Birthday Week: DIY Snake Dog Toy

So it wouldn’t be Birthday Week on my blog without some super fun DIY projects that you can make at home for your dog!

Today I’ve got a fun DIY Dog Toy that you can make with things from around your house. So even if you’re not here to join in on my 7th Birthday fun, you can still play along at home with this simple project!

Birthday Week: DIY Snake Dog Toy

Here’s what you’ll need to make a DIY Snake Dog Toy:

  • Cotton Stuffing (or stuffing from some old worn-out dog toys)
  • Pair of old socks (tube socks or soccer socks work great)
  • Needle & Thread
  • Scissors

Birthday Week: DIY Snake Dog Toy

Step 1: Fill both socks 90% full with cotton stuffing.

Birthday Week: DIY Snake Dog Toy

Step 2: Overlap the cuffs of the socks together and stitch closed.

Birthday Week: DIY Snake Dog Toy

Step 3: Give to your dog so they can enjoy!

Birthday Week: DIY Snake Dog Toy

Birthday Week: DIY Snake Dog Toy

Birthday Week: DIY Snake Dog Toy

Birthday Week: DIY Snake Dog Toy

If you can’t tell by the look on my face, I thoroughly enjoyed my new DIY Snake Dog Toy! (That or I saw a ghost!). Regardless, I guarantee your dog will love playing with their new homemade snake.

Don’t forget, if you make your pup a snake toy, be sure to share a picture of it on my Facebook Page! I’d love to see it!Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

*Make sure you always supervise your pet during playtime. Your pet should not play with this toy while unsupervised.

Birthday Week: Enter to Win a Free Barkbox SubscriptionThere’s still time to enter my BarkBox giveaway on my blog! You can also save 10% off your first order with code AMMO.

 

Birthday Week: DIY Projects for Pets

Every year during Birthday Week I like to come up with some fun diy projects that can be made at home for your pet. While I do have some brand-new projects to share with you this week I thought it would be fun to take a look back at all the previous projects I created for my blog (with a little help from my mom).

So here’s some of my favorite DIY Projects for Pets that you can make at home!

Birthday Week: Easy DIY Paper Bowtie // Ammo the Dachshund

Super Easy DIY Paper Bowtie

DIY Dog Nail Art // Woof // Ammo the Dachshund

DIY String Art

Easy DIY Spray Painted Dog Art // Ammo the Dachshund

DIY Spray Painted Dog Art

Valentine's Day DIY Flirt Pole - interactive dog toy // Ammo the Dachshund

DIY Flirt Pole

Birthday Week: DIY Dachshund Piñata for your Dog via Ammo the Dachshund

DIY Pet Friendly Piñata

DIY Dachshund Cork Board via Ammo the Dachshund

DIY Dachshund Cork Board

DIY 2x2 Dog Agility Weave Poles // Ammo the Dachshund

DIY 2×2 Agility Weave Poles

DIY Chalkboard Dog Bowl - Under $5 // Ammo the Dachshund

DIY Chalkboard Dog Bowl

5 Minute No Sew DIY Easter Bowtie for your Dog // Ammo the Dachshund

DIY No Sew Bowtie

DIY Ombre Pet Bandana via Ammo the Dachshund

DIY Ombre Pet Bandana

DIY dog toys

DIY Dog Toys

ammo the dachshund diy dog cookies

DIY Birthday Dog Bones

diy dachshund gift wrap

DIY Dachshund Gift Wrap

ammo the dachshund diy dog agility jumps

DIY Dog Agility Jumps

Birthday Week // DIY Pet Birthday Bandana // Ammo the Dachshund

DIY Birthday Pet Bandana

Who would have thought there would be so many things you could make for your dog? Stay tuned tomorrow as I’ll have some fun NEW DIY projects to share with you, and if you want even more inspiration, be sure to check out all my past DIY projectsAmmo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

Happy Birthday Week to me!

Weekend Update – Big Kitchen Renovation

I know you’re all on the edge of your seats waiting to see how my big kitchen renovation is going….I know I certainly am! Things are moving along at my house. Nothing fast. Nothing overnight. But thus is the reality when your parents DIY 80% of it! It’s a lot of waiting around (on my part at least), and watching crew come and go. I can see the end in sight though, and last week my new cabinets arrived, how exciting! I gotta give a big shout out to my new friend John who did an awesome job making sure my new dog food storage boxes were installed properly. Boy am I gonna be able to fit a ton of dog food in my new kitchen. And when this is all over…..I think I might need a vacation! Until then, enjoy this sneak peek into my life as kitchen renovation inspector! xoxo,

Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

Weekend Kitchen Renovation Update with Ammo the Dachshund

Weekend Kitchen Renovation Update with Ammo the Dachshund

Weekend Kitchen Renovation Update with Ammo the Dachshund

Weekend Kitchen Renovation Update with Ammo the Dachshund

Weekend Kitchen Renovation Update with Ammo the Dachshund

Weekend Kitchen Renovation Update with Ammo the Dachshund

Weekend Kitchen Renovation Update with Ammo the Dachshund

Weekend Kitchen Renovation Update with Ammo the Dachshund

Weekend Kitchen Renovation Update with Ammo the Dachshund

Weekend Kitchen Renovation Update with Ammo the Dachshund

P.S. There may have been a few play time breaks thrown in there for good measure!

