Pet Friendly Road Trip Adventures: Shenandoah National Park

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Ammo

If you’ve been following along with me on Facebook then you know I went on a super fun road trip last week to some amazing pet friendly locations. Yesterday I shared my first stop along the way, the National Mall, and today I’m going to share my next pit stop, the Shenandoah National Park!

Shenandoah National Park with Ammo the Dachshund

The Shenandoah National Park is over 200,000 acres of protected lands that is home to deer, birds, black bears and more!

Within minutes of pulling into the park I had already seen a newborn deer cross the road in front of us with it’s mom, and if that weren’t exciting enough, you’ll never guess what I spotted next!

Black Bear in Shenandoah National Park with Ammo the Dachshund

Oh yes, that’s right, I spotted a Black Bear! And not just one black bear, but I saw two….one of which had bear cubs with it (unfortunately my camera crew missed that shot!).

And in case you were wondering what I did when I spotted the bear….I just took it all in. No barking, not one peep, because I may have been safely in my car, but there was no way I was going to give that bear any excuse to eat me! I’m no dummy!

Dinner on Skyline Drive with Ammo the Dachshund

After all that black bear excitement I took a breather to eat my dinner overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains on Skyline drive. Best dinner ever!

Skyland Resort in Shenandoah National Park // Pet Friendly // Ammo the Dachshund

After I finished up dinner I checked into my pet friendly accommodations at the Skyland Resort for the night.

Skyland Resort in Shenandoah National Park // Pet Friendly // Ammo the Dachshund

My room for the night was pretty basic, but the views were so breathtaking.

Skyland Resort Restaurant // Pet Friendly // Ammo the Dachshund

Within walking distance of my accommodations was a nice little restaurant that had a pet friendly patio for “to-go” orders. I was lucky enough to eat dinner and breakfast overlooking the blue ridge mountains.

Sunset over the Blueridge Mountains // Ammo the Dachshund

As a bonus there was a nice little bluff that was perfect for watching the sunset from.

Pet Friendly Road Trip // Ammo the Dachshund

After a restful nights sleep it was time to pack up and head out on my next adventure. But before I could hit the road, there was one last thing to do.

Millers Head Trail // Shenandoah National Park // Ammo the Dachshund

Hiking in Shenandoah! The Shenandoah National Park has several trails that pets are not allowed on, so I made sure to hit up one that was, Millers Head.

It had a few nice overlooks of the mountains, and was a relatively shady trail, which was nice on such a hot day.

Pet Friendly Road Trip // Ammo the Dachshund

As I headed out from Shenandoah I enjoyed taking in the scenery along Skyline Drive which runs 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park. It’s the only public road through the park, and honestly makes a road trip that much better with it’s views!

Skyline Drive // Shenandoah National Park // Pet Friendly

And of course I had to stop to take a few selfies along the way!

Pet Safe Travel // Ammo the Dachshund

The journey ahead to my next destination was long…

Pet Safe Travel // Ammo the Dachshund

…but thankfully my meals came to me!

Make sure you check in on Monday where I’ll share my next big adventure in the Smoky Mountains and visiting the town of Gatlinberg!

What do you think your dog would have done had it spotted a black bear like I did?

Pet Friendly Road Trip Adventures: The National Mall, D.C.

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Ammo

Road trips are something I have been doing since I was just a wee pup, and I’m lucky enough that when my family sets out on an adventure they’re always looking for pet friendly locations so that I can tag along too!

Last week I set out on a week long trek to reach my final destination, the annual BlogPaws Pet Blogging Conference. I have tons to share about my week on the road, but I figured I start with my first stop, The National Mall!

Pet Friendly Travel - The National Mall, Washington D.C. with Ammo the Dachshund

If you’re not familiar with the National Mall, it is a great symbol of the United States. The National Mall is over 1,000 acres of park space in our capital city, Washington, D.C. Inside the National Mall are many memorial parks with iconic monuments and memorials.

Pet Friendly Washington D.C. and the Lincoln Memorial with Ammo the Dachshund

I was lucky enough to visit the National Mall on Memorial Day so there was lots going on to see! The National Mall is pet friendly for all leashed pets and the only areas pets aren’t allowed are on the walkways at the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials and inside the Washington Monument. As a general rule dogs aren’t allowed inside any buildings and covered areas.

National Monument // Pet Friendly Travel with Ammo the Dachshund

My first stop was the Washington Monument! It was built to honor George Washington, (the U.S.’s first president) and towers 555 feet over Washington, D.C.

Washington Monument in Pet Friendly D.C. with Ammo the Dachshund

It was a fairly warm day, but with a cool breeze blowing through the capitol I was loving every minute of it! What a special place to be on a day to remember those who lost their lives fighting for my country.

