The New Year Ahead

Happy New Year // Ammo the Dachshund

Well, it’s officially 2016! It’s like in the blink of an eye another year has come and gone, sometimes it’s much too fast for my liking!

So much has happened in 2015. From Sledding with my Ponies, dachshund life struggles, road trips, kitchen renovations, and even beach excursions….life was never too dull for me.

Happy Dog Visits the Beach

All of you were there to share in my adventures, and many of you even enjoyed checking out some of my most popular older posts:

DIY dog toys

It seems you all love to make fun things for your dogs and teach them tricks! (Who doesn’t?)

ammo the dachshund blogging outdoors

And to those of you that left me comments daily (shoutout to JB, Donna, Pam B, and Rebecca) either on my blog or my Facebook Page, THANK YOU! While I don’t always respond to every comment, know that I do read them! They bring a smile to my face everyday and it makes me happy that so many of your out there are enjoying my adventures!

Lazy Days on the Farm // Ammo the Dachshund

While I never quite know what the year ahead holds for me, I do know that it certainly will never be dull around here.

With each passing year I do like to re-evaluate my blogging adventure. While I love sharing my life with each and every one of you, keeping up with my blog and social media accounts can be a full time job. The truth is, it’s a hobby that I enjoy, but I have to be realistic in how thin I spread myself between my full time job working at mom’s shop, taking care of my ponies, and making sure I have time for all my fun adventures with my friends and family.

Flying Hero Cyber Monday Sale

So moving on to 2016, I’ve decided to make a few changes to perhaps lighten my work load just a bit. The first change is that sadly I will be closing up my Flying Hero Etsy Shop as soon as I sell out of all items. While I’ve loved sharing fun dachshund artwork, greeting cards, and handmade items with all of you, it’s just become difficult for my manager (aka mom) to handle keeping up with all of it. (did you know we actually have 3 etsy shops – Studio 3, Painting Pony + Flying Hero, plus a Brick & Mortar store)

Flying Hero Etsy Shop // Ammo the Dachshund

So the good news for you is that lots of items are now on SALE! Quantities are limited though, and once they are gone…they will be GONE!

Shop Flying Hero

ammo the dachshund blogging outdoors

The next change for 2016 will be my blogging schedule. I’ve decided to try a slightly different posting schedule of Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with occasionally some additional posts during the week as my time warrants.

While I know some of you may be sad to not read my adventures during the week quite as often, my hope is that this will allow me to have even bigger adventure posts to share with you each week!

Photographer's Muse // Ammo the Dachshund

Taking pictures, editing them, and having time for actual adventures is a big job in itself. So by posting 3 times a week I’ll have a little more time to create even better content for all of you to read!

So if you’re a bit sad you might not be hearing from me quite as often, don’t worry, I’ll still be sharing snapshots of my life daily on Instagram and Facebook.

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

So buckle up, and join me for the ride that is 2016! I can hardly wait!

What changes will you be making in 2016?Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

Sparkle Like A Dachshund

Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by The Honest Kitchen. All opinions are my own and I only share products I think you will love.

The Honest Kitchen Sparkle Bar Shampoo Review // Ammo the Dachshund

Soap. I have a love/hate relationship with it. As in when I smell like soap (instead of my preferred odor of stink) my mom wants to snuggle with me more, strangers stroke my glorious fur, and I can coax a cookie out of the ups man that much easier.

So when my new friends at The Honest Kitchen sent me one of their new Sparkle Bars to try, I figured why not give it whirl.

The Honest Kitchen Sparkle Bar Shampoo Review // Ammo the Dachshund

Joining me on my bath time excursion was Mr. Crab. He somehow avoided the whole being lathered up in soap thing. I must remember to ask him later what the secret is!

The Honest Kitchen Sparkle Bar Shampoo Review // Ammo the Dachshund

I tolerate bath time quite well. I’ve even figured out that if I use my sad puppy dog eyes then I’m more likely to get a whole bunch of cookies in the process. It’s the little things.