How was your weekend?

5 Tips for Taking Better Pictures of Your Dog

It’s no secret that I love having my photo taken. It’s been years and years of practice to get these super model moves down pat!

Ammo the Dachshund Studio Photos

And while I’m pretty much a pro infront of the lens, I do have a mom who’s got a few tricks up her sleeve when it comes to capturing adorable shots of yours truly. So I thought it would be fun to pick her brain, and share some tips on how you can capture some great pictures like these of your own pets!

Photographer's Muse // Ammo the Dachshund

5 Tips for Taking Better Pictures of Your Dog:

1. Have Amazing Treats

Ammo the Dachshund - Pony Cookie - Howl Naturale

Until you find that amazing treat (or meat) that makes your dog do back flips, you’re not going to get them to be interested in your photo session. Good treats go a long way, and if your dog is willing to do anything to get them, then you might just get that shot you were looking for.

2. Get Down Low

Winter on the Farm // Ammo the Dachshund

Dogs aren’t that big (well unless maybe you have a great dane), so getting yourself on the floor and down to the dog’s level is going to give you a better picture every time.

3. Practice “Waiting”

Evel Knievel // Ammo the Dachshund's Halloween Costume

Teaching your dog commands such as “wait” (my term for stay put and don’t move) is only going to help you get that amazing picture. Using positive reinforcement and some yummy treats practice asking your dog to hold still for pictures.

4. Let Your Dog Be a Dog

Barkbox Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

As fun as some of the posed shots are, it’s even more fun for your dog just to play and be themselves. Some of the best shots come from letting your dog do their own thing and being there to capture the moment (or the mess).

5. Prop Up Your Pet

Purple Possum Dachshund Scarf Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

Have a squirmy dog that won’t sit still? Prop them up on something high (and safe) so they don’t have room to roam. This will keep you from chasing your dog all over trying to snag a photo.

A Day at the Beach // Ammo the Dachshund

And there you have it, 5 tips to grabbing shots of your pet like a pro! Above all else, make picture time fun for your dog and I’m sure you’ll get that photograph! There’s many more where that came from, if you liked my mom’s tips for photographing pets let me know in the comments below and perhaps I’ll share some more soon!Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

P.S. if you’re wondering what camera gear my mom uses to photograph me, be sure to check out my gear page!

Work Weekend

Adventures around my house have been pretty light lately while mom and dad are busy  working on my new kitchen. If all goes well, by the end of next week I should have my food bowls back where they belong, in the kitchen!

Working Weekend - Ammo the Dachshund gets a new Kitchen

Working Weekend - Ammo the Dachshund gets a new Kitchen

Working Weekend - Ammo the Dachshund gets a new Kitchen

Working Weekend - Ammo the Dachshund gets a new Kitchen

Working Weekend - Ammo the Dachshund gets a new Kitchen

Working Weekend - Ammo the Dachshund gets a new Kitchen

Working Weekend - Ammo the Dachshund gets a new Kitchen

Working Weekend - Ammo the Dachshund gets a new Kitchen

Working Weekend - Ammo the Dachshund gets a new Kitchen

From electrical work, plumbing, drywall, spackling & painting – my mom and dad are doing it all (with a little help from our friends at Lowes on the new flooring). As much as I hate that this weekend work is cutting into my adventure time, mom says with all the money we are saving by doing it ourselves – there will be so many more adventures we’ll be able to go on!

That does sound pretty good to me. What sort of home renovations has your dog lived through? Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

July 2015 Monthly Recap

I can’t believe that the summer is almost over. It makes me sad to see it go, but I’m glad I’ve been able to pack in so much fun. I can’t wait to share what I’ve been up to this past July!

First, I wanted to give a shoutout to my special sponsors & affiliates! 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!

Barkbox Summer Ad Save 10% OFF!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 AMMO 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, visit my advertising pageAnd 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 July Adventures…

Tent Camping in the Rain with Ammo the Dachshund

I kicked off July by reaping my annual camping trip, that came with lots and lots of rain!

4th of July Holiday. What everyone will be doing!