Pet Friendly Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool with Ammo the Dachshund

Eventually I made my way over to the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial. I spotted a family of ducklings enjoying the cool water and couldn’t wait to take a dip with them! Sadly mom said she didn’t think the park staff would be too happy if I went for a swim, so alas I didn’t even get to dip a toe in.

Pet Friendly Lincoln Memorial with Ammo the Dachshund

The Lincoln Memorial itself was bustling with visitors and surprisingly I didn’t see many other dogs.

Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C. // Ammo the Dachshund

Family Photos at the Lincoln Memorial with Ammo the Dachshund

Eventually I made my way to the top of the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and while I wasn’t allowed to go inside the monument, I did grab a selfie with my mom and dad on the steps. Apparently we’re all behind the times too, because I didn’t have a selfie stick like the many other visitors that were at the National Mall. I guess I better step my selfie game up!

Police Horse on the National Mall with Ammo the Dachshund

While I didn’t see many dogs during my National Mall excursion, I did spot several mounted police officers. Even though I was only a day into my road trip, it made me miss my ponies even more!

Pet Friendly Vietnam Memorial with Ammo the Dachshund

I also made my way over to the Vietnam Memorial. The area was packed with visitors on Memorial Day and I hung back (pets aren’t allowed on the pathway at the Vietnam Memorial) while Dad went up to check it out. A little side fact, did you know my PopPop actually fought in Vietnam?

Pet Friendly White House, Washington D.C. // Ammo the Dachshund

My last stop before I waved goodbye to the National Mall was of course the White House! I had high hopes I’d spot the Obama Family pets, Sunny & Bo, running on the lawn, but they must have been taking their mid-afternoon nap. Although I did spot a box of bees on the back lawn, who knew the president had honeybee pets?

Pet Friendly Lincoln Memorial with Ammo the Dachshund

I had a blast checking out the National Mall on Memorial Day, and I even got to watch a little bit of the parade and met so many dachshund loving people on my adventure.

Next on my road trip, I was headed to Shenandoah National Park! So stay tuned tomorrow for even more fun, and find out what happened when I came face to face with a BEAR!

What did you do with your pups on Memorial Day?

May 2015 Monthly Recap

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Ammo

Well I’m officially back from my week-long road trip! But before I share with you all the exciting things I did on my travels, I thought it would be fun to recap my May Adventures!

Before we get to all the fun, 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 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!

Wolfgang was created to celebrate the unique relationship between a dog and his people. They offer American-made leashes and collars for your pup using only the finest American leathers and textiles, plus a distinctive collection of wallets, belts, t-shirts and hoodies for you too. I personally love their collection of natural leather collars and leashes. You can check out all the fun goodies from Wolfgang by visiting their shop.

EzyDog makes a line of products encompassing the rugged outdoor lifestyle dogs love along with the comfort and style pet owners prefer. All EzyDog Products are designed to help both owners and pets get more out of the great outdoors. I’m currently digging their collection of life vests and rash guards – because summer is almost here! Shop EzyDog and get FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $75!

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 May Adventures…

GoMotion LiteBelt 100 Review & Giveaway // Dog Walking Light // Ammo the Dachshund

I tested out a new light up dog walking belt.

Oh The Places You Sleep // Cute Dog Sleeping // Ammo the Dachshund

You guys loved seeing all the fun places I sleep so much that I shared another collection of photos from the past month!

Martha Stewart Pets Natural Treats Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

Things got yummy when I tested out some cookies from the Martha Stewart Pets Treat Shop.

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

I proved that us dachshunds have a lot of struggles going on in our lives with a new set of my Dachshund Life Struggles.

Gardening with Ammo the Dachshund

I shared how I helped my mom and dad will all the gardening around the house this Spring.

Penn + Pooch Spring Pet Clothing Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I tested out some new Spring Apparel from one of my favorite shops, Penn + Pooch.

Ammo the Dachshund Runs through a Field of Buttercups

I shared a video of how happy a field of buttercups can make me!

What To Do When Your Dog Has Seasonal Allergies // Ammo the Dachshund

I announced that I have Spring Allergies (don’t we all), and shared what my mom does to help me with my sniffles.

Natural Dog Company Snout Smoother // Ammo the Dachshund

I tested out a remedy for dry pet noses.

Adventure Awaits Button // Flying Hero Etsy Shop // Ammo the Dachshund

I set out on a week long road trip and shared some of the new adventure gear in my shop.

And that pretty much completes my May adventures! Now that summer is just about here, you better believe I’ll be heading out and about for even more fun in the sun! What are you looking forward to doing with your dog this summer?

