June 2015 Monthly Recap

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Ammo

I’m back from my annual camping trip, but before I share all those adventures I thought it would be fun to recap all the excitement from June!

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!

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And now onto my June Adventures…

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

I kicked off June by sharing all the adventures of my week long road trip, first stop, Washington D.C. and the National Mall!

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

The next stop on my trip was the Shenandoah National Park, where I met my first Bear!

The Great Smoky Mountains // Dog Selfie // Ammo the Dachshund

In the Great Smoky Mountains I ran into Elk!

TaylorHappy Glucosamine Supplement for Dogs // Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I took a break from my travels to share the secret weapon against joint pain for my best friend Trooper.

Super Heroes in Gatlinburg with Ammo the Dachshund

Next up I took a tour of downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee!

Jacks Bar-B-Que in Nashville Tennessee - Pet Friendly

I ate BBQ in Nashville, Tennessee!

BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Awards 2015 // Ammo the Dachshund

Then I found myself in Nashville where I walked the red carpet at the BlogPaws annual conference.

Peach Pillow Bed Kickstarter Campaign with Ammo the Dachshund

I shared the new Kickstarter campaign for my friends at Peach Industries (which got fully funded by the way!)

Earth Rated Scented Dog Poop Bags // Review and Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I picked up pony poop thanks to my friends at Earth Rated.

Visit Knoxville Tennessee to see the Sunsphere

I made the last stop on my road trip, Knoxville, Tennessee, to see the Sunsphere!

Dachshund Plays Dead at Ryerss

I helped support the non-profit, Ryerss Farm, by attending (and performing) at their Family Day. My pal Minnow the Painting Pony tagged along too.

Oh The Places You Sleep: Vol. 3 with Ammo the Dachshund

I shared Vol. 3 in the places I love to sleep series!

Doggie Days Boutique Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I modeled my new Gooby collar from the Doggie Days Boutique.

The Dog Toy Your Dog Won't be too tired to play with! via Ammo the Dachshund

I played tug of war even though I was so tired I could barely stand (there’s a video for proof).

I shared the story of how I got my super awesome name.

When your Dog Barks and Yells at You! Ammo the Dachshund

I barked back and shared how sometimes I can have an attitude too.

Open Farm Ethically Raised Dog Food Review & Giveaway // Ammo the Dachshund

I tested out some ethically raised dog food, and you can still enter to win a bag for your dog too!

Wow, did I really fit in all that excitement last month? I blink and it just flys by! Stay tuned this week as I share my next big adventures on my annual camping trip.

What did your dog do in June? Anyone else go on a road trip?

Pet Friendly Road Trip Adventures: Knoxville, Tennessee

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Ammo

I know what you’re probably thinking….how can I STILL be recapping my week long road trip? Well, the fact is, there was so much to see and do that I’ve had lots to share. Like my adventures in; Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park, The Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, TN, Nashville, Tennessee and the 2015 BlogPaws Conference. Well, today is the last adventure of my road trip, and it was one of my favorites! On the way home to Pennsylvania I stopped at the Knoxville Convention Center.

Knoxville Tennessee Convention Center with Ammo the Dachshund

Being that it was a Sunday, the convention center was closed, but that didn’t stop me from exploring around.

Sunsphere in Knoxville Tennessee with Ammo the Dachshund

Just outside the Knoxville Convention Center is the Sunsphere……the main purpose of my visit! The Sunsphere was constructed for the 1982 World’s Fair and served as the symbol to the Fair. It wasn’t until 2007 that it was renovated and reopened for the public.

Visit Knoxville Tennessee to see the Sunsphere

Since there was no signs to say otherwise, and no one around to ask, I rode the elevator up the Sunsphere to the 4th floor observation deck to check out what all the fuss was about.

Dog Friendly Sunsphere // Ammo the Dachshund

Not gonna lie, it was a long way down! I was more than happy not to get too close to the edge, just in case.

Dog Friendly Sunsphere // Ammo the Dachshund

The 5th floor of the Sunsphere contains a restaurant and bar called the Icon Ultra Lounge. I didn’t attempt to go up there because the sign said reservations were needed – and I’m not even sure if they were open on a Sunday. And the 6th floor was for events.