I celebrated the 4th of July!

Ruffwear Float Coat Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I tested out what is now my new favorite dog life vest from my friends at Ruffwear.

Ammo the Dachshund Goes Camping in the Woods

Things dried out on my camping trip, and I went fishing!

Beltzville Lake with Ammo the Dachshund & Shilah the Husky

I visited the Beltzville Lake with my pal Shilah the Husky.

Oh The Places You Sleep: Vol. 4 with Ammo the Dachshund

I shared Vol. 4 of my crazy sleeping spots. Things got a little weird.

Jones Natural Dog Chews Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I threw a party with Jones Natural Chews!

Real Dogs Have Muscles! via Ammo the Dachshund

I practiced my dog agility on the farm, because real dogs gotta keep up their muscular physique!

Super Hero Bedtime Story with Ammo the Dachshund

My dad read me a super hero bedtime story.

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

I helped my parents start a kitchen renovation project.

American Journey from Chewy.com Review & Giveaway via Ammo the Dachshund

I dove head first into a WHOLE BAG OF MEAT from my friends at Chewy.

Dachshund Life Struggle with Ammo the Dachshund

I shared some more of the struggles in my life.

BarkShop Activity Mat for Dogs

I shared one of the newest toys I’m totally digging on Pinterest.

Dogs & Cats Play // Cat Play Mat & Bully Sticks from Chewy.com

I shared some toys with my kitty pal Spider.

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

I made some super easy frozen pet treats.

Wellness Trufood Review & Giveaway

I shared how my parents choose the healthiest foods for me to eat!

Ammo & Trooper Wrestle with their new Outward Hound Toy

Trooper and I had an epic wrestling match.

Dogs & Cats Play // Cat Play Mat & Bully Sticks from Chewy.com

I shared a video about why I wish my legs were a little longer.

Man, July was so much fun, don’t you think? What sort of fun have you been having with your dog this past month? Do tell! Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

Easy Frozen Dog Treats & A Giveaway

Disclaimer: This post and giveaway is brought to you by Happy Lapper. All opinions are my own, and I only share products I think you will love!

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Lets face it, Summer is H O T! Which is why my mom helped me come up with a fantastic way to help you and your pup cool off this summer. These super easy DIY Frozen Dog Treats are the perfect way to spend a hot day!

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

*contains affiliate links

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Now before we dive into how to make these frozen treats, I bet you’re wondering what the Happy Lapper is. It’s this super cool frozen dog treat holder designed and created for dogs by a small business owner in my home state of Pennsylvania! It makes eating frozen treats a snap for all the dogs out there, and I’ll show you just how to use it after I share how to make these 2 ingredient frozen treats.

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

I decided to make 2 ingredient treats (all you need is bananas and peanut butter) because most frozen treats for dogs have yogurt in them. While yogurt is super yummy, I actually have a sensitivity to dairy (just like my mom who is lactose intolerant) so I tend to steer clear of the yogurt!

So all you need to get started is your 3 bananas and your 1/2 cup of peanut butter.

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Simply pop them in the blender and mix those two yummy things up into a fine paste! You’ll notice I was getting my treat making on outside, mostly because if you remember, my kitchen looks like this right now. But the great news is, you don’t even need a functioning kitchen to make these treats!

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Then simply dish out the mixture evenly into your cupcake liners (or whatever you choose to use) and pop them in the freezer until frozen.

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

While you wait for your treats to freeze, it’s perfectly ok to lick the spoon. You can’t let any of the yumminess go to waste!

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

The Happy Lapper Frozen Treat Holder was going to be a great addition to my upcoming snack. It’s also dishwasher safe and made from 100% non toxic materials.

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Once your treats are frozen you simply pop them into the Happy Lapper (I decided to leave mine in the cupcake liners, but you can also pop them out if you prefer).

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Then place the Happy Lapper on the floor for your dog to enjoy! The Happy Lapper has a non-skid base to keep it from moving around while your dog licks it. I can’t tell you how annoying it is to lick a treat and have it slide all around the house (or worse it slides so much you have to make your mom or dad hold it for you!).

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

I’m such a nice guy, that I decided to share my frozen treats with my best pal Trooper.

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Trooper’s Happy Lapper got placed under the leg of a chair to keep it even more securely in place, and you could even have your mom or dad hold it down with their foot too. Mom thought this was a neat idea for dogs who might like to steal each other’s treats (of course I would NEVER do that), because you could put their treats under the leg of a chair at opposite ends of the house.

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Smarty pants Trooper also got creative and figured out how to hold his treat down himself. (I could have done that too if I had really wanted….he’s not the only smart one around here!)

