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!

Summer Lake Adventures

A couple weeks ago some of my out-of-town family came to visit. I had a blast going on adventures with them, and you may recall I even performed a daring water rescue of my Uncle Taylor.

Adventurous Lake Fun with Pets

See my uncle, he’s a bit of a daredevil. (or clumsy on the water, depending on how you look at it).

Adventurous Lake Fun with Pets

When I’m not busy saving him from drowning, I’m just as much a daredevil as he is!

See, I know how to have a good time on the lake…..and keep up with the best of them! (P.S. did you see my super model strut across the paddle board?)

Is your dog a daredevil too? Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

How to Keep Your Dog Fit with a Wobble Board + A Giveaway

Disclosure: This post and giveaway is brought to you by the Dog Agility Shop. All opinions are my own and I only share products I think you and your dog will love!

Real Dogs Have Muscles! via Ammo the Dachshund

Us dogs are powerful, muscled beasts (well when we’re in proper shape), and I’ve always been one to believe that the greatest service you can do for your dog is to help them keep in shape! As hard as it is to “feel the burn”, I’ve always believed that being the ideal weight will help keep us dogs from getting injuries, health problems, and even back issues (especially important for us dachshunds). Which is also why I’m so excited to tell you about a product to help keep your pup well muscled from my friends at the Dog Agility Shop.

How to Keep Your Dog Fit with a Wobble Board + A Giveaway with the Dog Agility Shop

Introducing the Wobble Board! The Wobble Board from the Dog Agility Shop is a 22″ wide board that sits about 3.5″ off the ground.

How to Keep Your Dog Fit with a Wobble Board + A Giveaway with the Dog Agility Shop

The attached wooden ball to the underside keeps the board “wobbly”. It’s even painted with silica (sand) on the surface for added traction.

How to Keep Your Dog Fit with a Wobble Board + A Giveaway with the Dog Agility Shop

The Wobble Board has lots of great benefits for your dog:

  • Improves your dog’s reaction and control
  • Improves balance
  • Improves sensory & body awareness
  • Helps strengthen the bond with your dog through interactive positive training
  • Builds confidence in your dog or puppy
  • Can be use to introduce your dog to contacts and dog agility equipment that will move
  • Can be used to rehab after an injury (torn ACL, sprains, etc)
  • Builds muscle and strength

How to Keep Your Dog Fit with a Wobble Board + A Giveaway with the Dog Agility Shop

With Trooper as my coach, mom used some yummy treats to lure me onto the Wobble Board.

How to Keep Your Dog Fit with a Wobble Board + A Giveaway with the Dog Agility Shop

How to Keep Your Dog Fit with a Wobble Board + A Giveaway with the Dog Agility Shop

Once I was confident enough to put all 4 paws on, she used the treat to lure me around on the board to get my core really working! But to really get the full effect of how the Wobble Board works, you’ll have to watch me in action…

I’ve actually been using the Wobble Board a couple time a week, and it’s going to be great in the winter months especially when it’s a little too cold to run around on the farm. I’ll use this to keep fit indoors!

You can fetch your own Wobble Board from the Dog Agility Shop in two fun colors, Purple or Blue for $49!

And now for the best part….

How to Keep Your Dog Fit with a Wobble Board + A Giveaway with the Dog Agility Shop

TWO WINNERS WILL WIN A WOBBLE BOARD! ($49 value!)

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

 

Friday Fetch: Camp Cloon Canine Equipment

Camp Cloon Canine Equipment totally won me over recently with their awesomely fun and stylish gear for adventurous dogs! Um that’s me! This New Zealand based company ships their products worldwide so all adventurers can enjoy their goods. And after checking out their shop, I totally want to be BFF’s with their super model dog, Clooney the Cavoodle!

Friday Fetch: Camp Cloon Adventure Dog Gear from Ammo the Dachshund

Friday Fetch: Camp Cloon Adventure Dog Gear from Ammo the Dachshund

Friday Fetch: Camp Cloon Adventure Dog Gear from Ammo the Dachshund

Friday Fetch: Camp Cloon Adventure Dog Gear from Ammo the Dachshund

Friday Fetch: Camp Cloon Adventure Dog Gear from Ammo the Dachshund

Friday Fetch: Camp Cloon Adventure Dog Gear from Ammo the Dachshund

Friday Fetch: Camp Cloon Adventure Dog Gear from Ammo the Dachshund

You can fetch these fun goodies and more from Camp Cloon.Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

Disclaimer: this is not a sponsored post, nor do I own any of these products. Just simply wanted to share the latest thing I’m digging!

P.S. Thanks to one of my favorite blogs, Dog Milk for the awesome find!

Oh the Places You Sleep: Vol. 5

I bet you never knew napping could be so interesting? Well when you’re a dog and you nap 90% of your life, you tend to get a little creative. Here’s where I’ve been napping over the past month…

Oh The Places You Sleep: Vol. 5 with Ammo the Dachshund

Oh The Places You Sleep: Vol. 5 with Ammo the Dachshund

Oh The Places You Sleep: Vol. 5 with Ammo the Dachshund

Oh The Places You Sleep: Vol. 5 with Ammo the Dachshund

Working Weekend - Ammo the Dachshund gets a new Kitchen

Oh The Places You Sleep: Vol. 5 with Ammo the Dachshund

Oh The Places You Sleep: Vol. 5 with Ammo the Dachshund

Working Weekend - Ammo the Dachshund gets a new Kitchen

Oh The Places You Sleep: Vol. 5 with Ammo the Dachshund

Oh The Places You Sleep: Vol. 5 with Ammo the Dachshund

Oh The Places You Sleep: Vol. 5 with Ammo the Dachshund

Oh The Places You Sleep: Vol. 5 with Ammo the Dachshund

Oh The Places You Sleep: Vol. 5 with Ammo the Dachshund

Oh The Places You Sleep: Vol. 5 with Ammo the Dachshund

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go take a nap!
Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

Check out where else I’ve been sleeping in my “Oh the Places You Sleep” series!