The Honest Kitchen Sparkle Bar Shampoo Review // Ammo the Dachshund

Mom applied the Sparkle Bar directly to my furs. I hear that these bars are hand-made from a base of organic goat’s milk from a family farm (holla to my farming friends) in the Deep South, and blended with olive and coconut oil plus precious, functional herbs and botanicals that gently nourish the different needs of the skin and coat. All I know is it got me S O A P Y.

The Honest Kitchen Sparkle Bar Shampoo Review // Ammo the Dachshund

The Honest Kitchen sells several different kinds of the Sparkle Bars, but I got to test the Lavender, Cedar, Juniper & Rosemary Sparkle Bar. It is their most aromatic shampoo bar, and I could even smell it through the packaging when it arrived!

The Honest Kitchen Sparkle Bar Shampoo Review // Ammo the Dachshund

I was surprised to see how sudsy the bar was able to get me, even with just a few passes, one bar should last for about 18 baths for a 30lb dog.

The Honest Kitchen Sparkle Bar Shampoo Review // Ammo the Dachshund

Until recently I hadn’t really ever used bar soap to take a bath. Most of the time I had used liquid shampoo (as probably the general dog population does), but did you know that old-fashioned liquid shampoos create a larger carbon footprint, because they are  bulky and heavy to ship. Regular shampoo also requires loads of plastic packaging, which usually means reliance on fossil fuels and questionable recyclability after use, not to mention the risk of leaks and spills from a broken bottle! After learning how liquid shampoos are not as good for the environment I was more than happy to grab a bar instead!

The Honest Kitchen Sparkle Bar Shampoo Review // Ammo the Dachshund

In contrast, Sparkle Shampoo Bars are like ‘dehydrated’ shampoo – compact, free of wasteful “water weight”, efficient to ship and minimal on the packaging front too. Which comes in handy when all you have are paws and a set of chompers to open the box with!

The Honest Kitchen Sparkle Bar Shampoo Review // Ammo the Dachshund

The best part is, they smell super good (according to human noses at least), but I’m still waiting for The Honest Kitchen to come out with a “Rabbit Poop Scented Sparkle Bar”. I know lots of dog friends that would pay good money for that!

The Honest Kitchen Sparkle Bar Shampoo Review // Ammo the Dachshund

After my bath (ok, it was 2 baths over the course of a week…I had a lot of stink to roll in) I was smelling oh-so-fresh.

The Honest Kitchen Sparkle Bar Shampoo Review // Ammo the Dachshund

Of course I didn’t think it was right to hog all of that wonderful smelling Sparkle Bar all to myself, so I decided to share…

The Honest Kitchen Sparkle Bar Shampoo Review // Ammo the Dachshund

The Honest Kitchen Sparkle Bar Shampoo Review // Ammo the Dachshund

You’re welcome mom, because the carpet never smelled better! Sparkle Dachshund to the rescue.

The Honest Kitchen Sparkle Bar Shampoo Review // Ammo the Dachshund

If you’d like to help your dog Sparkle too, you can fetch the Sparkle Shampoo Bars from The Honest Kitchen for $12.99 (that’s 72 cents per bath ….since a bar lasts about 18 baths, even more for us small dogs!) Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

P.S. Coming up in a few weeks I’ll be sharing a review (+giveaway) of some of the excellent dehydrated food available from The Honest Kitchen. But if you’d like to get a jump on testing it yourself, you can use my special code to get a FREE SAMPLE BUNDLE! Grab a FREE SAMPLE BUNDLE + Coupon (A $10 Value) for $1 shipping with code AMBBGKD6100 from the Honest Kitchen!

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

Oh The Places You Sleep: Vol. 1

Dogs tend to sleep between 12 – 14 hours a day, and considering that makes up the majority of our day, we sometimes have to get a little creative with our napping spots. It could get quite boring if you slept the same way hour after hour, so I like to vary it up a little each time. So here’s a collection of some of my favorite ways to take a nap throughout the day!