Adventure Awaits on the Road Ahead

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Ammo

As you read this I’m off on a week long road trip with my family as I head to Nashville Tennessee for this year’s BlogPaws Conference!

I’m excited to hit up some interesting places along the way like the Shenandoah National Park, the Great Smoky Mountains and so much more! While I won’t be blogging the rest of this week, you can still check in with me on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter as I’ll be sharing lots of the fun as we go!

Find out where I got my awesome travel bag.

And before I head home, I’ll be attending the Red Carpet ceremony at the BlogPaws Conference as I’m up for the Best Dog Blog & Best Pet Photo awards. Paws crossed I win, and if you want to check out all the fun you can watch the live streaming event on Youtube!

Watch on the BlogPaws YouTube channel: beginning at approximately 7:00pm CST, followed by closing remarks.

And that’s not all, since I felt bad about not blogging the rest of the week while I was traveling, I decided to add some fun adventure goodies to my shop!

From pocket mirrors…

…buttons…

…and even magnets!

Check out my online etsy shop, Flying Hero to grab all these goodies and more! (please note items purchased this week will ship the first week in June).

So friends, I’m signing off now, because as always Adventure Awaits!

Natural Dog Company Snout Soother Review & Giveaway

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Ammo

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

Natural Dog Company Snout Smoother // Ammo the Dachshund

My new friends over at the Natural Dog Company sent me some of their organic Snout Soother to test out recently.

This Snout Soother aims to save many doggie noses from the uncomfortableness of dry, chapped and cracked skin.

Natural Dog Company Snout Smoother // Ammo the Dachshund

Made with unrefined Shea Nut Butter, Organic Hempseed Oil, Kukui Nut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Jojoba Oil, Candelilla Wax, Rosemary Extract, Natural Vitamin E – this all natural product is safe for your dog (even if ingested) and is basically like the equivalent of chapstick, but for your dog’s nose!

Natural Dog Company Snout Smoother // Ammo the Dachshund

The Natural Dog Company recommends using a cookie to distract your dog while applying, and it can be applied up to 2-3 times per day.

Natural Dog Company Snout Smoother // Ammo the Dachshund

Snout Soother nose balm for dogs can be used for the following:

Dry, Chapped Nose
Crusty & Cracked Nose
Hyperkeratosis
Nose Rolls & Folds
Windburn Prevention
Natural Sunscreen
Shiny Show Dog Noses
Extreme Weather Conditions
Rashes and Skin irritations
Puppy Acne
Fading scars
Canine Dry Eye
Discoid Lupus
Brachycephalic Breeds

And humans can even use it too on dry skin!

Natural Dog Company Snout Smoother // Ammo the Dachshund

While my nose wasn’t currently dry when I tested this product, I can certainly see the benefits for dogs with chronic dry noses, and especially in the winter months! Plus my mom loves that it’s all natural and she can steal some too for the dry cracks on her skin from all the farm work!

You can fetch this Snout Soother from the Natural Dog Company, and as a bonus, use code SNOUTSOOTHER for 15% off your order!

And now for the best part…

Natural Dog Company Snout Smoother // Ammo the Dachshund

ONE WINNER WILL WIN A SNOUT SOOTHER FROM THE NATURAL DOG COMPANY!

Here’s HOW TO WIN:

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. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday Fetch: Ruffwear + Best Friends RAD Adoption Program

Posted on May 22, 2015 by Ammo

Typically on my Friday Fetch posts I like to share a cool pet product I’m lusting after, but this time I decided to share something different. Today I wanted to talk about the new pet adoption program with Ruffwear (one of my favorite adventure-dog gear sites) and the Best Friends Animal Society.

Ruffwear + Best Friends Animal Sanctuary adoption Program // Ammo the Dachshund

This Ruffwear Adventure Dog Adoption Program is setting out to match adventure-loving, outdoor oriented Ruffwear customers with high-energy, fresh air-seeking dogs from the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

Check out the video below to find out more about this fantastic program:

You can find out more about the available dogs through the RAD Adoption Program by visiting the Ruffwear Facebook Page.

Even if you aren’t in a position to adopt a dog, you can still help! Share this post with your friends and spread the word about the amazing adoptable dogs out there!

Help dog’s find forever homes with the RAD Adoption Program.

Disclaimer: this is not a sponsored post, but it does contain some affiliate links as I am an affiliate with Ruffwear. All opinions are my own, and I truly think this is a great program to help rescue dogs!

What to Do When Your Pet Has Seasonal Allergies

Posted on May 21, 2015 by Ammo

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

What To Do When Your Dog Has Seasonal Allergies // Ammo the Dachshund

It’s Springtime. The flowers are blooming, the bees are buzzing, and the pollen is flying. And just like you, I have seasonal allergies too!

