetch // White Faux Taxidermy // Dog Busts

Ammo the Dachshund // Friday Fetch // White Faux Taxidermy // Dog Busts

You can fetch your own animal statue from White Faux Taxidermy HERE!

Dream Big – Winner Announced

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Ammo

We had lots of entries for my Dream Big contest, in which one lucky reader will win one of my brand-new prints from the Flying Hero Etsy Shop.

Dream Big Dachshund Print by Ammo the Dachshund // Flying Hero
Dream Big Winner I had so much fun reading everyone’s big dreams, which included starting rescue groups, writing books, traveling to Africa, and even finishing college. But sadly there can be only one winner, and today’s winner is comment #25 Krista, who’s dream is to visit the Cook Islands.

Flying Hero Etsy Shop

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway, and since I hate to see anyone go home empty handed, you can use the coupon code FREESHIP in my etsy shop, Flying Hero, to receive free shipping anywhere in the US on any order! Yay for free!

I hope you have a wonderful Friday, and don’t forget to keep dreaming big!

Can I see some ID?

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Ammo

As dogs we wear our names, phone numbers, and addresses around our necks for the world to see. And while this may not bode well for any dogs out there wishing to blend in as members of the secret service and whatnot – I consider my own id tags a badge of honor.

Wearing an ID tag around my neck means that there is someone that loves me and cares whether I return home safely or not – not that I make it a point to go galavanting around the neighborhood in hot pursuit of bunnies or anything. Nah, I’ve certainly never done that before. *wink*

So since wearing my name and number around my neck on a daily basis is a necessity – who says they can’t be stylish at the same time? Recently I picked up a few new ID tags to add to my collection, because you never know which one will go better with your outfit on any given day.

This silver fox I picked up from the ID Store and it dawns the logo of my recent certification of Canine Good Citizen. Ideal for those days when I’m feeling extra citizenly.

Next up is a tag that seems to have been made especially for me (in fact it was) from Cropscotch. You may remember I shared them a few weeks ago during my Friday Fetch Blog Feature. This unique wooden tag reminds me of how super I really am – and it goes great with my bulging muscles, don’t you think?

And my final accessory for the day is an adorable horseshoe tag (from the mascot collection) sent to me from my pals at Blanket Id. This tag is extra special because it contains a website link on the back that tells you everything you need to know about me should I get lost and makes it extra easy to find my human.

Lately I’ve taken to wearing two tags at once – mostly pairing my Blanket Id with one of the others – because really, one can never have too many accessories. You also might notice that each of my id tags has their own Rubit Clip, which is a secure clip that easily lets you move id tags from collar to collar – because one can also never have too many collars! But we’ll have to save my collar collection for another post.

Along with wearing proper id I am also microchipped. And while I’m still not certain if said microchip isn’t just there to transmit secret data to the government for some big conspiracy – Mom assures me she had it implanted for my safety only. The verdict is still out on that one.

Make sure you stop by my shop today and check out my brand-new birthday greeting card, “Super Stud“. I’m sure you have a lucky lady in your life that would love to get one of these beauties in the mail.

Flying Hero Shop Launch and Giveaway

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Ammo

Some of you may have noticed already, but I’ve been keeping a little secret for the past couple of months, I’ve decided to open up my very own Etsy Shop, Flying Hero!

Aptly named after me, your friendly neighborhood flying hero, my etsy shop will be selling cute photographic prints, cards and even calendars (coming soon) with my mug on them!

My mom and I have been creating, making, and selling greeting cards in our retail shop for years now – but we decided it was high time we make them available to everyone.

So if you are looking for a way to bring laughter, smiles, and little dose of cuteness to those that you love, make sure you check out Flying Hero. In the coming months we hope to have more items available for purchase.

And not to worry, I’ll still be working my painting magic with the amazing Painting Ponies. So if you are interested in original artwork by yours truly, be sure to stop by the Painting Pony Etsy Shop.

Now because it’s Friday, and because I’m super excited to share with you the launch of my new shop, I wanted to give you an even bigger reason to smile today. I’ve decided to give away one of my brand-new DREAM BIG prints to one lucky reader.

**This Giveaway is no longer accepting entries**

Here’s how to win…

PRIZE: One Dream Big Print from Flying Hero
TO ENTER: Comment on this post (you must comment on the BLOG – not on our facebook page) with the words “DREAM BIG” and….
BONUS QUESTION: Tell me one of your biggest dreams. Maybe you want to travel the World, or go skydiving, or perhaps you want to conquer your fear of heights. No dream is too small!
GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Friday, September 7, 2012 at 9:00am EST
NUMBER OF WINNERS: One
PRIZE SHIPS: Anywhere in the World! Yeah!
RULES: one entry per e-mail address. Winner will be selected using random.org (meaning the winner is drawn at random) – and will be announced shortly afterward. Good Luck!

P.S. Make sure you head over to Under the Blanket and check out their write-up on my new Etsy Shop! They are oh so sweet that I can’t help but blush!