Oh the Places You Sleep // Ammo the Dachshund - Dog - Nap

Oh the Places You Sleep // Ammo the Dachshund - Dog - Nap

Oh the Places You Sleep // Ammo the Dachshund - Dog - Nap

Oh the Places You Sleep // Ammo the Dachshund - Dog - Nap

Oh the Places You Sleep // Ammo the Dachshund - Dog - Nap

Oh the Places You Sleep // Ammo the Dachshund - Dog - Nap

Oh the Places You Sleep // Ammo the Dachshund - Dog - Nap

Oh the Places You Sleep // Ammo the Dachshund - Dog - Nap

Oh the Places You Sleep // Ammo the Dachshund - Dog - Nap

Oh the Places You Sleep // Ammo the Dachshund - Dog - Nap

Oh the Places You Sleep // Ammo the Dachshund - Dog - Nap

Oh the Places You Sleep // Ammo the Dachshund - Dog - Nap

Oh the Places You Sleep // Ammo the Dachshund - Dog - Nap

Oh the Places You Sleep // Ammo the Dachshund - Dog - Nap

Oh the Places You Sleep // Ammo the Dachshund - Dog - Nap

Oh the Places You Sleep // Ammo the Dachshund - Dog - Nap

Oh the Places You Sleep // Ammo the Dachshund - Dog - Nap

Oh the Places You Sleep // Ammo the Dachshund - Dog - Nap

Oh the Places You Sleep // Ammo the Dachshund - Dog - Nap

Oh the Places You Sleep // Ammo the Dachshund - Dog - Nap

As you see this could go on and on forever – but then I wouldn’t get any naps in!

What’s your dog’s favorite place to sleep? And if you need any new ones to add to your dog’s resume, check out my post of creative napping spots at work.Ammo the Dachshund

Everyday Dog Gear

Noodle and Friends Executive Coat Product Review // Ammo the Dachshund

I like to think that I’m a pretty stylish dog. I love to shop, and over the years I’ve tested and tried some of the best dog products on the market. I like to think that you (my readers) agree, because one of the common questions I get in e-mails, blog comments, and social media is where did I get a particular product I am seen wearing.

Ruffwear Front Range Harness Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

So I decided to create a whole new page on my blog dedicated to all the gear that I own, have tested, and absolutely love!

Frozen Lake // Ammo the Dachshund

So I invite you to check out my new Gear page, where I’ve compiled a list of all the gear I own and where you can grab it for your own dog too. From pet food, to winter wear, and even the photography gear my mom uses to take the photos for my blog!

Eyefi Mobi Wifi SD Card

So head on over and check it out, and if you’re wondering about something on the list, just shoot me an e-mail at info@ammothedachshund.com! With such an extensive list, it’s entirely possible I forgot to list something!

Happy Shopping!

P.S. If you have any special pet gear that you love too be sure to post it in the comments below, I love to hear what other pets and pet lovers are digging!Ammo the Dachshund

Now Available! Adventure Awaits T-Shirt for Charity

As an avid adventure dog I love anything that has to do with adventures! And seeing as how my previous Adventure Awaits t-shirt created numerous inquiries as to where people could purchase them – I figured my adventurous taste in clothing could help to benefit the dogs in need this holiday season!

Adventure Awaits Dachshund T-shirt // Ammo the Dachshund

I give you the Ammo the Dachshund Adventure Awaits T-shirt. Available as a t-shirt in this fun teal blue color in numerous sizes and will make the perfect gift for your favorite adventurer this holiday season. I’ll also be donating 10% of the profits to the Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue.

Adventure Awaits Dachshund T-shirt // Ammo the Dachshund

It’s also available in this fun grey hoodie (because even when it’s cold you can still go on adventures).

To reserve you Adventure Awaits T-shirt or Hoodie visit the link below. Hurry though, because they are only available until December 10th – at which point they will be printed and shipped by our friends at Teespring!

And don’t forget, not only will you get a super awesome shirt inspired by me, but you’ll also be helping the Coast to Coast Dachshund rescue as I’ll be donating 10% of the profit to them!