A video posted by Kyley, Ammo + Painting Ponies (@kyleydiluigi) on May 19, 2015 at 6:11pm PDT

My sneezing has been keeping everyone up at night, and that’s no fun for anyone.

What To Do When Your Dog Has Seasonal Allergies // Ammo the Dachshund

Thankfully my vet recommended I take a dose of Zyrtec (I’ve been using the generic version of it) each night before I go to bed.

What To Do When Your Dog Has Seasonal Allergies // Ammo the Dachshund

And thankfully my mom knew I needed something extra special to “help the medicine go down”. These Wellness Core SuperFood Protein Bars from Chewy.com are the perfect addition to my allergy med dose.

What To Do When Your Dog Has Seasonal Allergies // Ammo the Dachshund

These nutrient-dense protein nuggets are packed with quality animal protein, without fillers or grains, and with wholesome superfoods. Their chewy size is easy to break apart into smaller doses to take my medication each night.

What To Do When Your Dog Has Seasonal Allergies // Ammo the Dachshund

Mom cuts one of my Zyrtec pills in half – I weigh 20lbs and she’s been giving me a 5mg dose once a night – although my vet said I could take 10mg.

What To Do When Your Dog Has Seasonal Allergies // Ammo the Dachshund

She then hides my pill inside my Wellness Protein Bars. I’m none the wiser (although don’t tell mom I’d probably eat anything she handed me) and mom feels better knowing I’m not only eating a 100% natural (made in the USA) treat that I go crazy for, but that I won’t be up all night sneezing either.

So if you’re in need of a good wholesome treat, that can also double as a pill disguiser I recommend checking out the Wellness Core Grain-Free Protein Bars from Chewy.com!

Does your pet have seasonal allergies? What do you do to combat the sniffles?

Disclaimer: it’s always best to check with your vet first before administering a medication. What worked for me may not work for all animals.

Penn + Pooch Spring Pet Clothing Review & Giveaway

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Ammo

Disclaimer: This post and giveaway is brought to you by Penn + Pooch. However, all opinions are my own, and I only share products I think you will love!

Penn + Pooch Spring Pet Clothing Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

If you’re a long-time reader then you may remember that I did a post about my friends at Penn + Pooch last year. Well now I’m back to share their Spring line of pet clothing with you because I love their products so much!

Penn + Pooch Spring Pet Clothing Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I love that their pet clothing is high quality and oh-so-stylish! This time I got to test out the Emerson in Multi + Naval Stripe and the Drew in Seaside Blue + Soft Gray.

Penn + Pooch Spring Pet Clothing Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

The Drew is a great addition to my spring & summer wardrobe and comes in a variety of sizes to fit big and small dogs.

Penn + Pooch Spring Pet Clothing Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

It also comes with Penn + Pooch ‘s signature back flap making it a cinch to wear overtop of any walking harness.

Penn + Pooch Spring Pet Clothing Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

What do you think? Do I look sexy enough to be lounging by the pool this summer?

Penn + Pooch Spring Pet Clothing Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

My favorite though has always been the Penn + Pooch hoodies. There’s something just so great about snuggling up in your favorite hoodie on a cool Spring morning.

Penn + Pooch Spring Pet Clothing Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

This one even has a fun little stripped surprise inside the hood.

Penn + Pooch Spring Pet Clothing Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

The Emerson in Multi + Naval Stripe has a little less stretch in it than the Red + Gray hoodie I already own from Penn + Pooch so make sure you choose sizes accordingly when ordering this style.

Penn + Pooch Spring Pet Clothing Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

All their hoodies also come with their signature back flap – my favorite feature!

Penn + Pooch Spring Pet Clothing Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

If you want to make sure your pup is looking fly this Spring & Summer make sure you check out this pet clothing line from Penn + Pooch. I highly recommend!

And now for the best part….

Penn + Pooch Spring Pet Clothing Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

ONE WINNER WILL WIN THE DREW IN SEASIDE BLUE FROM PENN + POOCH!

Here’s HOW TO WIN:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday Fetch: Ombre Dog Leashes

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Ammo

It’s true, I’ve got a weakness for rope leashes. Combine that with a nice bright ombre color and I’m head over heals! So when I stumbled across Puppy Happy on Etsy I was in love. As a bonus they also sell some cute dog-inspired wood phone cases too! Check it out…

Friday Fetch: Ombre Dog Leash // Puppy Happy // Ammo the Dachshund

You can fetch these fun goodies and more from Puppy Happy on Etsy.

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

When Your Dog Helps With Gardening

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Ammo

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