Dog Friendly Sunsphere // Ammo the Dachshund

Honestly I was thankful to have all 4 feet back on the ground, but there was a lot more to see in the World’s Fair Park, which had signs saying leashed pets were welcome as long as you picked up after them.

World's Fair Park // Ammo the Dachshund

There was some beautiful waterways and according to their website it looks like they hold lots of fun events in the park.

Amphitheater in the World's Fair Park // Knoxville Tennessee // Ammo the Dachshund

Eventually I made my way to the Amphitheater, it was also constructed during the 1982 World’s Fair and was home to both country music and classical music concerts. The Sunsphere and the Tennessee Amphitheater are the only structures that remained after the World’s Fair. I would have put on my own show for everyone, only I forgot to pack my trick gear, and sadly I had no spectators.

Outdoor Fountain // Ammo the Dachshund

Eventually I came across an outdoor fountain where lots of kids were enjoying it on a nice hot day. I wanted to join in too, but sadly it was one of the few areas off limits to dogs.

Calhoun's in Knoxville Tennessee // Pet Friendly // Ammo the Dachshund

After exploring the World’s Fair Park it was time to get something to eat! So I found a pet friendly restaurant on the river, Calhoun’s!

Waterfront Dining // Ammo the Dachshund

Their deck overlooking the water was the perfect spot for a relaxing nap before my long long drive back to Pennsylvania.

Waterfront Dining // Ammo the Dachshund

And just as we were finishing up our dining experience, a big storm came rolling in. I have to say, the entire time I was gone I lucked out with all the weather. Every time I found something fun to do any storms seemed to clear and I had nice sunny days every time!

Tennessee Road Trip // Ammo the Dachshund

Eventually it was time for my fun to end and I headed towards home.

Home Sweet Home // Ammo the Dachshund

Even though my road trip adventures have come to an end, it’s always nice to be back in my home sweet home!

So what was your favorite part of my week-long road trip? Maybe it was the Bears in Shenandoah National Park, or the Elk in the Great Smoky Mountains, or perhaps my red carpet event in Nashville? What did you like best?

Pet Friendly Road Trip Adventures: BlogPaws Conference 2015

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Ammo

Just when you thought my week long road trip might be coming to an end, I’ve got even more to share! I’ve already visited some amazing places like; Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park, The Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, TN, Nashville, Tennessee and now I can’t wait to tell you about the 2015 BlogPaws Conference.

Ammo the Dachshund goes to the 2015 BlogPaws Conference

If you’re unfamiliar with BlogPaws, it’s essentially a community of pet enthusiasts who write about and support pets via social media! Their annual conferences bring together hundreds of pet bloggers, pet enthusiasts, shelters, rescues, and brands for social media education, networking, and promoting.

Ammo the Dachshund - BlogPaws Newbie

I’m pretty much a newbie when it comes to BlogPaws, and I decided to attend this annual event for the first time after I found out I was a finalist for the Best Dog Blog and Best Pet Photo of 2015 in the Nose-to-Nose Awards.

Butt Sniffing at BlogPaws with Ammo the Dachshund

Honestly I had no idea what to expect at this conference, and pretty much all I knew was that it was a pet friendly event, which meant I would be doing a whole lot of butt sniffing!

Meeting friends at BlogPaws with Ammo the Dachshund

At first I was a little nervous when I entered the conference. There was a lot going on, tons of dogs, lots of chatter, and so so much to look at. But after about an hour I quickly realized this was a safe place to be and I was with MY KIND OF DOGS. (friendly, adventurous, and ready to sample lots and lots of treats).

To give you a little better idea of what a BlogPaws conference actually looks like, check out this video:

At 15 seconds in you can actually see me and my mom & dad walking around the BlogPaws vender area (bottom right corner).

BlogPaws 2015 with Ammo the Dachshund

The BlogPaws vender area was packed with brands that are interested in working with bloggers, and that’s good news for you, because it means I’ll hopefully be able to bring you even more fun product reviews & giveaways with some great new products in the coming months! Which P.S., if you’re ever interested in hearing my honest review about a product or brand or you’d love me to host a giveaway with them (so you could potentially win!) – just shoot them (or me) an e-mail and let them know about my blog!