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

Trooper and I loved the Happy Lapper, and think it’s a great addition to your summertime frozen pet treats. You can even use it with store-bought treats*, or any homemade ones you might want to make for your pup (Pretty Fluffy has a great DIY E-Book out that has some yummy frozen treat recipes in it).
*affiliate links

You can fetch your own Happy Lapper for $12.50 and $4 flat rate shipping (no matter how many you buy!). These would make a great gift for all your dog friends this summer!

Check out the video of Happy Lapper in action.

And now for the best part…

Easy Frozen Dog Treats with Happy Lapper + A Giveaway

THREE WINNERS WILL WIN A HAPPY LAPPER FROZEN PET TREAT HOLDER!

Here’s HOW TO WIN:

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).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read our full Terms & Conditions for this giveaway. 

Never want to miss any of the adventures (or giveaways) on my blog? Make sure you sign-up for e-mail updates!Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

 

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation

You might remember that for the past several years I’ve been helping my mom and dad “kitchen shop”. Oh yes, for year’s I’ve been shopping appliancesbuilding pantries and more, but the time has finally come to demolish my old kitchen for good!

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

Incase you might have forgotten, here’s what my kitchen originally looked like.

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

Pretty retro, but if you ask me, as long as I had a place to lay down and a spot for my food bowls, I was a happy happy dog.

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

But, mom and dad had other ideas and pretty soon my happy little resting spot and my food bowls were replaced with a shop vac.

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

And the demo had begun!

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

My dad is a pretty handy guy, and he even started building this new closet, which I’ve already claimed for all of my adventure gear!

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

While I am gaining a closet, I’m also loosing one too.

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

But I plan to hide a little secret inside the one I’m loosing. Someday if anyone ever tears down the wall, they’ll find one of my cute little business cards inside!

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

Next it was time to start demoing the wall between my old kitchen and the dining room, for one big super kitchen!

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

Things were starting to look pretty messy and then one day when I came home from work….

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

…I saw that Dad had completely knocked down the wall without me!

Pet Friendly Kitchen Renovation via Ammo the Dachshund

Suddenly there was so much room for activities! (name that movie) But honestly, I really only had one concern, where is my super soft bed and my food bowls going to go?

Mom assures me that this will be a pet friendly kitchen when it’s all done, but for now I’ll just have to wait and see. This kitchen remodel is going to be taking up a lot of my adventuring time for the next few weeks, and this journey has just begun, so stay tuned to find out how it turns out! Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

Have you done any major home renovations that included features for your pets? Do tell!

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

Dog Agility on the Farm

It’s been a while since I shared much about my ongoing agility training. The fact is, I actually haven’t been to any training classes since last year, mostly I blame it on my mom because her schedule got too hectic to take me.

Ammo the Dachshund // Agility // Teeter Totter

But even though I may not be taking regular classes, that doesn’t mean that I’m not doing a little training on the side, because….

Real Dogs Have Muscles! via Ammo the Dachshund

Agility is a great way to keep me muscled and fit, plus it’s fun too! Early this Spring my mom decided to move all my agility equipment out to the farm so that we’d have more room to practice. And you know what, I completely forgot to share with you this fun little video of me running the agility course in the horse arena giant sandbox.

Obviously I was a bit rusty, but not too bad! I’ll just have to keep up with even more practicing.

Agility Tunnel with Ammo the Dachshund

If you’d like to find out more about how much fun agility is for you and your dog, you can check out some of my old posts.

What do you do with your dog for exercise?Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

When Your Dog Helps With Gardening

I have a secret to tell you about my parents. Something that not everyone knows……they have GREEN THUMBS!

Gardening with Ammo the Dachshund

And apparently not the good kind of green thumbs…because they’re experts at growing weeds! Yes, it’s true. My landscaping at home was looking a little sad. But don’t worry, this year I whipped my parents into shape and helped them add a little curb appeal to our home.

Gardening with Ammo the Dachshund

It was no easy task though, and took a lot of effort on my part – including trips to Lowes.

Gardening with Ammo the Dachshund

Many, many trips to Lowes!

Gardening with Ammo the Dachshund

Gardening with Ammo the Dachshund

And trips to Terrain for inspiration.

Gardening with Ammo the Dachshund

Gardening with Ammo the Dachshund

Trips to the garden center for plants.

Gardening with Ammo the Dachshund

And then the hard work really began. In case you’re wondering, yes I did actually work…

But after all that hard work, my yard was looking a bit more presentable.

Gardening with Ammo the Dachshund

So presentable in fact that I’m sure all the neighbor dogs are just lined up waiting to “mark it”.

Gardening with Ammo the Dachshund

I’ve got my eye on you neighbor dogs! I’ve got my E..Y..E.. on you.Ammo the Dachshund

Does your dog help with the gardening too?