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

Summer Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

A few weekends ago some of my family from out of town came for a visit. Since I’m always up for a fun adventure, I decided to show them a good time with a weekend excursion on the river!

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

Just down the road from the family farm is the Brandywine River, which is the perfect place to do some river tubing on a hot day!

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

Since this wasn’t my first tubing adventure I got pretty brave and performed some dare-devilish (I was Evel Knievel for Halloween after all) stunts on the tubes by balancing on the edge!

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

I wasn’t the only one enjoying the river that day either, we even found this adorable turtle taking a dip!

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

As the sun started to set over the river I decided to trade in my tube for a canoe since it was getting a little chilly in the water.

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

I love to navigate the waters and I always have to stand at the very tip of the canoe (so I get to see everything first), even if it means that I might occasionally fall overboard. Not to worry though, I’m a pretty good swimmer!

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

Eventually we decided to park the canoe so we could take a swim in the river, which is also where I got to perform my very first water rescue!

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

Ok technically no one was ever really drowning, but how was I supposed to know that? I’m a Super Hero trained to save people, and when you’re a teeny tiny dog like me everything looks dangerous!

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

Thankfully everyone survived the rope swing, and I made sure my entire family made it back into their rafts for the remainder of the trip home.

River Tubing with Ammo the Dachshund

Well, that is until we hit a river road block! “Everyone stay with your flotation device, keep your hands inside the raft, and do not drown!”

Phew! River Tubing is stressful for a Super Hero!Ammo the Dachshund // Blog Signature // Celebrity

Do you think your dog would attempt to save you if you were drowning? (Don’t worry, I’m sure they probably would….unless there was an alluring groundhog hole nearby of course!)

You can grab a stylish life vest just like the one I’m wearing from my friends at Ruffwear*, or check out my Gear Page for a source guide of all my stylish gear!

*Affiliate

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!

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

Wellness TruFood Review & Giveaway

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

Wellness Trufood Review & Giveaway

As you may know I’ve been thinking a lot about what I eat lately. Ok, honestly, I think about what I’m going to be eating ALL THE TIME. Last week I wrote post about how my mom chooses pet food for me to eat in my rotational diet, and I’ve even discussed the portion size I’m eating each day to keep my figure trim. Well today I wanted to share the line of dog food I recently started eating from one of my favorite companies, Wellness.

Wellness Trufood Review & Giveaway

I’ve been eating dry dog food from Wellness since I was just a puppy (and ate their puppy formula), and so has my best friend Trooper. Recently they came out with a brand new line, Wellness TruFood. TruFood uses fresh whole foods from farm, land and sea in their new treats, wet and dry dog and cat food.

Wellness Trufood Review & Giveaway

The TruFood dry dog food is packed with real ingredients and free of grain, wheat, potatoes and artificial preservatives, colors and flavors. They also slow-bake raw, whole-prey meats with grain-free fiber like peas, chickpeas and lentils which gives TruFood up to 70% more protein than similar foods.

Wellness Trufood Review & Giveaway

You can actually see some of the added veggies in Trufood, and because it’s meats are slow-baked, they caramelize, which makes it oh-so-tasty for us pups. I can attest, because mom says I started eating my meals much much faster once we switched over to TruFood.

Wellness Trufood Review & Giveaway

Before I dive into eating anything new, my mom and I always put on our analyzation glasses (we’re both farsighted) to make sure we’re choosing things that not only do I think taste good, but are healthy for me too!

Wellness Trufood Review & Giveaway

Here’s what’s inside the TruFood Dry Small Breed Formula (click image to enlarge). For more details on what I look for on the labels of my pet food, be sure to check out my recent post on Choosing the Best Dog Food.

Wellness Trufood Review & Giveaway

Trufood also comes in several baked treat formulas, like Protein Bites, and these CocoChia Bakes Cookies that I couldn’t wait to tear into.

Wellness Trufood Review & Giveaway

Wellness TruFood CocoChia treats combine whole-prey protein with antioxidant-rich superfoods, probiotics, coconut oil and chia seeds to deliver a nutritious grain-free treat.

Wellness Trufood Review & Giveaway

Hey mom, since these are so healthy for me it’s fine if I eat the whole box in one sitting right?

Ammo on the Farm

Thanks to Wellness for keeping me healthy, fit, and happy for all these years. I very much look forward to adding TruFood to my diet!

You can fetch the Wellness Trufood brand for cats and dogs from Amazon* as well as your local pet food stores. *affiliate link

And now for the best part….

Wellness Trufood Review & Giveaway

ONE WINNER WILL WIN A TRUFOOD GIFT BASKET! (available for cats or dogs)

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 and CANADA 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