April 2014 Monthly Recap

Posted on May 1, 2014 by Ammo

Before we get to the recap of all the exciting adventures I’ve been on in April, I wanted to give a shoutout to my special sponsors! 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!

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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!

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Kurgo is devoted to helping people get out & safely enjoy the world with their dogs. They carry high-quality, innovative products that last at reasonable prices. They even offer a lifetime guarantee. You can check out my review of the Kurgo Surf n’ Turf Life Vest.

Use code KURGO20WIN for 20% off your purchase at Kurgo!

If you would like to find out more about my advertising rates, click HERE. And thanks again to all of my wonderful sponsors, I couldn’t do it without you!

And now onto my April Adventures….

Happy! Ammo the Dachshund

I shared my new dance video to the song Happy by Pharrell!

Toys for Ponies & Dogs // Ammo the Dachshund

I taught my ponies how to use their new interactive toy.

Bartley's for Dogs Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I reviewed the website that has a unique ways of helping rescue dogs, Bartley’s.

Working Late on the Farmhouse // Ammo the Dachshund

I helped my best friend Trooper with construction on his new farmhouse.

Free Spring Desktop Wallpaper! from Ammo the Dachshund

I shared my free Spring Desktop Wallpaper, complete with artwork done by me!

Penn + Pooch Review and Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I reviewed and gave away some stylish pet clothes from Penn + Pooch.

etsymagnet-6

I announced the addition of a series of fun dachshund magnets in my online shop.

Spring Doxie Fest 2014 // Ammo the Dachshund

I recapped all the fun I had performing and attending the Spring Doxie Fest.

DIY Easter Eggs for your Dog

I shared some great DIY’s to get your dog in the Easter spirit.

Happy Easter from Ammo the Dachshund

I wished everyone a Hoppy Easter!

Kurgo Lifevest Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I tested out and gave away a Kurgo Life Vest.

Easter with the Barkbox Bunny // Ammo the Dachshund

I celebrated Easter with the Barkbox Bunny.

Peach Blossoms // Ammo the Dachshund

I stopped to smell the Peach Blossoms.

puppy ammo the dachshund and trooper

I shared the CUTEST wrestling video of me and Trooper when I was a puppy.

Chewy.com Wellness Petite Treats Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I reviewed these Wellness Petite Treats.

Painting Pony // Ammo the Dachshund

I painted with the famous Painting Ponies.

Bottle // Ammo the Dachshund

I exacted my revenge when this bottle gave me the evil eye!

I always have so much fun looking back on all the exciting things I’ve done in the past month. It makes me even more excited for the adventures coming up in May! I even plan to hit up these Goat Races this weekend, maybe I’ll see some of you Chester County locals there! I can’t wait! What adventures have your and your pups been on in April?

On the Lake with Friends

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Ammo

Adventures on the lake are quickly becoming my favorite thing to do in the summer. And at the Marsh Creek Boat Rental, where dogs are always welcome, there is a whole slew of fun to be had out on the water!

On the Lake with Friends // Ammo the Dachshund

I started out my adventure by renting a paddleboard with mom. There’s nothing quite like gliding through the water on one of those!

On the Lake with Friends // Ammo the Dachshund

This time I brought along my pal Shilah, for her very first boat ride in a motorized rowboat rental.

On the Lake with Friends // Ammo the Dachshund

Dad also rented a kayak which I happily took a few laps around the lake in.

On the Lake with Friends // Ammo the Dachshund

Since this was Shilah’s first trip to the lake I decided to let her test out the paddle board, which is one of my favorite rental choices.

On the Lake with Friends // Ammo the Dachshund

Shilah had also never been swimming before, so I gave her a little coaching from the sidelines.

On the Lake with Friends // Ammo the Dachshund

Eventually though I hopped aboard to show her how to man her lake vessel with style. She’s only one, so she has lots of learning to do still!

On the Lake with Friends // Ammo the Dachshund

Shilah almost got to assist in her first water rescue when Dad accidentally tipped his kayak, but luckily things didn’t get too crazy.

On the Lake with Friends // Ammo the Dachshund

Later I showed off my natural swimming skills, and it was enough to convince my pal to take her first dip too! You can see her showing off at the end of this video:

On the Lake with Friends // Ammo the Dachshund

Being on the lake with my friends was so enjoyable I just didn’t want it to end!

On the Lake with Friends // Ammo the Dachshund

So when we landed back on shore I decided to practice some of my swimming skills.

On the Lake with Friends // Ammo the Dachshund

I’ve gotten quite good at playing fetch in the water, mom even picked up this new floating buoy toy for me from West Elm (which mom bought before it sold out).