Have any questions about ordering one of our shirts from Teespring? Just visit the FAQ pageAmmo the Dachshund

Hagen Pet Products Review & Giveaway

Disclosure: This review and giveaway is brought to you by Hagen.

Hagen Pet Products Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

My new friends at Hagen recently sent me a fun package of goodies to try, and oh boy, I bet you can imagine my excitement when these showed up at my door!

Hagen Pet Products Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

First up we had these natural treats from the Zoe and Hagen Heritage line.

Zoe Treats Key Features :

  • No corn, no wheat , no soy, no artificial flavors or preservatives
  • Natural & Grain Free
  • Only 4 calories per treat
  • Feed as treat, or use to train & reward
  • Made in Canada of only North American ingredients

Hagen Heritage Key Features:

  • 3 delicious flavours with wholesome, healthy ingredients
  • No corn, wheat, soy, or artificial flavours or preservatives
  • Made in Canada in our family-owned facility in Quebec
  • Flavour & crunch preserved with re-sealable 100g bag

Hagen Pet Products Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

Next up we had the Tasty Bones in a Peppermint Dental Bone (on the left) and Venison Gourmet Edible Bone (on the right).

The Dental bone is made of a tough nylon and flavoring and is designed to help clean teeth while your pet chews on it. I haven’t gone to town on the Dental bone just yet, but mom says from the look and feel of it it will likely hold up to my tough choppers.

Hagen Pet Products Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

As you can see I made a b-line for Gourmet Edible Tasty Bone.

Hagen Pet Products Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

The Gourmet range of edible bones comes in a variety of flavors and is made of starch based biopolymer, food grade coloring, and synthetic flavoring. Hagen claims that it is perfectly safe for your pet to ingest small fragments that will pass through your dog’s system harmlessly.

I think the key word here might be small fragments.

Hagen Pet Products Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

Seeing as how I’m what mom labels a “tough chewer” (seriously I can devour even the toughest of toys in mere minutes), I started to break off some fairly large chunks of the edible bone rather quickly.

Mom was worried I might choke on some of the bigger pieces I was breaking off, so I think this bone may be better suited for a dog that isn’t as strong a chewer as I am. But I guess my enthusiasm for the bone proved how yummy it tasted!

Hagen Pet Products Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

But there was a toy in my Hagen goodies that was definitely going to hold up to some rougher play, the Zeus Bomber!

Hagen Pet Products Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

Bomber Key Features:

  • Hollow air chamber allows the ball to float and can be pressurized with air for extra bounce
  • 100% natural rubber handles withstand substantial pulling force
  • Reinforced polyester layer maintains shape and structure after each and every bounce
  • Natural rubber outer shell supports strength and bounce

Hagen Pet Products Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

The Zeus Bomber comes in two sizes, Medium (7″) and Small (4.5″) and as you can see the one I received was the larger size.

Hagen Pet Products Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

Since the medium was just a bit too heavy for me to play with Mom said we should gift it to my bestie Trooper. And let me tell you, Trooper LOVED IT! He could of played with that thing for hours!

Hagen Pet Products Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

Although once I caught wind that we would be gifting it to Trooper mom caught me running around the house with it from room to room – trying to prove that it wasn’t in fact too large for me to play with! Perhaps I’ll have to ask for the small size for Christmas! *wink*

You can check out all these products and more at Hagen.

And now for the best part….

Hagen Pet Products Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

TWO LUCKY WINNERS WILL WIN A PACKAGE OF GOODIES FROM HAGEN
(Edible Bone, Natural Treats & Zeus Bomber)

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 12/2/14 12AM EST. Open to USA & CANADA residents only. Only two winners. Winners must claim their prizes within 48 hours of being notified or prize will be forfeited. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by Hagen, but all opinions are my own! Ammo the Dachshund

P.S. Don’t forget, today is the last day to enter my Puller giveaway for a fun toy for your dog!

Farmhouse Helper

Farmhouse Helper // Ammo the Dachshund

Every day my best friend Trooper is just a wee bit closer to being able to move into his new house on the farm. I know, I know, I’ve been saying that for years…..but this is definitely going to be the year!

