The Dachshund Artist

Posted on June 23, 2011 by Ammo

Secretly I have been working on a little project for the past few weeks. Yes, it’s true, Super Dogs sometimes have to go into their super bat caves and work on new projects. But now I’m ready to reveal it!

You might remember that I spend a lot of my time with a couple of famous Painting Ponies. The ponies have sold artwork all over the World, and I have to admit I’m a little bit jealous of their painting skills, especially my pal Minnow.

In my family, everyone is an artist. The ponies paint using acrylics, my dad is a graphic designer, and my mom is an artist and picture framer. Me? Well I started making scratch art last May. Using my paws I scratch Dachshund shapes and other fun things onto specially created boards. And while I love making scratch art – which has sold all around the World – it’s not really painting. How am I supposed to be an honorary member of Painting Pony when I don’t paint?

So I decided it was high time I started working on my own painted masterpieces. Now you all know I like to be a little different. How many Super Hero Dachshunds do you know? So I couldn’t just pick up a paint brush and start making paintings – I gotta stand out from my Painting Pony friends.

So with the help of my mom I made my very first watercolor painting on June 10th 2011!

My first painting, titled, “My Sunshine”

My mom helps me by putting watercolor onto the paper and then the rest is up to me. Digging, Scratching, even dancing – I mix those paints into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece!

I think it’s probably safe to say that I’m the World’s First Dachshund Watercolor Artist – beat that ponies!

Now with this great talent comes great responsibility (hehe had to throw in the Super Hero Reference there) – so with the sale of every one of my paintings I am donating 5% to some of my favorite charities. (Main Line Animal Rescue, Coast-to-Coast Dachshund Rescue, SPCA). My Painting Pony Friends also donate money to their favorite charities with the sale of their work – and over the years we have donated hundreds of dollars to animal rescue groups. Yeah for helping animals in need, because that’s what Super Heroes do!

Right now I only have one available work for sale. After all, you can’t rush perfection – and I like to take my time in creating my one-of-a-kind paintings. But don’t worry, there will be more in the future – and I’m also totally game for custom commissions!

“Backyard Bliss” by Ammo the Dachshund, June 18, 2011. Available for purchase here. One of a kind!

To see more of my art work as it becomes available check out my online shop that I share with the Painting Ponies. I’ll also be sure to let all my fans know whenever I have a new painting available for sale on the blog!

And in case you don’t believe me that I’m a REAL painter, here’s a video that my mom helped me make.

Now if you’ll excuse me, this super hero has some painting to do!

Initiation

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Ammo

The Painting Ponies that I live with are a special breed (according to my mom). They are all Chincoteague Ponies, which means they were either born wild on Assateague Island in Virginia or they are related to the wild ponies from the island. My best pony friend Minnow was born wild on Assateague 18 years ago – how cool is that – technically I’m friends with a wild animal! Mom says Boomerang and Blitz are not directly from the island, but their parents are.

Since I learned that to get off the island, Minnow had to join in on the annual Pony Swim, I decided that Blitz and Boomerang should probably learn to swim too. It was time for initiation!

I of course watched safely from the sidelines.

Blitz and Boomerang are on the left, and my other pony friend Jet is on the right. Jet is not a Chincoteague Pony so she was exempt from initiation, but chose to participate – well, because she’s an overachiever.

The ponies we’re just taking too long to get to the swimming part, so I had to send in my assistant to get them moving.

It’s Super Trooper, assistant swim coach!

I like to make Trooper think he’s important.

And we have a swimmer! Boomerang has passed initiation! Now he can call himself a real Chincoteague Pony. I’m like the best swim coach ever!

There should be a trophy for that or something!

Horse Show Dog

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Ammo

Being a horse show dog is a VERY tough job. We don’t get the glory of winning the fancy ribbons and trophies like the ponies do, instead we are behind the scenes taking over the jobs that no one else wants to do.

Take my job for example. I’m usually on patrol duty, in charge of guarding all of the tack and the trailer.

The hours are long, and usually it’s hot. But someone has to keep away the chickens….

…and the cows!

Stop giving me the stink eye cow! I’m watching you!

It could be worse though, I could be stuck on ribbon rack duty like my pal Trooper.

He has no idea that all the ponies laugh at him.

I have to admit, I laugh too.