BlogPaws 2015 with Ammo the Dachshund

I had a blast sampling products, and talking to companies about some of their new product lines.

On Camera at BlogPaws 2015 with Ammo the Dachshund

BlogPaws 2015 with Ceasar and Ammo the Dachshund

BlogPaws 2015 Swag // Ammo the Dachshund

While I’ve been to expos before, this was the liveliest one, and I couldn’t believe how much there was to see and do! And did I mention the swag? There were so many wonderful sponsors that donated products to the event, and I gotta send my thanks to them (because this was only a small potion of it)! And since I’m just one small dog, I will be donating many items to my local animal rescue!

BlogPaws Conference - Learning with Ammo the Dachshund 2015

One of the exciting things was getting the opportunity to attend some of the lectures and talks at BlogPaws. I have to say before this, I had never attended a lecture before, unless you count the times I visited an Elementary School.

Ammo the Dachshund naps at BlogPaws 2015

While mom and dad were busy learning about SEO, monetization, pinterest marketing, and so much more, I was busy catching some Zzzz’s! Because honestly, all of it was a bit over my head. I’m much more the “talent” behind this blog anyway, and I was more than thrilled that mom and dad were there to take notes for me. Mom found some of the lectures very interesting and picked up some new skills she’ll be helping me apply to not only my blog, but my regular 9-5 business at the frame shop.

Ammo the Dachshund Plays Dead at BlogPaws 2015

While the lectures were quite serious in nature, I made sure to liven them up some with a few of my silly tricks…..like playing dead! (It’s no fun to be serious all the time!)

BlogPaws 2015 with the Dachshunds

Guess what, I wasn’t the only Dachshund with the silly’s there either! This is Fiona McSnuggles, a long haired sweetie who was actually blind and is a therapy dog just like me.

BlogPaws 2015 with the Dachshunds

I also met Dolly the Doxie, a dachshund mix! Surprisingly (or maybe not so much) those were the only other dachshunds I spotted at BlogPaws.

Prissy and Pop at BlogPaws 2015 with Ammo the Dachshund

I did however get to meet the infamous Prissy and Pop! They are celebrities on instagram, and even have jobs working as mascots in a first grade class. And yes, I’m super jealous that they are on summer break right now!

PetSafe at BlogPaws 2015 with Ammo the Dachshund

With all the excitement of the BlogPaws conference I made sure to take as many nap breaks as I could squeeze in, especially since my poor mom caught a nasty cold the day we left for our road trip adventure and spent most of the week trying her best to get through all the fun activities we had planned.

Speaking of fun, I became the recipient of my very own Busy Bee while at BlogPaws! If you’ve ever watched the movie Best in Show, then you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about when I say I was FREAKING OUT every time my Busy Bee from PetSafe (one of the sponsors of BlogPaws) got out of my sight! And if you haven’t watch the movie…do it….do it now!

BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Awards 2015 // Ammo the Dachshund

After all the excitement of the week there was one last thing to do….attend the 2015 Nose-to-Nose awards! Of course I dressed to the nines since I was a finalist for Best Dog Blog and Best Pet Photo awards!

BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Awards 2015 // Ammo the Dachshund

This was my first time walking a red carpet, and hopefully I worked it!

BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Awards 2015 // Ammo the Dachshund

Here’s a group shot of most of the 2015 Nose-to-Nose Finalists. In case you didn’t get a chance to catch the live streaming event, you can watch the video here:

Sadly I did not take home any awards this year, but hey, I’m just honored to have been a finalist – my very first year too!

BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Awards 2015 // Ammo the Dachshund

You know who did win though? My fellow dachshund adventurer blog, You Did What With Your Wiener? Congrats to Jessica, and I’m thrilled that dachshund adventure seekers are taking over the World! (well at least BlogPaws).

BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Awards 2015 // Ammo the Dachshund

After 3 days of BlogPaws I was royally beat! I had so much fun, and hopefully I’ll get to attend again sometime soon (I’m thinking it may be an every few years event for me).

For now though it was time to make my trek back home to Pennsylvania where my ponies were anxiously awaiting my return!