Farmhouse Helper // Ammo the Dachshund

Especially since I’ve been around the lend a helping paw! Just check out the video below of me collecting the trash into a nice little pile….

Watch this video on instagram.

Farmhouse Helper // Ammo the Dachshund

I’m a pretty enthusiastic helper, as you can see.

Farmhouse Helper // Ammo the Dachshund

Trooper on the other hand never looks thrilled about helping out. But honestly, I don’t blame him….he’s been helping everyday for years!

Farmhouse Helper // Ammo the Dachshund

Don’t worry buddy, the work will be done soon (we hope), and you’ll be able to nap in your new house!

Farmhouse Helper // Ammo the Dachshund

I even kept the bed warm for you! Ammo the Dachshund

Horse Show Helper

Iron Horse Farm Show Helper // Ammo the Dachshund

Over the weekend we held the last of our series of horse events at the farm for the season. I’m always the bestest of helpers, see there’s me guarding the arena equipment before the show starts!

Iron Horse Farm Show Helper // Ammo the Dachshund

I take on many duties when event day arrives – here’s me and Trooper helping to set up the food booth.

Iron Horse Farm Show Helper // Ammo the Dachshund

I also help to direct people to the Secretary table – where they need to sign up for the event.

Iron Horse Farm Show Helper // Ammo the Dachshund

But my number one job on event day is always the meet and greet committee. I’ve had lots of practice with this being a shop dog!

Iron Horse Farm Show Helper // Ammo the Dachshund

Welcoming everyone with a friendly tail wag is always top priority! Ammo the Dachshund

Fall with Martha Stewart

A couple of months ago Trooper and I got the opportunity to have a little fashion show with the new Martha Stewart Fall Pet Line, available at Petsmart.

The end result landed a photo of me on MarthaStewart.com – pretty exciting!

Martha Stewart Pets Fall Line // Ammo the Dachshund

The fact is though, mom took so many fun photos of Trooper and I enjoying our new Martha Stewart products – that we had to share all the others that didn’t make the cut!

Martha Stewart Pets Fall Line // Ammo the Dachshund

Especially since they are the PERFECT thing to put everyone in the Halloweenie mood!

Martha Stewart Pets Fall Line // Ammo the Dachshund

Honestly, what’s more Halloweenie than a dachshund dressed as a pumpkin?

Martha Stewart Pets Fall Line // Ammo the Dachshund

Martha Stewart Pets Fall Line // Ammo the Dachshund

Martha Stewart Pets Fall Line // Ammo the Dachshund

Well perhaps a dachshund dressed as a pumpkin in a pile of hay!

Martha Stewart Pets Fall Line // Ammo the Dachshund

Martha Stewart Pets Fall Line // Ammo the Dachshund

Trooper totally had his eye on the Martha Stewart toys, and I bet he was thinking he’d get to take them home with him after our little photoshoot.

Martha Stewart Pets Fall Line // Ammo the Dachshund

Sorry Trooper, I’ll share my Halloweenie collar with you, but these toys are mine….all mine!

What sort of things are you doing this fall to get into the Halloweenie mood?Ammo the Dachshund

Disclosure: I received products from Martha Stewart to photograph for their website, but decided to share the fun photos on my blog as well! All opinions are my own.

Friday Fetch: Designer Dog Sweaters

You guys, it’s officially SWEATER WEATHER! Which means I couldn’t help but ooooh and aaaaah over the handmade dog sweaters from My Fabulous Puppy on Etsy.

Friday Fetch: Designer Dog Sweaters // Ammo the Dachshund

Friday Fetch: Designer Dog Sweaters // Ammo the Dachshund

Friday Fetch: Designer Dog Sweaters // Ammo the Dachshund

Friday Fetch: Designer Dog Sweaters // Ammo the Dachshund

Friday Fetch: Designer Dog Sweaters // Ammo the Dachshund

You can fetch these handmade sweaters and more from My Fabulous Puppy starting at $20. Ammo the Dachshund

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