Sigh, I’m so sad that summer is coming to an end, but hopefully I’ll get to squeeze in a few more lake trips before it ends!

Rainy Days at the Lake

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Ammo

On those hot summer days one of my very favorite things to do is to visit the Marshcreek State Park – home to my favorite lake. But what about on those rainy summer days? Well, I still like to visit the lake!

Rainy Days at the Lake // Marshcreek // Ammo the Dachshund

The day started hot and sunny enough, so I packed up my life vest (and my pal Shilah the Husky) and headed out to the lake.

Rainy Days at the Lake // Marshcreek // Ammo the Dachshund

I was surprised to find that the water was warm, as in bathtub warm! So I had no hesitation in jumping right in!

Rainy Days at the Lake // Marshcreek // Ammo the Dachshund

Shilah had a bit more hesitation with the water, would you believe she’s never been to a lake before! Not to worry though, I was able to coax her right in.

Rainy Days at the Lake // Marshcreek // Ammo the Dachshund

Just as I was starting to get warmed up a huge storm came through and dampened my chance to hop on a boat rental!

Rainy Days at the Lake // Marshcreek // Ammo the Dachshund

But after waiting out the heaviest of rain, I wasn’t going to let it spoil my fun, and it was back in the water for Shilah and me!

Rainy Days at the Lake // Marshcreek // Ammo the Dachshund

I even took to some good old fashioned dog paddling, because I of course had to show off my mad swimming skills to my pal Shilah!

What do you do on rainy summer days?

Swim Lessons

Posted on July 18, 2013 by Ammo

Swim Lessons // Ammo the Dachshund

I’ve been taking swim lessons with my Dad at the pool lately, because I want to become a much stronger swimmer!

Dad says my swim kick is getting stronger every time, and before you know it I’ll be the official life guard at the family pool.

Swim Lessons // Ammo the Dachshund

In preparation for my inevitable lifeguarding duties I have been practicing saving my cousins.

Swim Lessons // Ammo the Dachshund

Although with all those flotation devices on it makes a little hard for a dog to practice saving drowning people!

Kayaking Adventure

Posted on June 26, 2013 by Ammo

Kayaking Adventure // Ammo the Dachshund // Marshcreek Lake

Over the weekend it got hot hot hot, and instead of just laying around the house panting I decided to go to the lake!

Kayaking Adventure // Ammo the Dachshund // Marshcreek Lake

I’m no stranger to the Marshcreek Lake, in fact I took my first paddleboarding adventure out there just last year.

Kayaking Adventure // Ammo the Dachshund // Marshcreek Lake

This time though I decided to take to the lake via kayak!

Kayaking Adventure // Ammo the Dachshund // Marshcreek Lake

The wind in my ears was just what I needed to cool off on a hot summer day.

What do you do to beat the heat in the summer?

Product Review: Outward Hound Life Vest for Dogs

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Ammo

You might remember that a couple of weeks ago mom purchased me a life vest from amazon just in time for my paddleboarding adventure.

Stand Up Paddleboarding with your Dog - via Ammo the Dachshund

Seeing as how some of my fans may be in the market for a life vest as well I thought I’d give you all a little rundown of how I’m liking it so far.

Stand Up Paddleboarding with your Dog - via Ammo the Dachshund

Product – Kyjen Outward Hound Life Jacket

Features:

Convenient top grab handle for easy resuce by hand or boat hook
Front float assists in keeping dog’s head above water

Stand Up Paddleboarding with your Dog - via Ammo the Dachshund

Pros:

Definitely helps keep me afloat much better
Handle makes it easy for mom or dad to rescue me out of the water
Front float helps keep my head above the water – which is a bonus because I hate getting water in my ears
It’s comfortable to wear
Bright color makes it easy to spot me floating in the water
Budget friendly price

Stand Up Paddleboarding with your Dog - via Ammo the Dachshund

Cons:

Sizes run smaller then the chart online – so a small is a bit too small for me and I probably should have ordered the medium. So when in doubt choose the next size up
Doesn’t have a d-ring attachment for a leash

kyjen pet life vest

Overall I’m very happy with my new vest, I definitely feel safer and enjoy swimming a lot more, I just wish I had gotten the medium so it fits me a little better.

You can fetch your own doggie life vest from amazon for about $20

I was not paid or perked to write this review, product was fully purchased (thanks mom) – links do connect to my affiliate amazon shop.