And don’t worry, incase you were thinking this was the end of my adventures, I still have one more fun stop I made on the way home in Knoxville, Tennessee! Check back next week for the full details on my visit to the Sunsphere.

P.S. Don’t forget, for you local Pennsylvanians, I’ll be at the Ryerss Family Fun Day this Saturday from 12 – 4pm with my friend Minnow the famous Painting Pony. Hope you’ll stop by and meet me! I’ll be performing some of my favorite tricks too!

Pet Friendly Road Trip Adventures: Nashville, Tennessee

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Ammo

My week long pet friendly road trip has taken me some amazing places thus far; Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park, The Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, TN, and today I’m going to share my adventures from Nashville, Tennessee!

Nashville was my main destination during this trip as I would be spending several days attending the BlogPaws Conference. In fact I spent so much time in Nashville that I decided to break it up into two posts today! So make sure you check back later today to read all about my adventures at BlogPaws.

Dog Friendly Nashville Tennessee with Ammo the Dachshund

One of the first things I did when I hit Nashville was to hit up the main strip on Broadway.

Live music can be seen and heard every day and night of the week in Nashville. It has become a hub for pop, rock, bluegrass, Americana, jazz, classical, contemporary Christian, blues, and soul music. It’s long been known as the “Songwriting Capital of the World” and songwriters from all over the world come to Music City to learn the art of songwriting.

Dog Friendly Nashville Tennessee with Ammo the Dachshund

Being that I was in Nashville, I had to break out a little country of my own with my plaid bandana – had I owned cowboy boots I would have totally rocked those too!

Jacks Bar-B-Que in Nashville Tennessee

Nashville is known for not only it’s country music, but it’s delicious food too. Of course I’m never one to pass up a good piece of meat, so I popped into Jack’s Bar-B-Que as I had read they had a pet friendly patio in the back.

Jacks Bar-B-Que in Nashville Tennessee

I didn’t realize you could access the patio from the back of the building, so I actually waited in line to get my BBQ inside with everyone else. No one seemed to care, and most people probably didn’t even notice I was there (I am short if you haven’t noticed).

Jacks Bar-B-Que in Nashville Tennessee - Pet Friendly

Jack’s did not disappoint, and Mom and Dad seemed to be loving it too.

Jacks Bar-B-Que in Nashville Tennessee - Pet Friendly

And in case you’re wondering, yes I did get to sample a bite or two!

After dinner it was time to wander down Broadway and checkout what goes on in Nashville in the evening….

As you can see I’m quite the expert in navigating a crowd.

Ammo the Dachshund takes Selfie with Street Performer

As you saw I just HAD TO stop and take a few selfies with the street performers. This guy even wanted his own picture with me.

Ammo the Dachshund takes Selfie with Elvis

And you really can’t visit Nashville without getting a selfie with Elvis! I told him that he may be the King of Rock, but I was most certainly the King of Groundhogs. (he didn’t argue with that one bit)

Dachshund in Hotel

After all that excitement I was happy to check into my hotel for a much needed rest. As you can see I brought all the comforts from home (as in my favorite toys).

My adventures in Nashville didn’t end there though, because I spent the next 3 days mixing and mingling at the BlogPaws conference while I was there. So make sure you check back a little later today when I share how I faired at my very first pet blogging conference…..complete with a red carpet event and everything!

Pet Friendly Road Trip Adventures: Gatlinburg, TN

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Ammo

If you’ve been following along with my adventures lately then you know a couple weeks ago I went on an epic road trip. My week long travels have already taken me to some wonderful places; Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park, The Great Smoky Mountains, and now Gatlinburg, Tennessee!

Pet Friendly Cabin in Gatlinburg Tennessee with Ammo the Dachshund

My mom and dad had found a cute little cabin tucked into the mountains in Gatlinburg, Tennessee for me to spend two nights in during my road trip.

Gatlinburg is nestled at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and has great access to many of the hiking trails in the Smokies, but also has a bustling downtown area. The Downtown Parkway is essentially a boardwalk of sorts without the beach!

Pet Friendly Gatlinburg - walking downtown with Ammo the Dachshund

After a day of hiking in the Smokies I decided to check out the activity down town and headed out on an evening walk.