Is there room for me?

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Ammo

My Painting Pony friends recently got a new horse trailer.

Can you believe it? All three of them can fit inside there. I was almost a little jealous.

But then I remembered I get to ride up front. In the air conditioning. Yeah, not so jealous anymore.

Friday Fetch: DIY Dog Tote Bag

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Ammo

Ok, I totally love that I get to go pretty much EVERYWHERE with my mom. But wouldn’t it be super fabulous if I could ride around in one of these!

Transform a canvas tote into a “doggie bag.” A U-shape cutout lets your small pooch enjoy the scenery. To make it, use sharp fabric shears to cut a dip into the side of the tote. The depth and width of the U shape will depend on the size of your dog’s head, but be sure to leave at least half an inch between the opening and the bag’s handles. Cut cotton webbing long enough to cover the U shape. Fold webbing over the raw edge, and use a sturdy needle to hand-stitch it to the opening.

Boat-and-Tote bag, from $18, llbean.com. Cotton webbing, 1 inch, $1.15 per yd., onlinefabricstore.net.

Tutorial from Martha Stewart found via Pinterest.

Spider Action

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Ammo

I know. We’ve all missed seeing Spider on the blog.

She’s grown up so much since we first met her last October.

Now she’s feisty and strong.

And she likes to get into lots of trouble. (even more trouble than me!)

She can climb trees and she isn’t even scared when the barn swallows and mocking birds try to attack her.

And she’s a sneaky little hunter – she moves through the high grass to catch her prey on her tippy tippy toes.

I hope people think I’m as cool as she is.

And please don’t tell her that I think she’s cool…..I’ll loose my edge as the “big brother” and she just might beat me up!

Super Ammo Vs. Super Trooper

Posted on June 15, 2011 by Ammo

Last year I was invited to perform at the Keystone Dachshund Races during their lunch break, it was my very first performance ever as a young and inexperienced 1 year old! I thought I did ok, considering I was new to the game and had only learned most of my tricks in a matter of a few weeks. You can watch my performance from last year here. (I’m WAY better at my tricks now!)

Well this year when they invited me back to perform, I knew I had to up the anti a little. So since my bestest performing pony pal, Minnow, couldn’t come with me – I asked my pal Trooper to fill in for him. Now Trooper is new to the whole performing thing, and I told him he had to learn a whole bunch of new tricks if he wanted to perform with me.

In the end we put on a Super entertaining duel between two friends. Here’s a taste of how it all went down:

(P.S. if you want the full effect – with my super awesome hero music – you’ll have to catch one of my live performances! Apparently youtube isn’t super music friendly!)

Performing at the Dachshund Races is very hard. Because not only does the stage smell like a bazillion other doxies (butt sniffing heaven!), but it is also littered with dropped treats. Talk about hitting the jackpot, bacon bits, hot dogs, cookies and more! It’s super hard to concentrate on your super tricks when working for treats seems pointless since free ones are on the floor!

But, me and Trooper pulled it off, and I’m sure we made a few people giggle!

Better luck winning the trophy next year Trooper! This super doxie is unstoppable!

Recovery

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Ammo

Today I look a lot like this:

Because yesterday I was at the Keystone Dachshund Races, and I did a lot of this:

and this:

and I even won a few of these:

So, even though I love each and every one of you. You’ll just have to wait until tomorrow to hear all about my fantastic adventures. Because I’m still doing a lot of this:

So peace out pooches! Until tomorrow!

P.S. if you really can’t wait to see how I did at the races, head on over to my facebook page!

Friday Fetch: The Doggie Bag

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Ammo

The other day mom visited Petco without me. I know the horror! But at least she didn’t come back empty handed. And even though she didn’t buy me EVERYTHING I wanted, she did come back with the scoop on some new dog-gone great dog toys.

One of those items is The Doggie Bag. A new product from Hyper Pet. It’s a wiggling, barking, bag of fun! Their website boasts that it’s the perfect toy for hyper dogs.

Hyper or not, their fun promo video (see below) made me want to give it a try myself! The fact that it had a couple of cute little long haired Dachshunds in it may have helped a little too. So maybe if I promise to be really good next time mom’s at petco she’ll pick me up a doggie bag.

You can fetch The Doggie Bag at Petco (selection may vary at different stores) and on Amazon for $17.