Don’t forget to vote for me in the Petties for the category of Best Blog Design. Your votes get me closer to winning $1,000 for one of my favorite pet charities!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

Stand up Paddleboarding with your Dog

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Ammo

Last week I took a short stay-cation in my hometown of Downingtown, Pennsylvania. While I didn’t actually travel anywhere exotic or new I did get to have a whole bunch of brand-new adventures. I hope you’ll come along for the ride with me this week, as I have lots to share!

One of the first things I did on my vacation was to go stand up paddleboarding (also called SUP or stand up paddle surfing) at the Marsh Creek Boat Rental.

Stand Up Paddleboarding with your Dog - via Ammo the Dachshund

Visiting the lake isn’t new to me, as I’ve been known to zip around on a motorized row boat with my mom and dad, but SUP was something I have never done before.

Stand Up Paddleboarding with your Dog - via Ammo the Dachshund

I was so excited when I saw the paddleboard come out that I couldn’t wait to hit the water, especially on this super hot day.

Stand Up Paddleboarding with your Dog - via Ammo the Dachshund

I did end up swimming A LOT while I was on the water, sometimes by accident because I was standing too close to the edge while some turbulent water knocked me in, and sometimes because I wanted to take a trip over to visit dad in his canoe.

Stand Up Paddleboarding with your Dog - via Ammo the Dachshund

Luckily I do know how to swim, and my new life vest kept me even more afloat – and made it easy for mom and dad to scoop me back onto the board.

Stand Up Paddleboarding with your Dog - via Ammo the Dachshund

I’m pretty sure I was the talk of the lake that day and I enjoyed waving at all the other people out enjoying the cool water.

Stand Up Paddleboarding with your Dog - via Ammo the Dachshund

This may have been my first time paddleboarding, but it certainly won’t be my last! Especially if this heat wave in Pennsylvania keeps up!

Stand Up Paddleboarding with your Dog - via Ammo the Dachshund

Tips for Stand Up Paddleboarding with your Dog

Before visiting a lake rental spot make sure that they allow dogs on their rental boats and boards
Make sure your dog has a properly fitted life vest – keep a leash attached to it so you can quickly grab your dog should they go overboard accidentally
If you have never been on a paddleboard yourself, practice paddling on the lake without your dog first, it will be much harder to maneuver the board with a dog on it too
Allow your dog to get used to the board near the shore first with you standing in the water
Be prepared to get wet – very wet (but that is the point isn’t it?)
Don’t bring a dog paddleboarding that doesn’t know how to swim, it is pretty likely that at some point they will go overboard especially if it is windy out
If your dog has a strong herding instinct it is best to have only one “member of the pack” out on the lake at a time, otherwise your dog will be upset when his “pack” isn’t close together, causing him to jump overboard or panic
Have as much fun as possible!

Stand Up Paddleboarding with your Dog - via Ammo the Dachshund

And the icing on my cupcake…..according to Shape Magazine I burned 500 – 700 calories every hour I was out paddleboarding (although mom says she’s pretty sure they mean it’s her that’s burning those calories), but regardless it’s also apparently the new “celebrity trend” – with paddleboarders like Jennifer Aniston and Kate Hudson testing them out too.

Stand Up Paddleboarding with your Dog - via Ammo the Dachshund

So considering I’m probably just as famous as those big celebs (right?) then it must be the super cool new thing to do! Not to mention I look awfully sexy doing it! *wink*

So what do you think? Is your next big adventure going to be paddleboarding with your dog? Or do you just enjoy living vicariously through me? Or better yet – have any suggestions of new adventures I should try?

Make sure you stop by the blog tomorrow to hear all about my adventures on my very first airplane ride!

Friday Fetch: Life Vests for Dogs

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Ammo

Now that the hot hot Summer has officially started I’ve been thinking about taking more trips to my local lake. Up until now I’ve never worn a doggie flotation device – not for lack of wanting to – but because I did not have direct access to a credit card (ahem…mom).

But have no fear! Mom ordered me my very own life vest just the other day, and while I wait for my new purchase to arrive in the mail I figured I’d share a round-up of some of the Pet Life Vests that are on the market currently.

kyjen pet life vest

I ended up ordering the Kyjen Outward Hound Life Jacket from Amazon because it included an extra flotation device on the front to keep tired puppy heads above the water. I’ll be sure to post a full review on the product once it arrives on my doorstep next week! (above link contains affiliate links to my Amazon shop)

Now here’s a round-up of a few more life vests for dogs that I thought looked just as swim worthy as the one that ended up in my cart.

ruffwear k-9 float coat