Pet Friendly Gatlinburg - walking downtown with Ammo the Dachshund

Many of the shops had open-air type attractions, and I started to gather just as much attention as the fast and furious cars and the cotton candy and the haunted attractions (if you catch my drift).

Pet Friendly Gatlinburg - walking downtown with Ammo the Dachshund

While I didn’t meander into any shops (and I’m not quite sure if there were any that were pet friendly or not), I had some fun checking out some of the more wild attractions – like this Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

Super Heroes in Gatlinburg with Ammo the Dachshund

Heck, I even got to meet some of the Avengers! I’m pretty sure they were wondering where my super hero costume was, but I assured them that it was safely packed in my travel bag should any funny business arrive.

Pet Friendly Dining in Gatlinburg with Ammo the Dachshund

After exploring the town for a bit I stumbled across a pet friendly patio for dinner at the Back Alley Grill.

Pet Friendly Dining in Gatlinburg with Ammo the Dachshund

At this point after a day full of hiking, and exploring the town, I was pretty beat. So while mom and dad ate I snuck in a quick nap.

Bears in the Smokies with Ammo the Dachshund

On the way back to my cabin I got to meet my SECOND BEAR of the trip! Only this one must have been pretty tried like me, because he was in a deep deep sleep and couldn’t even be bothered to say hello to me. (I left him my business card for when he wakes up)

Pet Friendly Cabin in Gatlinburg Tennessee with Ammo the Dachshund

After so much excitement for one day I spent as much time as I could relaxing at my cabin while mom and dad packed up for my next adventure. My next stop would be the BlogPaws Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, and I was going to need all the rest I could get!

Rest Stop with Ammo the Dachshund

And after a few more hours of driving, and a couple rest stops (where I left a few of my signature calling cards), I was almost in Nashville!

Make sure you stop by my blog tomorrow to hear all about the adventures I had the BlogPaws Conference, where I even got to meet Elvis!

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!

Spring Bark and Where I’m Headed Next

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Ammo

I’ve got some exciting news! Recently I found out that I’m a finalist in the BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Awards for the Best Dog Blog & Best Pet Blog Photo.

Ammo the Dachshund Studio Photos

It’s enough to make me feel like a celebrity!

What makes the Nose-to-Nose awards a little different is that this is the only pet industry awards on which pet bloggers and micro-bloggers are judged on the expertise, performance, and creativity of their blog. Each category is judged by a distinguished panel of professionals, and not by popular vote. So don’t worry I won’t be begging for votes (not that I’ve ever been a fan of that anyway), now begging for cookies, that’s another story!

Ammo the Dachshund Studio Photos

Oh gosh, I can just feel the love!

The best part is that winners will be revealed in an exclusive red carpet ceremony at the BlogPaws Annual Conference in Nashville, Tennessee at the end of May.

My Bags are Packed // Ammo the Dachshund

I’m already excitedly making some plans so I can hopefully take a week-long road trip to attend the event. Which is great news for you too, because that means when I get back from my trip I’ll have a whole SLEW of adventures to share with you! You know, like where the best trees to pee on in Tennessee are, and what kind of squirrels they have in Virginia….the important stuff.

Nashville, Tenessee - Road Trip // Ammo the Dachshund

So if you know of any great dog friendly spots that I can stop and see on my road trip in a couple of months let me know in the comments below! I can’t wait!

AND THAT’S NOT ALL….

Details below are brought to you by Barkbox and contain affiliate links. But don’t worry, all opinions are entirely my own and I wouldn’t be telling you about Barkbox if I didn’t love them as much as I do!

If that weren’t enough good news…..I’ve got even more! Barkbox is having a Spring Bark Celebration this month with some extra goodies just for you! Woohoo #SpringBark2015

Spring Bark! SAVE BIG at Barkbox with code AMMO5 // Ammo the Dachshund

Use code AMMO5 on any new Barkbox subscription from now until March 15th and you’ll receive 1 FREE MONTH + get an additional month FREE FOR A FRIEND! (Because Spring Bark is more fun with friends!).

Spring Bark! SAVE BIG at Barkbox with code AMMO5 // Ammo the Dachshund